Leica M6 Classic vs. TTL

[santino]

If you use flash - TTL
Otherwise the Classic is the camera to get. The big speed dial of the TTL imo disturbs the design of the camera - it is a foreign body. Sorry.

 

[madNbad]

Pass on the M6s' and get the MP. It's basically an M6 Classic but has a flare free viewfinder, better shutter seals and a brass top plate. Having owned both the original M6 and two TTL's they are both fine cameras but the Classic's are between 25 and 35 years old and will probably need service. TTL production stopped in 2002 and even in pristine shape they will most likely need a CLA. Good luck with your search.

 

[santino]

In my experience M Leicas don‘t need periodical service. I‘d get the Classic from about 92‘ - no more Leitz and relatively recent.

 

[Freakscene]

The rf patch flare on the M6 would make me choose the TTL.

The TTL has the same viewfinder/rangefinder design and flares the same as the M6 classic. The MP upgrade can be installed in both and helps, but is nowhere near as good as an M4 or earlier vf/rf with the condensor lens.

The 0.85 viewfinders flare worse than the 0.72 and 0.58 viewfinders, too.

Marty

 

[kshapero]

Battery life on the original M6 is longer.

 

[Mute-on]

The TTL circuit board is no longer manufactured and is very difficult if not impossible to repair when it fails.

The original M6 has a far simpler circuit board, most likely the same as the MP, and does not suffer from this type of terminal failure.

For my money, I would get the original M6. In fact if I didn’t already have an MP and wanted a metered M, the M6 would be my choice.

Good luck.

Cheers,

J 🙂

 

[WJJ3]

Good Morning Ladies and Gents!

My question to the Leica guru's out there is this:

Is there any real reason to buy a TTL over a Classic?

The TTL is the cheapest way into a 0.58x finder M, which, if you are into shooting 35mm lenses on your Leica, is a significantly better shooting experience than any other finder.

Some of the concerns mentioned in this thread are legitimate concerns, like:

• No flash when your batteries die
• Rangefinder patch can flare more than an MP
• Leica won't repair a broken TTL meter circuit board

But in the big picture these are not deal breakers, and if you shop around you will see the TTL still holds its value well because, it is a great camera.

Some things to keep in mind for the above concerns are:

• Its easy to carry spare batteries
• The 0.58x finder is the least flare prone of the M6 finders, and if you are worried about it you can have a technician install anti flare optics.
• Take reasonable care of your camera by not dropping it, using it regularly, and if storing it, store it properly.

 

[Out to Lunch]

Well, at my age I find the large speed dial quite comforting.

 

[E.M]

I like them both , but I went for the TTL , partly because when I bought it in 2000 , I couldn't find a new classic easily .I prefer the metering layout of the TTL and the fact that it turns the same way of the arrows of the meter . If you consider to pair with a digital M in the future, a TTL is a better choice (imo), because of the same direction of the wheel . If you pair it with an older M or a Nikon F series , a classic is better for the same reason .

 

[E.M]

also : the meter is a bit more sensitive in low light.

 

[james.liam]

Mine is a 0.85 Classic, just returned from a CLA & RF optics upgrade with Leica NJ (5 week turnaround!!!).

No TTL? Dial going the other direction? Different LED layout? 2mm shorter?
Details that do not matter to most.

I'd rather spend the extra money on more Ektachrome or a better film scanner.

 

[narsuitus]

Is there any real reason to buy a TTL over a Classic?

When I was looking for an M6, I did not really care about the minor differences between the TTL and the Classic. However, when I saw the Titanium version, which was only in the Classic version, I knew that was the one I wanted.


Leica M6 by Narsuitus, on Flickr

 

[ktmrider]

Metered M? Consider the M5.

 

[farlymac]

When I was looking for an M6, I did not really care about the minor differences between the TTL and the Classic. However, when I saw the Titanium version, which was only in the Classic version, I knew that was the one I wanted.


Leica M6 by Narsuitus, on Flickr

I'm with you on that.


PF

 

[Bill Clark]

I found that using a flash with TTL was easily fooled, giving me the wrong exposure. Of course, with my business, I only used digital capture so I could see results right away. I used the histogram to determine proper exposure as the image on the LCD screen wasn’t accurate enough for me. I went to my old trusty method, camera in manual mode and flash in manual mode. I did use Quantum flashes off camera with Pocket Wizard devices to fire them. I had great control of light as I believe it’s one of the very important ingredients for photography.

With film you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s developed. As I recall when I was film based I usually kept the camera and flash at one setting with film latitude taking up most of the difference. I would adjest the fstop depending on distance and what is photographed.

 

[filmtwit]

If memory serves me right, you can get the M6 ttl's with the o.58 and 0.85 viewfinders, which you can't get in the standard every day M6's.

 

[plummerl]

If memory serves me right, you can get the M6 ttl's with the o.58 and 0.85 viewfinders, which you can't get in the standard every day M6's.

Ten years after the introduction of the M6, it was offered in a 0.85x version (1994).

 

[IIIg]

also : the meter is a bit more sensitive in low light.

My experience as well - perhaps one to two additional stops.

 

[Mute-on]

The TTL circuit board is no longer manufactured and is very difficult if not impossible to repair when it fails.

The original M6 has a far simpler circuit board, most likely the same as the MP, and does not suffer from this type of terminal failure.

For my money, I would get the original M6. In fact if I didn’t already have an MP and wanted a metered M, the M6 would be my choice.

Good luck.

Cheers,

J 🙂

Here is a thread referencing the issue with the TTL light meter circuit board.

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topi...x-my-leica-m6-ttl-light-meter-not-even-leica/

 

[Mute-on]

The TTL circuit board is no longer manufactured and is very difficult if not impossible to repair when it fails.

The original M6 has a far simpler circuit board, most likely the same as the MP, and does not suffer from this type of terminal failure.

For my money, I would get the original M6. In fact if I didn’t already have an MP and wanted a metered M, the M6 would be my choice.

Good luck.

Cheers,

J 🙂

Here is a thread referencing the issue with the TTL light meter circuit board.

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topi...x-my-leica-m6-ttl-light-meter-not-even-leica/