Zinc pest on silver M6 - technical problem or not

[Kref]

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Hello everybody.

I am thinking about buying a used M6 (old or TTL, not the new MP). I would actually prefer a chrome one and I found one from 1992 for a really good price. Only problem: It has three small and two slightly larger bubbles in the front and one on the back, all of them on side of the rewind crank.

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Only these few bubble show, nothing else and the camera seems to work flawlessly. The bubbles are visible if you are looking for them but they are not obtrusive and other than that the camera looks almost perfect, no scratches, no dents, no damages to the leatherette, etc.

So now I wonder: How bad is this. If a camera shows only these three tiny bubbles after 30 years, should I expect it to remain as is, because this maybe only happened in the first years and all bubbles that would ever show have shown by now? Or is this something that gets progressively worse over time? Do the chemical reactions in the top plate in any way influence the functionality (e.g. corrosion spreading in other parts or into the electronics)?

And also: Would you consider buying a near mint chrome M6 with three tiny bubbles if sold about 500 - 600 USD below current market value for black cameras with some clear signs of usage?

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[kivis]

Yes I would not hesitate to buy this camera. Wear those bubbles proudly.

[dkCambridgeshire]

Well known problem and well documented. Google "M6 top plate bubbling"  Affects resale value. 

[Kref]

vor 11 Minuten schrieb dkCambridgeshire:

Well known problem and well documented. Google "M6 top plate bubbling"  Affects resale value. 

Hi.

I know that it is a known problem and that this of course reduces the resale value. What I do not find is answers to the questions I asked:

Will it get worse all the time so that I can assume that a camera that shows first signs of it will be really bad in 10 years or so or is this something that showed up only over the first years and what is there after 30 years is all that ever will be there.

In the end it probably does not matter too much if the camera is stored properly, but I was hoping for somebody with experience with this telling me: ‚Mine had some bubbles show up between 5 and 10 years and none have appeared afterwards., so no danger, will probably not get worse‘

Edited September 29, 2023 by Kref

[LeicaR10]

Kref,  The multiple bubbles are there.  Will more appear?  Who really knows. Some will say yes, others no.  IMO, there are multiple bubbles now...there are most likely more bubbles in the making.  It apprears the bubbles bother you.  Perhaps you should pass on the camera and find one bubble free and end your angst now, rather than have more bubble angst if more should occur.   I know this doesn't answer your question directly, but IMO, it makes little sense to me buying a camera with blemishes that I know personally, would bug me.  At the end of the day...its your wallet and peace of mind.    r/ Mark

Edited September 29, 2023 by LeicaR10

[dpitt]

I have a Leica IIIF that is showing a similar issue. It still has most of its chrome, only slightly more spots than yours. It is from the early 50s so about 30 years older than any M6 or even 40 years if it is a M6 TTL. It has been stable for the last 10 years (as long as I pwn it) as far as I can see.

[Matlock]

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2 minutes ago, dpitt said:

I have a Leica IIIF that is showing a similar issue. It still has most of its chrome, only slightly more spots than yours. It is from the early 50s so about 30 years older than any M6 or even 40 years if it is a M6 TTL. It has been stable for the last 10 years (as long as I pwn it) as far as I can see.

The top plate on a IIIf is brass so a different issue, just poor plating.

[Matlock]

46 minutes ago, Kref said:

Hi.

I know that it is a known problem and that this of course reduces the resale value. What I do not find is answers to the questions I asked:

Will it get worse all the time so that I can assume that a camera that shows first signs of it will be really bad in 10 years or so or is this something that showed up only over the first years and what is there after 30 years is all that ever will be there.

In the end it probably does not matter too much if the camera is stored properly, but I was hoping for somebody with experience with this telling me: ‚Mine had some bubbles show up between 5 and 10 years and none have appeared afterwards., so no danger, will probably not get worse‘

It may be unsightly but it will NOT affect the working of the camera. After all this time it will probably not get any worse but only time will tell.

[Ouroboros]

3 hours ago, Kref said:

Hello everybody.

I am thinking about buying a used M6 (old or TTL, not the new MP). I would actually prefer a chrome one and I found one from 1992 for a really good price. Only problem: It has three small and two slightly larger bubbles in the front and one on the back, all of them on side of the rewind crank.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

 

Only these few bubble show, nothing else and the camera seems to work flawlessly. The bubbles are visible if you are looking for them but they are not obtrusive and other than that the camera looks almost perfect, no scratches, no dents, no damages to the leatherette, etc.

So now I wonder: How bad is this. If a camera shows only these three tiny bubbles after 30 years, should I expect it to remain as is, because this maybe only happened in the first years and all bubbles that would ever show have shown by now? Or is this something that gets progressively worse over time? Do the chemical reactions in the top plate in any way influence the functionality (e.g. corrosion spreading in other parts or into the electronics)?

And also: Would you consider buying a near mint chrome M6 with three tiny bubbles if sold about 500 - 600 USD below current market value for black cameras with some clear signs of usage?

It has zinc pox and can't really be described as 'near mint'.

No need to take the risk that it might become worse, there are plenty of M6's around.  I'd look for a better example.

[Graham (G4FUJ)]

IF it's a sensible price, i.e. the surface condition is taken into account, just buy it, with lots of film and enjoy taking photographs with it.  If you feel cosmetics are more important, look elsewhere.  When all is said and done, it's just a camera - a tool for taking photos!

[250swb]

4 hours ago, Kref said:

Only problem: It has three small and two slightly larger bubbles in the front and one on the back, all of them on side of the rewind crank.

 

 

 

 

 

I think I can count nine bubbles, but it could be ten, and that's just from the photos you posted, I would expect more. 

[Kref]

Alright. Thanks for your replies. Generally I do not really need it, because I am actually quite happy with my M5. I just considered it seeing a reasonable price.

Edited September 29, 2023 by Kref

[a.noctilux]

20 minutes ago, Kref said:

I am actually quite happy with my M5

I'd add that you will not see selected shutter speed in viewfinder in M6.

M5 will never have those "pox".

[nitroplait]

You buy the M6 with pitted surface at a lower price and if you sell it, it will be at a lower price.

Functionally it will be the same as any M6 - the issue is just cosmetic. If purely intended for use - what is not to like about a 500-600$ savings?

If you are in it to make a profit, I'd advise against non-pristine cameras.

[Anbaric]

It's difficult to make predictions, especially about the future. If the seller is reliable and they've had the camera for a long time, they might be able to tell you how long it has been in this condition. I'd probably be more concerned about bubbling that emerged recently rather than something that developed in the 90s but never got any worse. The Nemeng FAQ mentions a case that went from a small bubble in around 2001 to 'chicken pox' by 2007 ('one part had corroded into a hole about 1.5mm in diameter'). But the correspondent doesn't state how old the camera was in 2001 - it could have been anything between new and 17 years old  when the first bubble was noticed. I've examined pictures of cameras on sale a couple of times to get a handle on how common this issue is, and the proportion with some degree of bubbling was surprisingly high. But it was rare to find an M6 with the kind of severe cosmetic damage that would bother me in normal use. That said, I'd probably prefer a camera with 'clear signs of use' to one in otherwise better condition that had started to bubble. But I'd take either of these over a mint M6 with any kind of light meter issue, which might not be repairable.

Edit: In this 2007 thread, a forum member posts pictures of a 1991 M6 (by the serial number) that had been put in dry storage for two years, and was then discovered to have serious bubbling (presumably around the time of writing). This suggests to me that it is indeed possible for this issue to develop (or at least get a lot worse) a long time after the camera was made.

Edited September 29, 2023 by Anbaric

[Huss]

Michael Bublé would love that M6.

[Esleepy]

I was in the same situation when I bought my M6 classic, the deal was too good to pass up and it had suffered from "zincpox". On mine the bubbles are really small but there's a few near the viewfinder, all around the back plate, and a few more near the shutter speed. I still bought it and it never got any worse within the 5 years I've owned it (I live in dry SoCal btw). 

[dpitt]

As long as the price is at a discount now for its current state, I do not see a reason not to buy it. It is not collectible, but will keep its value as a user camera, whatever happens with the zinc pest. Actually, I like to have a camera that is not mint or near mint, as long as the issues are only cosmetic. It helps if you can use it without fear for the first scratch or dent that will lower its value considerably. If you intend to use it a lot, it will keep its value better than a near mint one.

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[Matlock]

2 minutes ago, Al Brown said:

Incredible how nobody gives a damn about images produced with cameras anymore.
Will the bubbles affect images? No. Will it get worse over time on images? No. Does it matter for images? No.

"images produced with cameras " surely you jest.

[Huss]

4 hours ago, Al Brown said:

Incredible how nobody gives a damn about images produced with cameras anymore.
Will the bubbles affect images? No. Will it get worse over time on images? No. Does it matter for images? No.

Then the advice would be to buy the most beat up camera you can find that still works.

There is nothing rational about spending thousands of dollars on a very basic camera.  So those who have - you and me included - justify that outlay.  I couldn’t justify spending all that and dealing w cosmetic issues when just a few hundred more gets you a better version.

Just care about taking pics?  I bought a Nikon N80 which is a stupendous camera.  Cost me $20.