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M6 meter problem


shinoda

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Hi everybody.

 

I bought a black M6 two days ago. It was made in 1988. It's the transition model.

I shot my first roll of film and was very happy with it. Then yesterday, I went to shoot some more, and I noticed that the meter wasn't working. Sometimes just the left arrow would appear, and then, when changing the aperture/SS, it was gone. Then all of sudden, it started working again. So I made about 10 exposures and went back home. In the afternoon, I was out shooting again, and the meter wasn't working again.

 

I did replace the battery, I did clean the battery contacts, and also the contacts in the back cover too. I did swith the shutter speed dial and the film dial a few times, but nothing.

 

Only the left arrow appears when changing the shutter speed, then it is gone when I change the F stop, or keep changing the SS. The right arrow does not appear at all. When the arrow is on, I put on the lens cap and the light is OFF. I read about that on another thread, and they said this is a meter circuit problem.

 

I will contact the seller tomorrow. He might take the cam to repair, or give me another body ( he has a few for selling ) .

 

Now I am in doubt:

 

This was probably the only black body that he had. The other ones were chrome. Do you think I should take a chrome one , or repair my black cam?

 

Do you know how much would it be to replace a circuit meter, I just want to have some idea of price.

 

Thanks guys.

 

Alessandro Shinoda

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I am not sure of your location, so no sure which would be your nearest repair shop. Before sending off, though, I would try one more set of batteries. Believe it or not, new batteries are not always fresh. At any rate, I found my M6 batteries seemed to run down alarmingly fast after a just a few films; I got new ones and so far so good.

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But that's what I like about the black body: the pro-look.

 

I know this doesn't matter, but when you pay such money in those cameras you must take what will make you happy.

 

Thanks anyway.

 

I am assuming you have some sort of warranty from the seller and as was mentioned above, if you wish to keep the body you could check service centre details with the Leica AG web site. Having said that I, personally would not feel too happy about a meter fault like you mention. I would go for an exchange or of course a refund, which is your consumer rights, and start the process all over again with a new seller

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Two things to check before you send the M6 off:

First- is it a white out problem? sometimes the LED is obscured by glare

Second-this is the product of my own stupidity-is the bottom plate on correctly? Once I did not fit it properly,causing light to flood in through a small gap and overwhelm the meter.

Good luck

John W

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Two things to check before you send the M6 off:

First- is it a white out problem? sometimes the LED is obscured by glare

Second-this is the product of my own stupidity-is the bottom plate on correctly? Once I did not fit it properly,causing light to flood in through a small gap and overwhelm the meter.

Good luck

John W

 

The RF patch, not the LED(s), flares.

 

The gap between the door and the bottom will fog the film, but, the shutter being closed will not be exposed to the light leak.

 

Where do you get your info?

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exactly same problem here. With the lens out from the camera, if i move slightly with my finger the little focus wheel, the led begins to turn on and of. I think that there is some interaction between focusing and the leds. Need to send it to repair.

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I had a repair done for a malfunctioning meter on an M6 TTL. The repair included a replacement of the ISO dial (part of the metering sub-circuit, I believe), a full CLA and test and recalibration of shutter times.

 

Total cost was £160 including tax. Camera is fully functioning and light meter is now accurate.

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The seller gave me another body and send the other one for repair.

 

Now I am in doubt:

 

He said that I could keep this new body or if I wanted I could stil have the first one.

The first one had the big M6 on the front, it was made in 1988, and it was in brand new condition. The new body that I got, was made in 1997, it has the Leica M6 on front, and is in not so mint condition.

 

What you guys think?

 

Both are black.

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The seller gave me another body and send the other one for repair.

 

Now I am in doubt:

 

He said that I could keep this new body or if I wanted I could stil have the first one.

The first one had the big M6 on the front, it was made in 1988, and it was in brand new condition. The new body that I got, was made in 1997, it has the Leica M6 on front, and is in not so mint condition.

 

What you guys think?

 

Both are black.

 

Then you have the best of both worlds- you can shoot a film through the one he has loaned you and make your final choice later, however I would tend to lean towards the later model, forget the "big M6 on the front"- or you could get one of these

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Well if you are getting a CLA and a meter repair I would tell the dealer I was emotionally attached to the one you originally bought ...

 

Neil, how long ago was the meter repair. I know a 6.2 with a dud meter.

 

Rob - it was repaired about 2 months ago.

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If it was serviced two months ago there is something very fishy about the camera unless the repairer is totally incompetent, this more than ever would enforce my original comment. If you now have an M6 that seems OK demand some sort of guarantee, and not with his tame repairer but with Leica. If this is not forthcoming I would say he has breached his contract of sale condition and you require your money back. Then you can start the process all over again but with a Leica dealer this time. You may have to pay more but piece of mind comes at a price

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