First M6 (light meter question)

[Sjixxxy]

I just received my first M6 Classic. Beautiful piece of equipment that only has two minor scuffs on the top plate that I can find for cosmetic damage.

My question is about the light meter. Comparing it against my Pentax digital spot meter on walls, it seems to be about a stop off, which I can tolerate by setting the ISO a stop higher. But once it hits something that the Pentax meters around 3-4 ev, the arrows just disappear.

Reading through a PDF of the manual, it shows the sensitivity being between -1 to 20 ev, and that in low light it will either take a second or two to display, or start to flash. Neither of these happen, just emptiness.

For example, the spot meter puts my couch at ev 3, If I aim the m6 at it with the lens at f/2.8 @ 1/8th, I get the two arrows. I close down to f/4, they both go away. No under-exposure indication.

Think I should I be concerned at all?

 

[pkuglin]

I don't think the M6 leds flash on >1 stop under/over. It was a gripe Leica solved on later models. i.e. it didn't warn you you have the lens cap on...

 

[mojobebop]

with the '86' classic my meter goes blank
when it's really under exposed.
with the '92' model i have the meter in fact does
blink if it drops to 4 stops under. (have not checked overexposure).

 

[Sjixxxy]

Thanks for the imput. My S/N dates as an 86er, so I feel better now. Oooh. Its birthday is in 3 days. What should I get it? Ultron 28/2 perhaps?

 

[Steve Bellayr]

On the meter the arrow on the left is underexpose & on rdight overexpose. I keep the arrow on the right a little brighter. As for a lens: In 35mm Leica probably is the best; in 50mm, b&w, Zeiss Sonnar f1.5. However, the new ASPH probably are the best if you choose to spend that type of money.

 

[John Elder]

When doing your meter tests with the M6 make sure that your lens is focused on infinity. If you are metering on a close subject and focusing on that subject, the phenomenon know as the bellows factor can cause the M6 meter to read less than the Pentax. Make sure that the metered subject is uniform in brightness,

 

[Ronald M]

Who wnats a step brother when you can get a real one.