I am near reach of the M6 ... am I ?

[raid]

I have $500 available as start-up for putting together the money needed to buy the M6. I could sell a few lenses to complete the necessary total for a M6. Some members here have recommended to me the M6 over the Bessa R3A, and some have expressed preference for the Bessa R3A. This can be confusing.

If I sell a Nikkor 85mm/2 (I have two of them) and also a Canon 85mm/1.9 (I have two of them) and also a Canon 50mm/2.8 and a Canon 35mm/2.8, I should be close to what I need to get a working (user) M6.

What is more important here; is it a camera that is built solid and has a great reputation, such as the M6, or a newer design camera that functions like the
M7 but happens to be at half cost and also is less rugged in built?

I would not have to sell any of my lenses to get the Bessa ....

Maybe someone who has used both cameras can direct me.


Raid

 

[jja]

Raid, as I recall, you own an M3, which some argue is at the pinnacle of Leica craftsmanship.

When I moved from M2 to M6 classic, I was initially disappointed, as I found the uncluttered and clean viewfinder of my M2 so much better to use. And I liked the tidiness of the knob rewind (slow as it is). With time, however, I came to appreciate the built-in meter of the M6, as well as its utter reliability--not a single problem during one year of ownership and approximately 50 rolls of film (light use by many standards). Compared to my M4, the M6 held its own and then some.

I have never used an R3A, but I would still argue that the M6 is worth selling a few unused lenses for (then again, I believe in owning only the lenses one will use).

 

[wtl]

(M6 -) not a single problem during one year of ownership and approximately 50 rolls of film (light use by many standards). Compared to my M4, the M6 held its own and then some.

so which camera do you own that won't do this for you? my second-hand p&s from my grandma runs hundreds rolls already and still works.

sound like a bad advertisement and doubt leica will appreciate much.

 

[jja]

Congratulations to your grandmother, I bet she takes great photos. Maybe I never put my cameras to the extremes necssary for great advertising claims, but since Raid is interested in USER experiences, I thought it might be helpful to share mine. If you don't find my experience valid, fine, but please leave your grandma' out of this.

 

[wtl]

just have to laugh- that's all.


for raid -

my two m6s have been used for hundreds rolls each for many yers now, though one of them starts to develop this curtain light leak recently. i can still get around by covering the lens cap while rewind. otherwise, some frame will get burned during rewinding.

same one gets this loose strap lugs on both sides. again, i haven't find that to be reason enough to send it off.

all other functions held up well up to this point. both are well beaten up - i resent those who told me that one can keep these pristine throughout their life. it is not true.

 

[FrankS]

HI Raid, you have an M3 and a Bessa T. The M6 will feel more like the M3 (but not quite, but with a meter) and the Bessa R3a will feel more like the T (with viewfinder and auto exp of course). If you want the AE of the R3a, get that one. If you want a Leica with a meter, get the M6. If I had to choose jsut one, I'd get the Leica, but then that's just me, and I'm not criticising others' choices! (How am I doing, Joe?)

 

[dexdog]

. If I had to choose jsut one, I'd get the Leica, but then that's just me, and I'm not criticising others' choices! (How am I doing, Joe?)

Frank, I think that Joe will leave you alone, as long as you do not criticize anyone's hoity-toity cast iron.

 

[VictorM.]

I'm shocked that no one has given the standard RFF answer: get both!

 

[Joerg]

How about a ZI?
Best of all worlds.

Ciao


joerg

 

[Crasis]

I have $500 available as start-up for putting together the money needed to buy the M6. I could sell a few lenses to complete the necessary total for a M6. Some members here have recommended to me the M6 over the Bessa R3A, and some have expressed preference for the Bessa R3A. This can be confusing.

If I sell a Nikkor 85mm/2 (I have two of them) and also a Canon 85mm/1.9 (I have two of them) and also a Canon 50mm/2.8 and a Canon 35mm/2.8, I should be close to what I need to get a working (user) M6.

What is more important here; is it a camera that is built solid and has a great reputation, such as the M6, or a newer design camera that functions like the
M7 but happens to be at half cost and also is less rugged in built?

I would not have to sell any of my lenses to get the Bessa ....

Maybe someone who has used both cameras can direct me.


Raid

I was just wondering what your reasons were for getting the M6? If adayoncedawned whishes to chime in, his friend Andrew used to own an R3A but switched to an M6. He himself used an R3A and now uses an M6.

I've never used the R3A, unfortunately, so I'm of no use to you. 🙁

 

[Gid]

Raid,

You should consider the Hexar RF. You can get them for about the price of a Bessa, they are built like tanks (titanium top and bottom) have AE and motor advance and are not much bigger than an M6 and certainly smaller than an M6with Leica winder. BTW I have both a Hexar and an M6 "classic".

 

[back alley]

quit pickin' on me...it's cause i have a zi, isn't it?

raid, you torture yourself needlessly.
you already know in your heart that you want the m6, if for nothing else than for the experience of it.
this i wholeheartedly support.
if you want a great camera at a lesser cost, the zi is it. and it has a great meter and ae to boot.

you have enough cameras to take pics now. you need to answer the question, 'why' now, why another camera?

you want the m6...get it and be happy.
and if you're not happy with it - sell it and get another different camera.

it's fun, have fun.

joe

 

[Peter Klein]

Raid: Your family pictures tell me that you are interested in spontaneous "people photography." If that's the case, a camera with an internal meter will help you get quick shots in variable lighting that you might not catch if you were fiddling with a hand meter. Experience can substitute for this to some extent, but having a faster tool is a good thing.

Your Bessa T has a meter, but has separate viewfinder and rangefinder windows. Switching windows might slow you down a bit. An M6 is a tool with a fully integrated meter, viewfinder and RF all in one window. So is the Bessa R3a. But the R3a has a short RF base, so close-up shots wide open might have focus issues. It also can't use lenses wider than 40mm without external finders. The R3a's 1:1 finder is both a blessing and a curse (as is the M3). If you wear glasses, it's a problem. If you don't, and can keep one eye open, it is the ideal finder for a 50mm lens.

The M6 finder does 35mm and 28mm. On the other hand the R3a has automatic exposure. Finally, the M6 will probably last a lot longer than the Bessa.

So it's really a question of what is most important to you. If it were me, I'd get the M6. In fact, that's what I did, and that's what I shoot with most often. My old M4-P is now a backup body.

Afterthought: Even with the M6, I often take incident readings with a separate meter. Bright, sandy Florida beaches would be one of those cases. Any reflected meter can be fooled by such a glorious abundance of light.

--Peter

 

[raid]

I am getting a lot of useful advices here. Peter stated my main reason for [yet] another camera. I need quite often to take a photo quickly, and I feel that having a built-in meter and also a good viewfinder are two important factors for me.


I like the "click" of a Leica. My wife insists that I should only target a Leica.

Joe raises the option of a Zeiss body. What is wrong with a Zeiss, compared to a Leica M6?


Frank: Your opinion is always valued.


Raid

 

[Crasis]

I like the "click" of a Leica. My wife insists that I should only target a Leica.

Your wife well understands the psychology of this, it seems. Smart woman 🙂

If you get the item that you subjectively perceive as inferior, even slightly so, you will most likely have a nagging bit of buyers remorse in that you will be thinking "But should I have just gotten the more expensive one which I perceive to be better?"

It doesn't even need to be objectively better. If it's subjectively better to you, you'll be kicking yourself 🙁

 

[back alley]

Joe raises the option of a Zeiss body. What is wrong with a Zeiss, compared to a Leica M6?

absolutely nothing is wrong with the zi.
honest.

 

[Crasis]

Joe raises the option of a Zeiss body. What is wrong with a Zeiss, compared to a Leica M6?

absolutely nothing is wrong with the zi.
honest.

I agree. Also, Joe's sparkling black ZI looks SEXAY in person. 😀

 

[back alley]

why sir, i blush in your presence...😉

 

[Monz]

Raid,
After years of playing around with "poor men's Leicas" (Canonets, Olympus RDs, Olympus SPs etc) I eventually got a Leica M6 classic last summer. I have no regrets. It's a great camera with a surprisingly accurate meter. I have numerous 35mm film and digital bodies lying around but now use the M6 mainly. Get it.. you won't regret it.
---
Monz

 

[anaanda]

I think if you already have an M3, than a Bessa R3A 🙂 would be nice to have when you want the AE and 1/2000 shutter speed. The M6 is basically the same camera as the M3 with a meter. (As far as weight and ergonomics) I personally didn't find the meter easy to work with on the M6. I actually prefered my M3...but only you can know..