Have you had rewind problems with your M6 or M4-P?

[mknawabi]

yes, and it was definitely my fault. a total learning experience

 

[Shac]

Had my M6 since 1988 - no problems with rewind or any other part. Been in some pretty rough (for cameras) environments too.

 

[HuubL]

I've got two M4s, same rewind as the M4-P and M6, never had any problems. My MDa (same rewind) has been used extensively (10-20 rolls of film per week) from the early seventies till the late nineties and never had any problem with the rewind. Also, none of my M4s, M2 and M3 have light leaks. These are simply the toughest cameras ever made.

 

[ampguy]

Hi Roland

Hi Roland

I probably should not have sold that M6, I think I sold it to fund an RD1 as I was going through so much film, it was getting crazy. But I like the idea of having a good film M body, but one that can withstand as much film as I want to put through it, if I choose to.

I am not hesitating getting another M body, but you can be sure that I will factor in the cost of frequent or upgraded washer and rewind components that were cheapened in the materials selection or assembly that is easily shown with active use.

The M6 is a great camera, but the rewind washer and some of the parts were not meant to last under heavy use. Fortunately, we have great repair folks out there and they understand this and can rectify it, and if I can learn to do this myself, and find stronger washer materials, I may be able to justify using an M film camera again, and not having to have multiple spare bodies along.

Like Erik said, Ted. The M6 (including the TTL) is still the 2nd most produced M body in Leica's history. On the internet, of course, you hear about problems more than about reliability. But even if you see, say, 10-20 failure reports (which I doubt), it means nothing because of production volume. Just compare to Hexar, Bessa, ZI and M8 failure reports and compare to their production volume.

Plus, you had an M6 with the more robust Leicaflex rewind. This must be the most robust Leica out there, and probably the most robust M mount RF ever. Zinc tops might be ugly and not brass nicely, but they don't bump as easily. Steel gears might feel rougher but they are tougher, etc.

Why did you sell that M6 ?

I know all this might be tongue-in-cheak from you, but I also know you well enough that I believe you are not trolling. Probably just looking for the best body for your ASPH 35/2. So there, get an M6/M4P with Leicaflex rewind again. 🙂

Roland.

 

[Ben Z]

I've never bent, lost or had the rewind knob slip while I was rewinding. Two M4's, two M6's, and for a brief time an M4-P. I had an M3 and an MP and very quickly bought add-on crank handles for both, although they still were not as comfortable and convenient as the M4-style. I found the pull-up crankless knobs to be a colossal frustration by comparison to a crank, and I have normal-sized fingers and plenty of manual dexterity. I read somewhere where the crank rewind on the M4 was the result of input from professional photographers.

 

[ampguy]

The common and known failure I'm referring to is not when rewinding, but when advancing, a jam around the 14 frame or so of a 24 frame roll, due to messed up washers in the rewind crank preventing smooth advancement.

 

[furcafe]

For a "common and known failure," it actually seems to be pretty rare. It's certainly news to me. And, yes, I've gone many a month of shooting way more > 30 rolls/month. I also know plenty of pros & serious amateurs who put (or used to put) a lot more film through their M Leicas than I do, including folks using motorwinders & Rapidwinders (both of which sound like they would exacerbate the problem you refer to). I would be interested in hearing from someone like DAG or Sherry Krauter re: this "common and known failure," as it seems it could be easily fixed w/some upgraded parts.

The common and known failure I'm referring to is not when rewinding, but when advancing, a jam around the 14 frame or so of a 24 frame roll, due to messed up washers in the rewind crank preventing smooth advancement.

 

[Roger Hicks]

For a "common and known failure," it actually seems to be pretty rare.

Seconded.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Freakscene]

I've had a few Ms. The 2 M6s and an M7 all had the rewind crank lock up within a year of me getting them. I think it's just bad luck in getting individual bodies where the slotted screw under the rewind crank works loose. I was shooting 15-45 rolls/week at the time when the M6s locked up; the M7 had been used lightly for maybe 9 months - 40 rolls of film or so

Marty.