I Love My M6!

[plasticman]

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Hey that's great. Seems you put the film in the back rather than squeezing it through the round hole at the front before putting the lens back on

Pete

 

:D

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[PauloSm6]

This '87 M6 is packed with mojo - belonged to a Geographic photographer, until last week. A new battery cover.

 

Was the NatGeo photographer David Alan Harvey? I bought a M6 after hanging out with him in Cuba, got my TTL M6 in 2001.

Paulo

[wattsy]

i fondled a TTL for the very first time. is it me or does anyone else feel a cheaper build quality when compared to a classic m6?

 

Possibly but I tend to feel that the drop in quality came after the TTL. The M7 and MP both have an incredibly cheap film speed dial on the back (made of plastic usually reserved for Christmas cracker gifts), the MP comes as standard with the cheapo feeling 'bath mat' covering and, on an entirely personal level, the most problems I've ever experienced with a Leica camera has been with an M7. This included both the well documented unreliable DX reader but also a top plate that had about 2mm of play in relation to the rest of the body when squeezed vertically.

[thrid]

i am now at the point where i am considering a second body and today in fact i fondled a TTL for the very first time. is it me or does anyone else feel a cheaper build quality when compared to a classic m6? this is purely subjective but my own limited two cents' worth.

 

There are a lot of variations of the M6. The camera was in production for about 20 years...

 

Leica M6 Early Production

 

Most of these changes are cosmetic. In my experience the TTL does not differ from late M6 bodies.

Both of these are very well made and very, very tough bodies. If they had a 1 meter frameline mask they would be close to perfect.

 

There appear to also be variations with the M6TTL.

 

I bought my M6ttl 12 years ago this summer.

 

A few years ago I was hanging out with a friend, who also owned two M6TTL bodies. I was playing around with one of his cameras and noticed a few differences. (His cameras were made after mine)

 

 

- On his camera the black anodizing seemed much thicker or denser. Mine looked a little thin in comparison.

 

- The finish of my rewind knob doesn't match the rest of my camera. Both parts are black anodized, but the rewind knob is a cheap looking glossy black. Now, here is where my memory fails me, because I can't remember if at some point the rewind knob was replaced, when the camera was sent for service. So, this may not be the original.

 

Otherwise the two cameras were identical. Fit and finish were equally tight.

 

Over the years I have come across a few other TTL bodies with a similar finish to mine, but never the mismatched rewind knob. Maybe Leica had a batch where the finish was spotty or they tried a different process? Who knows?

 

Ultimately it's all cosmetic.

 

I've used this camera almost daily for the past 12 years. It's been rained and snowed on, used in the freezing cold and boiling heat and has proven itself to be utterly reliable. When there was a problem, it was self inflicted (dropping etc). The M6ttl the AK-47 of cameras. It may not be the prettiest M, but it delivers the goods, when called upon. And in my book, that's all that counts.

Edited June 4, 2010 by thrid

[thrid]

Possibly but I tend to feel that the drop in quality came after the TTL. The M7 and MP both have an incredibly cheap film speed dial on the back (made of plastic usually reserved for Christmas cracker gifts), the MP comes as standard with the cheapo feeling 'bath mat' covering and, on an entirely personal level, the most problems I've ever experienced with a Leica camera has been with an M7. This included both the well documented unreliable DX reader but also a top plate that had about 2mm of play in relation to the rest of the body when squeezed vertically.

 

Interesting. Sorry to hear about the issues you've had with your M7. Sounds like you got a bad unit.

 

I have both the TTL and a very early M7 and in my experience the M7 is a step up in fit, finish and smoothness from the TTL.

 

A few notes:

 

- The film speed dial on the M7 is made from the same ABS plastic, as on the M6 series. I've never had a problem with it, although there have been some complaints. Mine is a type 1 dial from the first 5000 bodies. Later cameras share the same dial with the MP.

 

- Cosmetically the M7 seems a little 'crisper' than the TTL. This probably has to do with the top plate being milled from a block of brass, instead of being cast from magnesium alloy. The edges and corners are noticeably sharper.

 

The black anodized finish of the M7 seems thicker and denser. When my M7 was new it has this nice semi dull look to it. It was the first thing I noticed, when I opened the box. Now, granted I have a TTL with an odd finish, but regardless the M7 is very nice in this respect.

 

I have the original DX reader in my camera and although I have heard reports of people encountering problems, mine has worked flawless for the past 5 or 6 years. It sounds like you are describing the type 1 reader from the first and second production block. Later units use a different reader, that seems to work just fine. The complaints about type 1 seem to center on two issues. The cartridge doesn't fall out, when you reload and you have to pull it out with your fingers or incorrect/sporadic DX readings. Both issues are related to the tension of the DX reader 'fingers'. Pulling the cartridge out by hand should be a no brainer, but the read problems requires the tension of the fingers to be adjusted so they remain pressed against the cartridge (or have the unit replaced with the newer type). Personally I think the type 2 reader is a much better design.

 

I'm trying to picture the issue with the 2mm movement. It sounds like the top plate on your camera was not properly screwed down, which is a real lapse in quality control. I'm sitting here squeezing my M7 and it won't budge even a millimeter. The factory definitely screwed up in that case.

 

In terms of operational smoothness the M7/MP is a huge improvement on the M6/TTL. Straight out of the box my M7 was smooth as butter, whereas my TTL felt like a coffee grinder for the first few years. The rangefinder in the M7/MP is also a big improvement. No more flare and noticeably increased contrast. I had to upgrade the finder in my M7 with the flare fix, because it was from the first batch and still used the old M6 style unit. I also upgraded my TLL with a new MP RF unit and it's great.

 

Overall I've had little or no problems with my M7. At one point the film advance clutch had to be tightened, when I purchased a Leicavit, but other then that I've had no problems. The camera has been used, but not abused, so it's not like it was pampered.

 

I don't think I would describe the MP cover as cheap. Depending on your own personal taste it could be described as ugly, but at least it's not slippery. The cover on my TTL and M7 is as slippery as a bar of soap and some day I will replace it on both, because it annoys the hell out of me.

[kivis]

I had an M7 and always something wrong with. Sent once in to NJ, wait, wait. Then new problems, wait wait then I sold it and got an M6 and no problems at all plus manual is more my style anyway.

[wattsy]

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I'm trying to picture the issue with the 2mm movement. It sounds like the top plate on your camera was not properly screwed down, which is a real lapse in quality control. I'm sitting here squeezing my M7 and it won't budge even a millimeter. The factory definitely screwed up in that case.

 

You would think so but I sent it back to Leica to check and they said it was fine.

 

In terms of operational smoothness the M7/MP is a huge improvement on the M6/TTL. Straight out of the box my M7 was smooth as butter, whereas my TTL felt like a coffee grinder for the first few years.

 

I have an MP and don't have the impression that there is any significant difference in "operational smoothness". Nor do I remember the TTL top plate being less "crisp" than the top plate of the M7/MP (I owned M6TTL and M7 bodies simultaneously). I do accept, however, that the more recent finder is a major improvement in that it has pretty much eliminated the flare problem of the M6 and TTL bodies.

[m_fokus]

. It may not be the prettiest M, but it delivers the goods, when called upon. And in my book, that's all that counts.

 

amen to that, brother. that is the bottom line for me, too...yet on a certain level this ruggedness is (was?) synonymous with leica, regardless of the specific model (maybe this is just stating the obvious??)

 

by the way, that '87 black M6 looks fantastic...nice patina on the outside...what about on the inside? not as dramatic as winogrand's last M4 i should hope!!

Edited June 4, 2010 by m_fokus

[PasMichiel]

M6 (1991) + German Summicron 35 (1988)

Edited June 7, 2010 by PasMichiel

[koray]

Plenty of resources for rogue ebay sellers here!

Below is my beauty, with my favourite lens on. A pleasure to use!..

 

K.

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[Moritz]

Well this is my beloved Leica Panda M6, Summicron 2/35 with Softie, Sling and Leica á la carte Cognac Everready Case

 

Regards Moritz

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Edited June 7, 2010 by Moritz

[thrid]

You would think so but I sent it back to Leica to check and they said it was fine.

 

That's really strange. So, you are saying that if you press down on the top plate it moves 2mm downward?

 

 

I have an MP and don't have the impression that there is any significant difference in "operational smoothness".

 

My TTL is a 1998 and it took a few hundred rolls to break in. I'm mainly talking about the film advance. My M7, which is a fairly early example, felt that smooth right out of the box. The M7 still is quieter in all operations and not just because of the electronic shutter and missing gears. It's just smoother.

 

I noticed a similar thing the first time I used an MP. It was brand new, but about as smooth as my M2/M4, which in addition to using brass gears (vs steel) has had countless rolls put through it.

 

Nor do I remember the TTL top plate being less "crisp" than the top plate of the M7/MP (I owned M6TTL and M7 bodies simultaneously). I do accept, however, that the more recent finder is a major improvement in that it has pretty much eliminated the flare problem of the M6 and TTL bodies.

 

The crispness is very subtle. Next time you get a chance to see them side by side look at the corners very closely. Also the beveling on the edges appears to be a little tighter on the M7. It's subtle, but it's there. It's just the difference between casting and machining. Ultimately, it means nothing.

Edited June 7, 2010 by thrid

[kivis]

My M6 black taped

 

[4X5B&W]

The perfect combination.

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[mikebidwell]

Well I really love my M6 but at the moment it's causing me problems. We recently went on a cruise to the Norwegian Fjords so I took it along cos I wanted to take some real photos.

 

I shot a couple of rolls of 400 Asa Fuji Superia X film. The first roll was fine no problems but the second film I noticed that three of the images out of the 36 were bad.

 

I'd be very interested if any M6 users can offer any suggestions as to what is causing this problem, it wouldn't be so bad if it was on every image but its not. It is only on image 9 13A & 33A.

 

Best wishes

 

Mike Bidwell

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[aauckland]

Did you swap the lens, (outdoors), prior to these frames being taken Mike?

I had a similar effect, on an M3, where the light leaks were obvious if I had changed lens in-between shots.

I needed to have the M's light baffles replaced.

[aauckland]

......or post taking an image Mike.

As this light spillage will impact on a frame, by changing lenses either pre or post the frame, (that shows the light seepage.)

 

This an easy effect to test for, just sacrifice a single frame:

1) Wind-on the film, (to access a clear piece of negative),

2) Remove lens, (outdoors).

3) Replace lens.

4) Wind-on film, (then use camera as normal)

 

This will give you a single frame, (that would normally be clear film), but is likely to show the light seepage fault.

[mikebidwell]

Did you swap the lens, (outdoors), prior to these frames being taken Mike?

I had a similar effect, on an M3, where the light leaks were obvious if I had changed lens in-between shots.

I needed to have the M's light baffles replaced.

 

Hi there thanks for your reply but thinking about it I'm sure I didn't swap lenses outdoors when taking the images. In fact this image of the 'Pew End' below was actually taken immediately before the one posted earlier which is a bad image. I took another 24 exp film this morning which contains images from the Norway trip and it will be interesting to see what they are like.

 

Best wishes

 

Mike

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Fuchsei]

Rein aus Interesse: Wie würde eine silberne Leica M6, mit schwarzem Handgriff und schwarzem Summicron-M 2/35 mit runder Sonnenblende aussehen?

 

Puhhh...was ein Satz

[Guest ccmsosse]

Rein aus Interesse: Wie würde eine silberne Leica M6, mit schwarzem Handgriff und schwarzem Summicron-M 2/35 mit runder Sonnenblende aussehen?

 

Puhhh...was ein Satz

 

Meine M6, M7, MP, M9 sind all schwarz - also kann ich hier nicht helfen ...

Viel Spass