M6 - How to check?

sanmich

sanmich

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I may need to check a mid-90's classic M6 in a couple of days.
Apart of the regular check, speed verification ,curtains, focus, etc. is there something special about these cameras that I need to pay attention to?
Any known disease?
The only thing I can think about that is not immediately apparent may be battery drainage. Are the M6 known for such problems? (or is there a way to check it in a one hour meeting/ film shooting session?)

Thanks!
 
I just recently had an M6 Classic....beautiful camera but
had one problem
It seemed to go through two sets of batteries within two weeks
and silly me Failed to Notice
that when I lightly pressed the shutter
the red triangles Failed to Turn Off after about 30 seconds
so it was Easy ...sent back to Tamarkin ...Nio problem with Return and instead I went for an M2 being Delivered Today in fact
(while myother camera.... M6ttl is being serviced by DAG)
 
cock the shutter, press the release lightly and the meter arrow should light for approx 12-14 secs and then go off. when the shutter is tripped it should go off instantly. check slow speeds but to be honest they should be fine as the m6's are not old enough to gum up yet! the 1000 sec speed I check with an old tv, crt type. open the back, take the lens off, set to 1000th and with camera pointed at screen you should see a curving strip from top, curving left and approx 2-3mm wide when looking at the shutter. when you change to 500 250 125 strip gets wider. the rest is just the normal stuff. good luck
 
Good point Helen, thanks!
Although I think failing to stop the diodes is only one way to get crazy drainage from the camera.
The M2 is the nec plus ultra! Enjoy it before the clock rings 12PM and it changes into a Nikon RF 😉
 
You could also go hardcore and not use any batteries at all! It's very nice having the meter, for sure (I own the classic, myself) but it's nice to know that you can still use it without any batteries at all, if it comes to that.
 
Check if the rewind crank is straight and rotates nicely. Check the flash contacts (with a flash ?). Check for smallest bubbles in the metal paint. Otherwise like any M ....

When you pack the camera away, put it on "B".

Roland.
 
Hi Michael,

If you are sending the M6 in for a sprucing, you might consider whether you want to upgrade the VF to a MP VF. This will do 2 things right away. One, it is a brilliant VF and it will get rid of the flare that can occur in the standard M6 VF, especially in low light conditions. Two, it will add a bit of value to your M6 in terms of resale if that is a factor down the road.

IIRC, the MP VF upgrade costs about 225usd through DAG -- which is way, way less than getting the whole MP -- but, for sure, you would be getting the one of the very best parts of a MP 😉

Something to consider...perhaps?

Best, Thomas
 
Check the finders clean. Check that 8th 15th 30th speeds sound consistant (and the springs after the shutter sound consistant.

Check Vertical RF alignment.

Make sure everything is smooth and tight
 
Thanks to all for the great inputs!!

Thomas, you read my mind.🙂
I just had Don over the phone and in the case the M6 materializes, it will be on its way to Wisconsin immediately for a flare free upgrade.
I also asked Don about putting the older / larger frames (M2-mid M4P) in the M6 but it's a no-go due to the diodes...
He also confirmed that the classic drainage problem is from the camera not going off after a metering, which is easy to check (Sorry to rub it in, Helen)
At least he has some solid black chrome metal winding lever...
I just can't take pictures without them anymore 😱
 
Steven Dooley said:
How is the M5 working out for you, Helen?
Click to expand...

Gone....but i did have FUN with it
But traded it for the M6 classic
Which has now turned into
An M2
I have come full circle
Back to my very first M
I got just a few yrs ago....feels soooooo Good the M2

May sell my M6ttl when it returns from Don
 
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Sorry to jump into your thread sanmich, I just happen to be facing a similar situation next week of having to inspect and potentially to buy an M6 classic. I have seen photos of the camera and everything else looks very tidy except for the chrome color top plate that exhibits pretty severe bubbling. I'm wondering how much such a thing should lower an otherwise fully working M6's price. I'm being offered it at a locally reasonable 600 euros due to the bubbles.
 
randomm said:
Sorry to jump into your thread sanmich, I just happen to be facing a similar situation next week of having to inspect and potentially to buy an M6 classic. I have seen photos of the camera and everything else looks very tidy except for the chrome color top plate that exhibits pretty severe bubbling. I'm wondering how much such a thing should lower an otherwise fully working M6's price. I'm being offered it at a locally reasonable 600 euros due to the bubbles.
Click to expand...

There are plenty of them so wait and find one without the corrosion issue. If you come to sell it, it will always be an issue!
 
sanmich said:
Thanks to all for the great inputs!!

Thomas, you read my mind.🙂
I just had Don over the phone and in the case the M6 materializes, it will be on its way to Wisconsin immediately for a flare free upgrade.
I also asked Don about putting the older / larger frames (M2-mid M4P) in the M6 but it's a no-go due to the diodes...
He also confirmed that the classic drainage problem is from the camera not going off after a metering, which is easy to check (Sorry to rub it in, Helen)
At least he has some solid black chrome metal winding lever...
I just can't take pictures without them anymore 😱
Click to expand...

You are providing a solution to a problem that you don't know exists. You are also spending money to fix what may be a non-existent problem.
At least wait until you use the camera and determine if the problem exists or if it exists to the extant that you want to moderate the problem. If the finder does exhibit flare from time to time, an upgrade will not totally eliminate the problem.
I have an M6 Classic with 0.85 finder. Yes, it does flare from time to time but is not a problem. The camera takes pictures just like any other M.-Dick
 
I agree with RichardB. My M6 .85 was very much better after the finder upgrade but my regular M6 .72 has not been enough of a problem to warrant an expensive upgrade. A black M6 .85 and a chrome M6 .72 make a wonderful combo. Good Luck. Joe
 
I will give the camera a try before sending it. It was DAG advice too.
He even mentioned that some M6 classics has more of this problem than others.
My experience from an M6TTL 0.58 was quite horrible in certain situations (inside facing bright windows)
Let's put it that way: I plan on sending the camera if it needs it. I may have a good surprise...
 
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