M6J

[grahamc]

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Hey everyone 

curious to know if anyone here has owned (or of course not owned but familiar with) the M6J and what your thoughts are in comparison to an MP (modern mp)

mostly wondering about the insides build quality and materials .. but of course handling and usability feedback comparisons welcomed also 

Thanks in advance  

Edited August 24, 2021 by grahamc

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[lct]

No idea about the MP but in a nutshell the M6J is a 0.85x rangefinder with no framelines for 28mm nor 75mm. Only 35, 50, 90 and 135. Sort of modern M3 with TTL metering and 35mm framelines rather difficult to see if you wear spectacles. Great for 50mm users due to the 0.85x magnification and lack of 75mm framelines. Was launched with a new version of the Elmar, the Elmar-M 50/2.8 which remained more or less unchanged till its replacement by the Summarit-M 50/2.5. 

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[a.noctilux]

Nice read from Cameraquest M6J

https://www.cameraquest.com/leicam6j.htm

for more

35mmc review

 

https://www.35mmc.com/12/11/2018/leica-m6j-review/

 

and if you are LHSA member

 

https://lhsa.org/2017/05/the-leica-m6-jubilee-m6j/#myaccount

[grahamc]

Thanks. Looks very nice. It’s interesting that the LHSA article mentions the hotshot on M6J has TTL flash capabilities. Since it was a few years before M6 TTL.   That capability isn’t high on the spec needs/wants for myself but quite interesting to note.  

And I wonder what camera the innards of this are based off (one would presume M6 due to the name and metering) ?

Would this be a more interesting / desirable camera to own than something like a M6TTL millennium I wonder 🤔   I already have one version of TTL so doubling up could be a good thing for consistency but not so good for lack of variety  

I’m vaguely on the beginning of a quest for a second film M (although in no rush) and looking at these, MP or millennium .  

[andrew01]

Of all the countless M6 special editions, the M6J is the most interesting by a significant margin in my opinion.

Unfortunately prices are sky high. 

[grahamc]

6 minutes ago, andrew01 said:

Of all the countless M6 special editions, the M6J is the most interesting by a significant margin in my opinion.

Unfortunately prices are sky high. 

I agree with this and yes unfortunately they are 

[lct]

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2 hours ago, grahamc said:

Would this be a more interesting / desirable camera to own than something like a M6TTL millennium I wonder 🤔   I already have one version of TTL so doubling up could be a good thing for consistency but not so good for lack of variety

The TTL version you own is a 0.72x version i guess. Compared to it, a 0.85x will feel like a different camera. Perfect if 50mm is your cup of tea, less so if you see in 35mm or otherwise. Anyway the M6J is an expensive collector but you don't have to pay little fortunes to get a 0.85x M6 or M7. Around EUR 3k perhaps i don't know.

[a.noctilux]

I had MP 0.85 sold to a friend,

regret it for it's viewfinder, and I bought much cheaper M6HM so 0.85 I always use

this one (not the MP) can flare in the RF patch but easily avoid with some care

we can see it here

 

 

[grahamc]

3 minutes ago, lct said:

The TTL version you own is a 0.72x version i guess. Compared to it, a 0.85x will feel like a different camera. Perfect if 50mm is your cup of tea, less so if you see in 35mm or otherwise. Anyway the M6J is an expensive collector but you don't have to pay little fortunes to get a 0.85x M6 or M7. Around EUR 3k perhaps i don't know.

Thanks. Yes that’s right my TTL is 0.72. 
I’m a mainly a 35mm and 50mm shooter.  In reality the 35mm gets more use and I understand they would be harder to see on this 0.85 variant.  I think I could live with using the 50mm with this camera “if” I choose to go ahead, and presumably quite enjoy that experience .

Of course by this logic an M3, or the 0.85 M6 or M7 you’ve suggested, would be a much better better financial choice although really and o have considered it, particularly the M3   

I do like the idea of m6j and have found one in my birth year (admittedly it’s just 4 numbers stamped on the serial, but a nice touch nonetheless) that seems reasonable price-wise.  my appraisal of it being “reasonable” is that it’s the same price as black paint edition TTLs I’ve been looking at.  
 

it may be nice to have more variety on the shelf of shooting experiences than another TTL. I always seem to end up buying doubles or repeats of things I like (not just cameras) and I can imagine with Leica it’s nice to enjoy different experiences  

 

 

[grahamc]

15 minutes ago, a.noctilux said:

I had MP 0.85 sold to a friend,

regret it for it's viewfinder, and I bought much cheaper M6HM so 0.85 I always use

this one (not the MP) can flare in the RF patch but easily avoid with some care

we can see it here

 

 

Thanks that’s interesting.  Yes I do read consistently good reports of this magnification. I’ll check out the link ! 

Of course it’s limiting to 50mm (or above) usability but I think that would be quite nice. I have no problem knowing I’m taking a 50mm (and only a 50mm) out for a day 

[UliWer]

If there is a reason to legitimate the price of an M6J it is not so much the camera but the lens. You may get an M6 with 0.85 rangefinder, though perhaps someone will miss the M3 "window-frames", which the M6J had again.

The M6J-Elmar has the classical design of the old 1:2.8 version, but the glass of the new Elmar-M, which is much better. It is not just the look of the old design but also the better construction, which was rather sloppy for the Elmar-M. I am not completely sure if the optics of the M6J-Elmar turns around when you focus as did the original version. Perhaps someone who has the lens can tell.

If the M6J-Elmar has the straight line construction with no turning optics you might call it the pinnacle of all Elmars. 

 

[lct]

The Elmar-M of the M6J (right) isn't sloppy at all and its barrel does not turn when focusing contrary to the Elmar (left).

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[grahamc]

12 minutes ago, UliWer said:

If there is a reason to legitimate the price of an M6J it is not so much the camera but the lens. You may get an M6 with 0.85 rangefinder, though perhaps someone will miss the M3 "window-frames", which the M6J had again.

The M6J-Elmar has the classical design of the old 1:2.8 version, but the glass of the new Elmar-M, which is much better. It is not just the look of the old design but also the better construction, which was rather sloppy for the Elmar-M. I am not completely sure if the optics of the M6J-Elmar turns around when you focus as did the original version. Perhaps someone who has the lens can tell.

If the M6J-Elmar has the straight line construction with no turning optics you might call it the pinnacle of all Elmars. 

 

Great to know. And yes in those price comparisons versus limited-run TTL’s I had forgotten to mention of course the J comes with the lens. 
 

It’s starting to look like a nice choice rather than doubling up on another TTL (albeit in a different colour) 

[grahamc]

Important to note of course is it’s M6 insides - I presume they put the m3 top plate on it (and advance lever) and called it a day :p

[lct]

15 minutes ago, grahamc said:

Important to note of course is it’s M6 insides - I presume they put the m3 top plate on it (and advance lever) and called it a day

M3 and M6J have a different rewind crank.

[grahamc]

4 hours ago, lct said:

M3 and M6J have a different rewind crank.

Ah yes.  I'm only familiar with the rewind of my TTL, which I like.   Have you used both and do you have any preference ?  For my type of usage I'm unlikely to favour one for being 'faster' as I'm not generally in a hurry between rolls.  Unless there is a recognised annoyance with either of the designs ...

Edited August 25, 2021 by grahamc

[a.noctilux]

As user, I think the 0.85 can be good choice for 35/50 combo.

That was I used on MP (0.85), the 35 framelines are 'usable' and the framing/focussing with 35mm lens is far better than with my M3 + 35 goggled model or with SBLOO on top of M3.

As side note, I used also magnifier x1.25 on 0.72 to see 'M3 style' but, not as practical as 0.85 VF.

Don' forget the plastic articulated wind-on lever on M6HM which I like better than full metal of M2/M3/MP/M-A ☺️.

 

...just to be more M6J/M3 affair, here image of their tops (from the link I provided to LHSA, this link ...)

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[grahamc]

Thanks @a.noctilux   
 

i struggle a little bit to see 35mm on 0.72 because I wear glasses but it’s not essential I shoot with glasses and often take them off to shoot. Next time I have the camera with me I’ll check how easy I find 28mm lines. I imagine that will give a good simulation of the 35mm on a 0.85  
 

 

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[lct]

6 hours ago, grahamc said:

Ah yes.  I'm only familiar with the rewind of my TTL, which I like.   Have you used both and do you have any preference ?  For my type of usage I'm unlikely to favour one for being 'faster' as I'm not generally in a hurry between rolls.  Unless there is a recognised annoyance with either of the designs ...

Matter of tastes. I much prefer the crank of the M4 which has been kept on later cameras including the M6J. Was kind of a relief when i got my first M4 a century ago . Now again it is a matter of tastes. Suffice it to try both (not necessarily M6J) and you should see what you prefer immediately.

[andrew01]

Regardless of whether you prefer the M4 stile angled rewind crank or the classic M3 knob, It’s a pity that having made a great effort to replicate the aesthetics of the M3 on the M6J they then dropped the ball for the rewind crank.