M6 VF upgrade

R

Rafael

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After a particularly aggravating shoot during which the patch in my M6's VF whited-out incessantly, I finally gave up and sent the camera in to Gerry Smith for the VF upgrade. The upgraded finder works brilliantly. The flaring and white-out are gone. And, as always, Gerry got the camera back to me in record time (about 1 week from the time he received it to it arriving back on my doorstep).

For anybody who is experiencing frequent flaring and white-out, this fix really works. But, you might be interested to know (I certainly was) that, according to Gerry, the fix does not amount to upgrading the M6 finder to an MP finder. I have often read references to M6s that have been upgraded to the MP finder. And, in fact, when I called Gerry about my M6, I asked for the upgrade to the MP finder. But, according to him, suggestions that the upgrade results in an M6 with an MP finder are incorrect (unless a person pays about $1200 to actually have an MP finder installed in their M6). The fix for the M6 finder amounts to the installation of a condenser lens, a mirror, and a couple of other small parts that I can't remember at the moment. But, it does not include such things as the coatings in the MP finder.

This is not to suggest in any way that the upgraded M6 finder is sub-par. I am thrilled with mine. But, as I have learned, I do not now have an M6 with an MP finder. I have the upgraded M6 finder.
 
Interesting, Marc. Thanks !

You got yourself a great 35/75 machine now ! :) Seriously, this is
now the perfect combo of 75mm framelines, larger magnification
and flare-free finder.

Cheers,

Roland.
 
This may be true of the M7 "MP" finder too. It is not clear that the service upgrade on an M7 from a Leica distributor is an MP finder, or for that matter that the factory-installed M7 VF is an MP finder either, although it is often loosely called that. Does anyone know for sure that the factory-installed M7 VF is the same as that in an MP?
 
DAG did my upgrade for 190. He fixed a list of other things while he was in there. The upgrade is crucial if you're missing shots because of flare.
 
Rafael said:
... I have often read references to M6s that have been upgraded to the MP finder. And, in fact, when I called Gerry about my M6, I asked for the upgrade to the MP finder. But, according to him, suggestions that the upgrade results in an M6 with an MP finder are incorrect (unless a person pays about $1200 to actually have an MP finder installed in their M6). The fix for the M6 finder amounts to the installation of a condenser lens, a mirror, and a couple of other small parts that I can't remember at the moment. But, it does not include such things as the coatings in the MP finder...
Click to expand...

I think you're splitting hairs here. If you opened the tops of an MP and an "upgraded" M6 and set them side-by-side, the only difference would be the coatings on the MP's windows. This makes a difference, but only a very slight difference.

Do the same with two M7s (one upgraded, the other with the new finder from the factory) and you will have virtually identical finders (M7 windows have all been coated from the beginning).

I spoke with Don Goldberg ("DAG") this morning and he confirmed this.

Regards, Bill
 
BillBlackwell said:
I think you're splitting hairs here. If you opened the tops of an MP and an "upgraded" M6 and set them side-by-side, the only difference would be the coatings on the MP's windows. This makes a difference, but only a very slight difference.

Do the same with two M7s (one upgraded, the other with the new finder from the factory) and you will have virtually identical finders (M7 windows have all been coated from the beginning).

I spoke with Don Goldberg ("DAG") this morning and he confirmed this.

Regards, Bill
Click to expand...

I'm sure you are right that the differences between the finders are minimal (I have never used an MP, so I can't say so from personal experience). But the fact remains that the upgraded M6 finder is not an MP finder. I have no interest in belittling the upgraded M6 finder. That's the one that I have and I am very happy with it. But, it was news to me that the upgrade to the M6 finder did not make it identical to an MP finder.
 
I thought I read somewhere that the MP has some kind of a curved mirror. Does anyone know anything about this, or if this is one area where the difference might be?
 
marke said:
I thought I read somewhere that the MP has some kind of a curved mirror. Does anyone know anything about this, or if this is one area where the difference might be?
Click to expand...

You're likely referencing the condenser lens (removed part-way into the M4-2 run - absent from the production of every M4-P and M6/M6TTL) replaced with the introduction of the MP.
 
BillBlackwell said:
You're likely referencing the condenser lens (removed part-way into the M4-2 run - absent from the production of every M4-P and M6/M6TTL) replaced with the introduction of the MP.
Click to expand...

Yes, that's it. So what role does that play in the VF operation, and how does it change the VF performance?

Thank you.
 
pfoto said:
This may be true of the M7 "MP" finder too. It is not clear that the service upgrade on an M7 from a Leica distributor is an MP finder, or for that matter that the factory-installed M7 VF is an MP finder either, although it is often loosely called that. Does anyone know for sure that the factory-installed M7 VF is the same as that in an MP?
Click to expand...

According to Leica, the VF upgrade to my M7 (still in the works at Solms) will be the MP finder.

Harry
 
I received a CLA receipt with my newly purchased M6 TTL that had the finder upgraded... On the jobs list, it states:

"Update Viewfinder to MP type"

There was also a bunch of various adjustments (shutter, meter, light leakage, etc.) along with the CLA. Total cost on invoice was 375.00

From the wording, it does not sound like a total replacement but as mentioned above, a modification. I never used a Leica prior this, but I know that I love the viewfinder of this updated M6!!! And it doesn't disappear like the Bessa's!!!
 
My M6 has the "upgraded VF". I utterly recommend it.

Nothing beats the nice blue/gold goodness of the M3 (or Yashica Electro GSN ;) )
 
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