The Anatomy of the new 2022 Leica M6

[andrew01]

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1 hour ago, analogM said:

According to (an employee of) Leica Store Wetzlar the light meter board of the new M6 is not compatible with the old M6.

It would be interesting to get the opinion from on an independent technician to understand why this is the case.  I would have thought the light meter circuit in both and old and new M6 would be as simple as it gets.

I suppose some reasons could be:

- new circuit is not compatible with the two led indicators in the old M6.

- They now fit a different type of SPD cell that has a different response curve.

- The sensors for transmitting shutter speed and ISO have different response curves.

- There is some physical difference inside the camera that restricts the mounting of the new board.

Given that the new M6 is identical to an MP inside I suppose these meter board incompatibilities have been an issue for 20 years already.  It is disappointing that Leica can’t make a replacement meter board for the M6 as a service part. It can’t be that difficult to engineer and manufacture.

 One of the key attractions of the M cameras is their long term serviceability. I am less likely to invest big in a new M camera if I don’t see a commitment from Leica to offer service for the cameras as long as the company remains in business.

[Matlock]

17 hours ago, Big John said:

How does the viewfinder of the new M6 compare with the M10 series VF?  I gather it is the VF from the MP but I have not looked through a film M VF before.  Anyone know or have experience pls. Thanks. 

The main difference between the M10 series finder and the M6 is that the frames only illuminate once the camera is switched on, it is quite an education to look through the finder before switching on as it is absolutely void of any distractions (apart from the rangefinder patch). When switched on the frames are brighter than film Ms. Leica also claim the finder to be .73 as opposed to .72 but I doubt anyone would notice that difference.

[madNbad]

9 hours ago, andrew01 said:

It would be interesting to get the opinion from on an independent technician to understand why this is the case.  I would have thought the light meter circuit in both and old and new M6 would be as simple as it gets.

I suppose some reasons could be:

- new circuit is not compatible with the two led indicators in the old M6.

- They now fit a different type of SPD cell that has a different response curve.

- The sensors for transmitting shutter speed and ISO have different response curves.

- There is some physical difference inside the camera that restricts the mounting of the new board.

Given that the new M6 is identical to an MP inside I suppose these meter board incompatibilities have been an issue for 20 years already.  It is disappointing that Leica can’t make a replacement meter board for the M6 as a service part. It can’t be that difficult to engineer and manufacture.

 One of the key attractions of the M cameras is their long term serviceability. I am less likely to invest big in a new M camera if I don’t see a commitment from Leica to offer service for the cameras as long as the company remains in business.

If you look at the contempary cameras that were available when the original M6 was introduced in 1984, how many of those were repaired by the factory for nearly forty years? The Nikon F3? Canon New F1? How about the Pentax ME or MX? In many ways, Leica has gone far beyond what other manufactures offered in both the ability to repair and parts availibilty. Electronics evolve and the metering system of the original M6 is outdated. The new meter offers a wider range of sensitivity and with the center conformation light, easier to use. If this is the base film camera for the future, they've done a good job. To expect a company to keep a stock of parts on hand for every product they ever made is asking a bit much.

[Huss]

25 minutes ago, madNbad said:

If you look at the contempary cameras that were available when the original M6 was introduced in 1984, how many of those were repaired by the factory for nearly forty years? The Nikon F3? Canon New F1? How about the Pentax ME or MX? In many ways, Leica has gone far beyond what other manufactures offered in both the ability to repair and parts availibilty. Electronics evolve and the metering system of the original M6 is outdated. The new meter offers a wider range of sensitivity and with the center conformation light, easier to use. If this is the base film camera for the future, they've done a good job. To expect a company to keep a stock of parts on hand for every product they ever made is asking a bit much.

Nikon will not even repair the FM3A or the FM10 which were their most recent film cameras.  They are still repairing the F6, but who knows for how long?

The FM10 was discontinued THIS YEAR 2022 and Nikon will no longer repair it!

I actually have not yet come across an M6 w/ a broken meter, even though I am sure there are some out there.  Even at 40 years old!  And if the meter does break, the camera is still completely useable.

It is interesting that some complain that they will only buy a $5000 camera if they have a guarantee that it will last 40+ years. But have no problem buying a high end Japanese digital camera for the same price, or a new $1500 iphone every two years.  Or a $50,000 car that will last maybe 10 years (average yearly mileage of 15-20K miles).

[madNbad]

Small shops are repairing sensors for the M9 because there is enough customer demand for it. If the M6 meters were malfunctioning at a prodigious rate, there would be shops making replacement meters. The big scare with the TTL was not so much the meter as the TTL flash circuitry. Much like the bubbly zinc, it happens but is it wide spread?

[andrew01]

1 hour ago, madNbad said:

If you look at the contempary cameras that were available when the original M6 was introduced in 1984, how many of those were repaired by the factory for nearly forty years? The Nikon F3? Canon New F1? How about the Pentax ME or MX? In many ways, Leica has gone far beyond what other manufactures offered in both the ability to repair and parts availibilty. Electronics evolve and the metering system of the original M6 is outdated. The new meter offers a wider range of sensitivity and with the center conformation light, easier to use. If this is the base film camera for the future, they've done a good job. To expect a company to keep a stock of parts on hand for every product they ever made is asking a bit much.

None of the cameras you mention are still being made. Leica is in the unique position of making the same model of camera for 60 years.  For the trivial cost of making a small circuit board, they could continue to service some of these vintage cameras and thereby maintain the prestige of the brand.

I see a lot in common with Leica and Rolex. Both make classic designs that do not change much over decades. Rolex does update the movements every 10 years.  If they started refusing to service older movements the value of the brand would tank.  People pay a premium for a brand that stands by their customers for decades.

 

 

[madNbad]

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12 minutes ago, andrew01 said:

None of the cameras you mention are still being made. Leica is in the unique position of making the same model of camera for 60 years.  For the trivial cost of making a small circuit board, they could continue to service some of these vintage cameras and thereby maintain the prestige of the brand.

I see a lot in common with Leica and Rolex. Both make classic designs that do not change much over decades. Rolex does update the movements every 10 years.  If they started refusing to service older movements the value of the brand would tank.  People pay a premium for a brand that stands by their customers for decades.

 

 

That’s my point. Production of the original M6 ended twenty five years ago and Leica was able to service the meter until recently. All of the other manufacturers abandoned repair work on those cameras. Leica can still repair the mechanism of the M6, just not the meter. If Rolex contained electronic elements, they would be in the same place as Leica. Leica can still repair most of the analog cameras with the few exceptions and that’s a pretty good record. 

[madNbad]

As an aside, I own one of the cheapest Omega watches made. It’s a quartz movement and most of them were junk. I bought mine for $150 usd in 1986 and it still accurate. Hopefully, the same is true for most M6 meters of the same era.

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[Al Brown]

Already reports of the new M6 scratching film. After several testimonies of MP 2022 scratching film it seems obvious what camera M6 is based on on the inside...😁

Edited December 17, 2022 by Al Brown

[Huss]

8 hours ago, Al Brown said:

Already reports of the new M6 scratching film. After several testimonies of MP 2022 scratching film it seems obvious what camera M6 is based on on the inside...😁

Actually that proves that the M6 uses all new parts, as it scratches film in different places.

😶

[Herr Barnack]

On 11/23/2022 at 6:07 PM, logan2z said:

So I just have to wait 30 years?  That's not bad  

The red dot logo on your M6 will fade to a pleasant subdued red in half the time that it takes to order and receive a copy of the 35 APO.

[lmans]

On 11/25/2022 at 1:53 PM, Huss said:

Nikon will not even repair the FM3A or the FM10 which were their most recent film cameras.  They are still repairing the F6, but who knows for how long?

The FM10 was discontinued THIS YEAR 2022 and Nikon will no longer repair it!

I actually have not yet come across an M6 w/ a broken meter, even though I am sure there are some out there.  Even at 40 years old!  And if the meter does break, the camera is still completely useable.

It is interesting that some complain that they will only buy a $5000 camera if they have a guarantee that it will last 40+ years. But have no problem buying a high end Japanese digital camera for the same price, or a new $1500 iphone every two years.  Or a $50,000 car that will last maybe 10 years (average yearly mileage of 15-20K miles).

But those same complainers will complain about anything in life. Always there… I just ignore them. Debbie downers who expect perfection

[Huss]

19 minutes ago, lmans said:

But those same complainers will complain about anything in life. Always there… I just ignore them. Debbie downers who expect perfection

I just shot two rolls in my M-A today.  It was up in batting order.  Nice camera…