One of the 270 M6s

[alphonse2501]

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This is Wetzlar Leica M6 1292313, the one of the 270 units in the final block of Midland's M4-P. 

Leica Packet Book 9th Edition notes the 270 units in SN list, and CameraQuest further notes this batch is "unrecorded".

However, this one I bought has updated as Solms with plain top plate and blinking low light warning, and lens lock button shroud...?

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[alphonse2501]

There did a user reported in 2004 thread in Photo.net that he sent his 1985 Wetzlar M6 to Leica for service and got all Solms updates. This one M6 looks like in the same case. 

I am not sure if this one has not used for a long time due RF/VF windows have haze, infinity is far off for rangefinder, and battery cover has several wear and tear.  

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[alphonse2501]

If I can send this M6 for CLA, it can be the next workhorse besides my non-metered Ms (I was intending it for indoor and fast paced photo shooting).
The last thing makes me wonder is Leitz never consider adding physical power on/off switch for M6 like the one on M7? 

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[250swb]

16 hours ago, alphonse2501 said:

The last thing makes me wonder is Leitz never consider adding physical power on/off switch for M6 like the one on M7? 

 

 

 

 

Nice camera, well done. The meter is switched off when set to 'B' (page 22 of the instruction book) or when the shutter has been released and not advanced.

[TomB_tx]

1 hour ago, 250swb said:

Nice camera, well done. The meter is switched off when set to 'B' (page 22 of the instruction book) or when the shutter has been released and not advanced.

I agree - the M6 got it right: no extra switch to forget about when you try to take a picture. Circuit IS off before film is advanced. Just get in the habit of advancing when you set up to meter: No LEDs mean the film needs to be advanced.

[alphonse2501]

I know the B in shuttle dial is off in M6.

However, I got serious and search for more detail about how battery drain on M6 and a famous SLR as reference:

 

Ken Rockwell:

Quote

0.0 uA at the OFF position.

0.9 uA at idle, meaning any other setting of the shutter dial, regardless of if the film is advanced. This means a new set of cells will last for about 15 years if you leave the camera at other than the OFF position and don't shoot, so I wouldn't worry about it, so long as the shutter button doesn't get knocked in a case and keep waking the meter.

7.7 mA, meter ON. I can't see any difference if one or two LEDs are lit.

 

For battery drain in Olympus OM-4/4T:

 

Quote

Yes, but drain is much much lower than a plain 4 with original circuit board. Old OM-4 drain is usually less than 12 ua (micro amps) after meter has gone through a complete "on" cycle. 4T/Ti drain is usually under 3 ua. 2S is around 20 ua. Drain must be tested starting hooked to a good DVM that measures ua, starting with battery check, then meter on, then meter times out and turns off. Setting shutter speed dial to B/60 does not turn the drain off. 

 

In addition, back when I was waiting for my package, I asked Don about the chance to get updated circuit board for M6, and he replied:

Quote

early main circuit boards in M6 cameras were not as good as the newer style that the circuit board company made for Leica, the last circuit board I replaced was about 4 years ago, Leica stopped selling circuit boards once they came out with their newest style M6 camera so people would have to buy a new M6 instead of fixing their old M6.

The main reason main circuit boards don't seem to be needed lately is if a circuit board is defective it takes about 12 hours of use before they go bad, and for an M6 camera meter to be on for a total of 12 hours may take over 10 years so it now seems that perhaps all of the defective boards have been on for at least 12 hours & have had their main boards replaced.

So, chances are your M6 in question either had its board replaced or it's a good board.

 

Looks like battery drain in updated M6 is more acceptable than OM-4/4T.

 

[250swb]

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16 hours ago, alphonse2501 said:

I know the B in shuttle dial is off in M6.

 

 

I suppose then it was in the days where Leica didn't think their users needed an identified 'On/Off' switch to know what was on, or off. People back then could read the manual and know 'B' was 'Off'. Perhaps it is todays nanny hand holding society that has meant dedicated On/Off switches are necessary because people are so helpless without such basic switches.  God help us. 

Edited July 28, 2024 by 250swb