M6 TTL Shutter Speed/Metering Issue

[benjicam]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi All-

 

I am having an issue with my M6 TTL. Everything functions well but when I got to 1/1000 shutter speed, the meter suddenly turns off, as if I am going to the off selection on the shutter speed dial. Any advise?

 

Here is a video through the finder of the issue with narration - 

Any insight is much appreciated.

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[M9reno]

Presumably you are using fresh batteries?  And the ONLY speed this affects is 1/1000.?

[plaidshirts]

Perplexing. I can't think of a designed purpose for this to happen. It sounds like a visit to a Leica specialist is in order. 

[benjicam]

Yes - I tried brand new batteries and that is the only shutter speed it happens at. Best Leica specialist in the Los Angeles area?

[plaidshirts]

8 hours ago, benjicam said:

Best Leica specialist in the Los Angeles area?

The only one I'd trust for something like this is Don Goldberg. You'd have to ship it to him, though.

He'll give you an estimate before he works on anything. Give him a call.

https://www.dagcamera.com/contact.html

[250swb]

Does 'Off' work correctly going in the other direction on the dial? So when on 'Off' is it off? In other words has some thingy-ma-bob inside slipped around and what was 'Off' is now 'B' and 'Off' is now 1/000th?

Edited June 7, 2019 by 250swb

[benjicam]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

@250swb Yes, off works correctly going the other direction. I thought the same thing but no.

[Fcmbr]

Did you find out what the problem was? I have the exact same issue with my TTL. Also some of the other speeds are now starting to become wonky (I.e. sometimes they work sometimes they don’t). It almost seems as though some mechanism in my dial is not making contact correctly. 

I’ve so far tried the following with no success:

- fresh Silver Oxide batteries (SR44)

-fresh lithium battery (CR1/3N)

-cleaned contacts on backdoor with alcohol and eraser

- cleaned contacts in the battery compartment 

 

From what I can tell when the meter does work it still meters accurately. Really strange and annoying

Edited July 20, 2019 by Fcmbr

[benjicam]

On 7/20/2019 at 5:23 AM, Fcmbr said:

Did you find out what the problem was? I have the exact same issue with my TTL. Also some of the other speeds are now starting to become wonky (I.e. sometimes they work sometimes they don’t). It almost seems as though some mechanism in my dial is not making contact correctly. 

I’ve so far tried the following with no success:

- fresh Silver Oxide batteries (SR44)

-fresh lithium battery (CR1/3N)

-cleaned contacts on backdoor with alcohol and eraser

- cleaned contacts in the battery compartment 

 

From what I can tell when the meter does work it still meters accurately. Really strange and annoying

I finally sent it in but this is what I was told

"the Leica M6-TTL camera has a weak main shutter/meter contact unit that when its bad it usually causes more problems than what you're getting, my guess is that its on its way out & needs replacing. "

Still waiting for the official word. Will keep ya'll posted.

Edited July 30, 2019 by benjicam

[twogun]

Thanks for the update. I just purchased an M6 TTL and have no issues so far but will keep an eye on your journey with this issue. Hopefully it will be resolved soon. 

[benjicam]

Just to update everyone - the main shutter/meter contact was replaced on my camera and everything is now in perfectly working order. Yay!

 

[twogun]

Glad everything worked out! Good news!

[HomerH]

My m6 classics light meter conked out on me and I kind of similar way. It started randomly turning off, then would only work when I’m focused to infinity on my lens.. then it stopped doing that. I brought it to my local shop who eventually sent it out to a few people with no luck. After 6 months of waiting, I finally got a response from Leica Germany saying it’s not repairable because they no longer have the parts  I’m assuming that if Leica Germany won’t help me fix it, no one can but if anyone here has an idea or info/contacts, I’d really love to get it working again. 

[wattsy]

2 hours ago, HomerH said:

I’m assuming that if Leica Germany won’t help me fix it, no one can but if anyone here has an idea or info/contacts, I’d really love to get it working again. 

I would try emailing and ringing round the known Leica repairers around the world (sadly, there aren't all that many☹️). One may still have the relevant parts. Failing that you could look out for an otherwise broken donor camera but the durability of these cameras makes that an unlikely option (and the surge in value of the M6 means that even the most zinc corroded, bent out of shape, example will likely make the exercise an expensive undertaking).

[plaidshirts]

6 hours ago, HomerH said:

My m6 classics light meter conked out on me and I kind of similar way. It started randomly turning off, then would only work when I’m focused to infinity on my lens.. then it stopped doing that. I brought it to my local shop who eventually sent it out to a few people with no luck. After 6 months of waiting, I finally got a response from Leica Germany saying it’s not repairable because they no longer have the parts  I’m assuming that if Leica Germany won’t help me fix it, no one can but if anyone here has an idea or info/contacts, I’d really love to get it working again. 

That’s surprising because the common perception is that that an M6 classic could be repaired with MP parts while a TTL could not be. I’d give DAG a call before you give up.