Do I need a M6 TTL?

[SolaresLarrave]

Sam, at a given moment, you need a Leica with a built-in meter. If you stumble upon one, and the price is right, snatch it right away and worry later whether it's TTL or not. That's what I did... and after meaning to buy an M6, I ended up with two M6TTL.

Would you believe me?

Yeah... weird, innit? 🙂

 

[ghost]

the battery eating prob was corrected after serial number 2500000. i'm not sure they ever switched back to a metal counter, but dag can replace it with a metal one if it breaks.

 

[richard_l]

The M6 and M6-TTL are both great cameras. I would choose depending on condition (and direction of shutter-dial, if you see other M's in your future).

The 'wrong-way' M6 models are not going to be a significant problem unless you waste time changing exposure for each shot. A little practice with a handheld incident meter (not a bad investment, if only for a learning experience) shows that a built-in meter encourages a lot of unnecessary exposure fiddling. The lights in the viewfinder do not indicate when an exposure is perfect. They only indicate when the image area covered by the spot on the shutter averages to a middle gray (relative to film speed).

One issue no one has broached is the supposed tendency of the M6-TTL to eat up batteries, a problem I've never had with my M6.

Nor have I.

Richard

 

[Crasis]

Interesting side note: I own an M6 TTL and I haven't used the built in meter ever since I bought a Gossen Digisix. It's there if I ever need it but.. eh. I'm not sure I'd notice if the batteries died at this point.

I still prefer the larger shutter dial as I can change the shutter speed very easily with the camera still slung at my side. I've no doubt that I could do this with the smaller shutter dials, but that requires a bit more finger dexterity 🙂

 

[richard_l]

Interesting side note: I own an M6 TTL and I haven't used the built in meter ever since I bought a Gossen Digisix...

That's a great little meter, isn't it? The Sekonic L-308 is also a good one for those of us whose old eyes prefer a fairly large digital readout.

I still prefer the larger shutter dial as I can change the shutter speed very easily with the camera still slung at my side. I've no doubt that I could do this with the smaller shutter dials, but that requires a bit more finger dexterity 🙂

That's a good point. I finally managed to get used to the little dial on the M2 and M6, but it bothered me for a while.

Richard

 

[LazyHammock]

My first Leica was the M4-P, a great camera but I prefer a built-in light meter. I bought a M6-TTL, I like the larger dial (even though I would prefer if it didn't look so plasticky) and I also easily adjusted to the way the speed dial rotates. It is much more intuitive to a non-Leica user. There is not a great difference in price between the "classic" and TTL, at least not on the auction site.

 

[Crasis]

That's a great little meter, isn't it? The Sekonic L-308 is also a good one for those of us whose old eyes prefer a fairly large digital readout.

That's a good point. I finally managed to get used to the little dial on the M2 and M6, but it bothered me for a while.

Richard

I feel bad for your old eyes. Although.. to be honest, the digital readout is easy to see. The EV readings are pretty large!

At any rate, I want an M2 as a second body to keep some other film in but I just don't know if I could handle the shutter speed dial. I've played with older M models including an M6 and it's.. well the shutter speed dial is tiny! Tiny! Ah well.

 

[richard_l]

I feel bad for your old eyes. Although.. to be honest, the digital readout is easy to see. The EV readings are pretty large!

At any rate, I want an M2 as a second body to keep some other film in but I just don't know if I could handle the shutter speed dial. I've played with older M models including an M6 and it's.. well the shutter speed dial is tiny! Tiny! Ah well.

Fortunately I'm just farsighted. Corrective lenses are not needed for me to use a camera or drive a car, but I can't focus close enough to make out certain small print, and it's a hassle to have to put on glasses just to read a meter.

The M2 is a masterpiece of elegant minimalism. The shutter dial is a minor issue. Most people only hate having to manually reset the frame counter. Now that's a major hassle. 😱 It's on a par with flushing the toilet, a real bummer! 🙄

Richard