M6 hotshoe

"So Leica placed this pin there simply to make using other manufacturer's flash units difficult if not impossible?"

That "pin" has been in every shoe on every Leica M camera that I can remember, including non hotshoe models. It is threaded and can be removed easily with a small screwdriver if needed.

Don't know if this is really true, but I was told many years ago, that the "pin" prevented accessories from getting stuck in the shoe by sliding in too far.
 
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Mazurka said:
I believe any Nikon (or Canon, for that matter) flash will fry the camera if used in TTL mode.
Click to expand...
You sure about this? I have fired my Canon 430EZ with my M6TTL and it seemed to work. I didn't have any film in it, tough.
 
I have an M6 TTL and a Metz 34 BCT 1 with one contact point.
The camera has four contact pointas, and this works together just fine.
Giving well exposed pictures witout any problems.
I bought the flasch in 1977.
Thomas..
 
M6 hot shoe with Braun flash

M6 hot shoe with Braun flash

I recently got an M6 and wanted a quick flash for it. I bought a used Braun hobby flash. It fits completely into the hot shoe. Very easy to take on and off. The connection is not square so it does not stick out.
 

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Mazurka said:
I believe any Nikon (or Canon, for that matter) flash will fry the camera if used in TTL mode.
Click to expand...

I was about to try and unscrew the pin on my M6's hotshoe to fit my Nikon flash all the way when I read this. Can somebody elaborate why a Nikon or Canon flash would 'fry' an M6 if used in TTL mode? I got (very) cold feet because I just tried my Nikon SB28 on my M6, with the hotshoe screw on, no film and in M and A mode (not TTL) and it seemed to work fine. After reading this though I am reluctant to try it again, in whatever mode (with or without screw).
 
I've used my SB26's on my Leica m4-p. No issues... I always use the flash in auto mode, and the camera at 1/50. I've accidently shot the flash in TTL mode, and that just causes it to fire full power, leading to ... interesting results on film, but no damage to the camera.
 
Leica, Nikon, and Contax (remember them?) all use the same pin configuration in their TTL flashes and cameras, so of course their TTL cords are all compatible- all they do is provide the correct contact from each pin in the flash to it's mate in the camera. This isn't the same thing as having the same electronic functions. These cameras all use proprietary electronics which operate on different voltages, so the TTL modes on Nikon flashes will zap an M6TTL, just as a Leica SF20 won't work in TTL mode on a Nikon. But the cords will work just fine.

As for that little screw in the front of the Leica shoe (hot or otherwise...) I think somebody once told me what it was for, but I forget . Anyway, as others have noted here it doesn't interfere with most flash units making contact with the pin (or pins, in the case of the TTL/M7).
 
Gilo25 said:
I was about to try and unscrew the pin on my M6's hotshoe to fit my Nikon flash all the way when I read this. Can somebody elaborate why a Nikon or Canon flash would 'fry' an M6 if used in TTL mode? I got (very) cold feet because I just tried my Nikon SB28 on my M6, with the hotshoe screw on, no film and in M and A mode (not TTL) and it seemed to work fine. After reading this though I am reluctant to try it again, in whatever mode (with or without screw).
Click to expand...

I use SB22 (in A mode) on my M6 classic with no problem (in A mode). Sometimes on camera, sometimes off camera using canon off shoe cord. I also used the flash on my 30d in the past (before i purchased a canon speedlight). I too was worried about the flash might fry the camera (my canon 30d), but then I came accross this site: http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html

It list flash trigger voltage of various brands.

BTW, I think you don't have to unscrew that little pin on the hotshoe. I thought about removing it cause my SB22 won't slide all the way in, but it doesn't affect the result. The flash still works just fine, so I leave it alone.

Bob
 
Wake up, oh sleepy thread! 😛

I just acquired an M6 Classic and I want to try and use one of my flashes with it. I have a Canon 420EX (not EZ), a 580EX and a Contax TLA-360. Now I have read that the 420EX does not have a manual mode so I am interpreting that as it having E-TTL mode only? The 580EX seems to have only E-TTL and M while the TLA-360 has TTL, A and M modes.

I am going to try out all three and post my findings. I might eventually resort to using a bracket (and shoe-shoe cord) if I can only use the big ones, althought the 420 is still pretty big too. If any of you have tried these with our M6 Classic please chime in!
 
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