Help choosing Leica M6 or M7

[earleygallery]

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Out of the two I'd choose the M6, apart from the meter it's fully mechanical. 

It's not that the M7 is unreliable or has any known problems. It's the simple fact that IF if fails at some point in the future due to the electrics, it most probably won't be repairable. It's an unknown quantity, there's no reason it shouldn't work fine for as long as you have it, but then again stuff does fail. 

Leica should be able to provide parts for the next 8 years, so if you do buy an M7 maybe it'd be a good idea to send it in for a CLA within that timeframe even if it is working OK as they'll be able to fully service and replace any parts showing issues before they run out/get thrown away. 

I love the Leica R3. I had one from new and it developed a fault which Leica can't repair. Looking on the net for other examples it seems an awful lot are also suffering from faulty electrics and sold 'for repair'. I bought one recently described as perfect working order and guess what? It was also faulty! I have two other examples which are working fine, at present. However R3 bodies can be bought for under £100 so it's always going to be cheaper to buy another body if a working example can be found.

If you prefer the M7 then buy the M7. Just be aware that you may have trouble down the line IF it develops an electric fault, which it might not or might.  

[k0ffe]

So i went for the classic M6 in mint condition and it was just in for a CLA 👍. 

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[Narsuitus]

Since I prefer manual/mechanical cameras vs. automatic/electronic cameras, when I had to choose between the M6 and the  M7, I picked the M6.

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Leica M6 by Narsuitus, on Flickr

Edited September 16, 2019 by Narsuitus

[Guest]

Enjoy!

Edited September 16, 2019 by tri

[Herr Barnack]

@k0ffe,

Down the toad when you are ready for a second M body, I would encourage you to take a look at the M4-P.  It is the predecessor to today's M-A in many ways, and is a truly great M camera. 

It is 100% mechanical and is extremely reliable.  M4-P bodies are relatively easy to track down on the used market but mint copies are getting a bit harder to find these days. You would need to get a handheld meter, since the M4-P has no meter, same as the M-A.

 

Edited September 16, 2019 by Herr Barnack

[EddieJ]

6 hours ago, k0ffe said:

So i went for the classic M6 in mint condition and it was just in for a CLA 👍. 

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Nice one!

Lens?

[k0ffe]

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Im tracking a M4-P as we speak as the next buy. Would be nice to not be dependent on a light meter. 

For lenses it think i would like a 35 and 50, not sure what to go for yet but i have a Voigtländer 35 MC 1.4 II during the time i search.