Recommendations for overhauling my M6

RdEoSg

RdEoSg

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Well I have decided that while my camera is functioning fine, I am still having issues with it scratching film and since I bought it used, I feel it's a good idea to get it overhauled before the summer starts and I start using it even more! I'm going to Poland in September so I want it in tip top shape for that and obviously I want to get in a good amount of rolls before that just to make sure as well.

So here is my real problem.

I have an M6 with a .85 viewfinder, the apparently rare version. The damn thing flares like no tomorrow in the rangefinder and I would love to have it upgraded. Is this blasphemy? If they only made about 3000 of the camera, I feel kind of bad altering it! At the same time, it is MY camera that I don't plan on selling! Shouldn't I do what makes it most usable to me?

I just can't decide. I'd love to pick up an M2, 3 or 4 someday so in theory I could put the upgrade money towards one of those which don't have as many issues with the rangefinder flare. That won't really alter the fact that this camera would still be flaring when I use it though!

I know some people don't find it an issue, but on more than a few occasions I have had to sit there moving around and turning the camera this way and that to get the patch half way usable to focus. Generally that resulted in a missed shot!

My other question is has anyone used http://stevecamera.com/ They specialize in Hasselblad and Leica and come highly recommended from a friend of mine that has been using them for years for his Hassy equipment. I have used Sherry in the past and she does amazing work as well, it's just that these guys are semi local so the thought of not having to ship my camera across country is appealing! That's about a weeks worth of shipping back and forth right there to get my camera back!

So any thoughts on all of this? Am I a moron for even considering upgrading my finder?
 
The M6 (non-TTL) w/0.85 finder is not that rare. Unusual, but not really collectible rare, so personally I think you'd be an idiot not to upgrade the VF, especially since you find the flare to be a problem (was for me on my M6 TTL & M7).

I have no experience w/stevecamera.com.

RdEoSg said:
So here is my real problem.

I have an M6 with a .85 viewfinder, the apparently rare version. The damn thing flares like no tomorrow in the rangefinder and I would love to have it upgraded. Is this blasphemy? If they only made about 3000 of the camera, I feel kind of bad altering it! At the same time, it is MY camera that I don't plan on selling! Shouldn't I do what makes it most usable to me?

I just can't decide. I'd love to pick up an M2, 3 or 4 someday so in theory I could put the upgrade money towards one of those which don't have as many issues with the rangefinder flare. That won't really alter the fact that this camera would still be flaring when I use it though!

I know some people don't find it an issue, but on more than a few occasions I have had to sit there moving around and turning the camera this way and that to get the patch half way usable to focus. Generally that resulted in a missed shot!

My other question is has anyone used http://stevecamera.com/ They specialize in Hasselblad and Leica and come highly recommended from a friend of mine that has been using them for years for his Hassy equipment. I have used Sherry in the past and she does amazing work as well, it's just that these guys are semi local so the thought of not having to ship my camera across country is appealing! That's about a weeks worth of shipping back and forth right there to get my camera back!

So any thoughts on all of this? Am I a moron for even considering upgrading my finder?
Click to expand...
 
FrankS said:
Couldn't you upgrade to a .85 MP finder? Is there such a thing?
Click to expand...

according to the leica mp a la carte selection list, there is a .85 mp finder. i wonder how close in functionality it is to the M3 VF? For me the M3 VF is the pattern for VFs.

fwiw, i bought a bgn level m3 from keh.com for 465$, recovered it for 22$ with an aki leather; it looks absolutely smashing, except for one minor scratch on the baseplate. in time it will get a dag cla; but it works quite well as it is. i'd spend the money on a user level m3 or m2 rather get the m6's vf changed around. any chance you might sell that m6? you'd be able to get both the m2 and m3 at bgn quality for the cash!
 
Flare is a real problem, and will be worse with the .85 than with other finder mags. I'd say go ahead and do it. You'll still get your M2 or M4 eventually, if you want one. DAG upgraded my M6 .72 with the MP finderkit, and also I had him put on the straight metal MP winding lever, so that now my M6 functionally matches my MP, execpt for the crank-style rewind.

You know, it really doesn't matter if DAG or SHerry is farther away than your local guy. Priority mail takes two days, or you can even get next-day service if in a hurry.

Best,

Rob
 
Get the finder upgraded. Since the 12 O'clock screw is not sealed anyway, no one would know (unless you told them). Even if the camera became a valuable collectable, why would anyone find fault if the finder has been "improved" with a genuine Leica replacement-part (with an upgrade condoned by Leica). Certainly, most if not all, who might acquire the camera in the future (especially one who planned to use the camera) would consider the upgrade a value-added.
 
I'm ghetto. I fixed my flare problem myself with scotch tape, doubled-layered, 17mm x 12mm. Cover up the window next to the viewfinder and your flare is 90% cut down. Sure, the framelines aren't as bright but it's a cheap and quick way to fix the flare.
 
If you know you're going to keep the camera for a long time, spend the money for the finder fix. I sent mine to DAG for a CLA and got the upgrade while it was there. It really is an improvement.

I've heard good things about Steve but when I called him to ask about fixing my stuck framelines, the cost was a lot more than DAG. I'm not sure how the prices for his other services compare.
 
Last edited:
besides improved control of flare, the finder upgrade makes it easier to focus the M6 in low light. When I sent the camera for CLA, I decided to do the finder upgrade with hesitation, when I got it back from Sherry I knew right away I had made the right decision.
 
I don't think the .85x finder is different in this regard than the .72x, though I could be wrong. Don or Sherry would know and could tell you by phone. If they're the same, you're not replacing the whole finder (very expen$ive), just adding the additional condenser lens. The .85x classics should be collectors' fodder but they aren't and won't be for years, if ever. Make it work for you - the fix, if I'm right, should be <$200.
 
My M6TTL bodies are both 0.72, and the flare bothered me until I learned to avoid it (never shoot backlit subjects). However, if the choice is either a CLA or another body...

Go and get the CLA and finder fixed. Another body may bring in its own collection of problems, so deal with the ones at hand first.

And go either with DAG or Golden Touch (Sherry Krauter)!
 
Thanx for all of the help everyone. I think I am going to look into the finder upgrade. It seems like the smart idea given my situation. Might have a nifty M3 style advance lever put on too! 😉

I wonder how long it will take me to have the work done.
 
The finder upgrade is reversible, and who would ever know anyway? "Well I would buy this camera, but I'll be damned if I can get the finder to flare!" If you switch to an M2-3 style crank keep the old one, that may be a deal breaker for a collector.
 
Chris, I know Don Goldberg can take a pretty long time when he has a large backlog. Contact him first.

As for Ms. Krauter, I've never used her services so I cannot tell you about ther turnaround time. I doubt there's much difference, though...
 
I recently purchased one of the special edition M6TTL .85x. I wasn't too aware of the flare issue, until I compared it to the MP. I couldn't live with it after using an MP, so I immediately sent it to Leica for the MP VF upgrade.

As it had the Passport, they agreed to do it for labor--about 75 usd. Regular cost, parts & labour--265 USD. I thought for a second about the collectability, and since it's a regular user and I don't plan on parting with it, went ahead anyway, no regrets.
 
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