0.58 in M6 classic?

[Michael Harrington]

Hi,

I have a sort of silly question. Is it possible to have the VF in an M6 classic modified to .58?(by DAG or Sherry Krauter, etc.) Has anyone had this done?

thanks! Michael

 

[fbf]

Check with DAG first before you contact Sherry. Just a friendly reminder, no other meanings.

 

[JNewell]

My understanding from talking this through with Don was that that sort of price only worked if you could provide the .58x unit yourself (for example, via a swap, as suggested). If it had to be obtained as parts, things got more complicated and much more expensive.

You could just buy a .58x TTL...but not everyone thinks the TTL is interchangeable with a classic...

Haven't had it done (yet) myself, but I have talked to Don (DAG) about this, and it's pretty straight forward. You'll want to check with him or Sherry on their exact cost, but you might expect something in the neighborhood of $150-200.

On another note, something that Don and I have also spoke and brainstormed about, is a way for M owners to "trade" viewfinders of similar condition. For example, if I had a .58 in my M6 and I wanted a .72 (which you might have), then we could simply pay for the labor involved in the service, and NOT the cost of a new viewfinder as well.

Anyway... something to ponder. Maybe there's someone out there to partner with. Don Goldberg suggested a kind of "donor list" that he or someone could keep track of.

Cheers, Andy

 

[Michael Harrington]

Thanks. i'll email DAG and see what he says. I did email him awhile ago and never got a response, so i thought maybe this was a crazy idea.

The VF swapping idea sounds good...who wants a .72 for their .58?

Michael

 

[JNewell]

Let us know what you hear?

 

[Michael Harrington]

I emailed Don last night asking about the price of such an operaton on a non-ttl M6.
He said that Leica would not sell an RF in the past, but now they will swap it out for $900. And that doesn't include Don's labor costs.

Also, sent an email to Leica NJ spare parts dept. asking for the price of a 0.58x VF. They replied that such a modification runs $1400.

So I guess you do have to have a RF/VF already lined up to put into a camera to get it done at a reasonable price.

Thanks guys,

Michael

 

[shimo-kitasnap]

I just e-mailed DAG about a possible franken leica M6 with chrome M4 top and bottom plates along with M3 levers. He said his M6 furniture isn't selling too well and wouldn't be willing to just swap out the parts and pay for the labor fee. Any case I might try and get this done but then I'm stuck with M6 parts.

 

[sanmich]

In the past I wandered if, instead of buying an MP 0.58, it could be a better deal to change the rangefinder in an M2.

Back then, it wasn't even possible. I talked to Don and he told me that leica was accepting to swap RF only of the same mag.

Now it seems possible but fairly not economic. 600~700$ for the M2, +the dough for the change... you go pretty close ( ~500$) to the used market MP price.

The differences I see when you compare the results are

The MP is 50 years younger. Kind of serious difference.
The MP is mettered.

but... the M2 has the edge on frame accuracy.

About the patch flaring, I guess that if you go for a new RF, you get it flare-free, right?

and I kind of wander if you can change the frames in a new MP to the old, larger frame set...

Yep... never happy... always want to change something...:bang:

 

[JNewell]

At those prices, you are really better off either selling the existing M and buying a .58x, or just adding a .58x...

...though either of those means you're going to be using a TTL, not a classic, and I prefer the classic...YMMV.