M3 or M6 - help me decide

john neal

john neal

fallor ergo sum
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I already have a nice 1957 M3 (DS, Buddha's ears) with a collapsible 50mm Summicron and Leicameter MC - just about the classic HCB combo, but.....

My preferred focal length is 35mm and this is one set of frames that the M3 does not have. I can approximate the correct view by blanking out the frameline window and using the full VF. Having said that, I don't like sticking bits of tape over the window as the adhesive always makes a sticky mess, and I don't want to cause any long-term damage to either the chrome or the window. This means that it is not getting used enough - I normally take my IIIC or Standard out for walkies.

I have my eye on a user M6 that I could get for a reasonable price - it is black but has a slight manufacturing fault that means the chrome is bubbling off the top plate - nothing to interfere with the production of pics, and easily remedied by a quick repaint. In some ways I have always hankered after a classic M6 as it has all the framelines, and the convenience of metering.

So here's my dilemma - do I stick with a true classic that is possibly the absolute epitome of M production values (build quality, history, etc) - or, do I change to the M6 which is (just) possibly more useable with a 35mm 'cron, and something like 30 years younger?

What would you do, and why?
 
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Use both eyes with the 35mm, ignore bright lines save for 2nd M, try a cheapo M2, dings are good. My ding is cheaper then your ding yaaa...

Noel
 
Thanks guys - I had a nice M2 up till about a year ago and loved the uncluttered vf with the 35mm frame, but that had to go to fund the 35 'cron - I know I got rid of the body with the 35mm framelines :bang: , but the M3 is just so much better made than the M2, and it is a DS, etc, etc.

And then there are the + points of the M6....

My confusion just gets worserer, and worserer, what to do? 😕

Would anyone like to sponsor a M6 for me while I decide? 🙄
 
I've owned an M3 M2 and M6. The one I've kept is the M6. The metering makes it for me - it is so much more convenient and the meter is really good. I enjoyed the uncluttered vf of the M2 and the build quality of the M3, but for usability it is the M6. In ten years I've had no problems at all with it.

Nik
 
The M6 is an excellent camera, and if you want a built-in meter there's no cheaper way to get a Leica that has one.

Ian
 
Pick either M2, M4, M4-2, M4P or M6 depending on what you find, i.e. price vs. condition. They are all great cameras. You'll be most likely to find a good,
well priced M2.

Roland.
 
FrankS said:
John, sell something else so you can keep the M3 for a 50mm lens and get an M6 (or whatever) for the 35.
Click to expand...

Hi Frank,

As ever the voice of reason - well for a GAS-aholic anyway 😀

I think you may be right - I just heard that Leica have stopped making the Digital Modul-R. I bought a R8 body with an eye to getting the DMR later this year, once the resale price dropped a bit. If there is to be no v2 or other replacement, my guess is that the price is likely to rise, thus releasing me from that market.

I should be able to get a good price for a mint- R8 and two zoom lenses - probably enough to fund a better-than-user M6 and another lens. Hmmm.........
 
Sell the M3 and buy an M4. I tried an M6 and IMHO the metering was extremely slow to use (compared to using an M4 and Mr4 meter). Either that or buy the M7. I got one 3 months ago and it's now my favorite. The M4 and M3s' are just setting on the shelf.
 
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