Leica M6TTL vs M6 Classic

The only thing I didn't like about the ttl was the naff, cheap stick on plate for the shutter speeds. The functionality of course isn't affected. I never noticed the opposite turning dial and with M6's I just seem to turn the dial the correct way to light up the led's. I've never used flash on an M so ttl wasn't an issue.
The M6 original is my favorite M. I keep selling the ones I get and always regretted it every time. I just bought another a few weeks ago and this one is not going anywhere.
 
nobbylon said:
The only thing I didn't like about the ttl was the naff, cheap stick on plate for the shutter speeds.
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Interesting. I may be wrong, but seem to remember reading in Eastland's M6 TTL Handbook that the shutter speeds were actually engraved on to the dial and filled with paint. I haven't got my camera with me as I type so unfortunately can't check this.

John
 
Had a classic, now have a ttl. If they made a classic with a .58 finder, that'd be fine too. Never minded the small dial, and I can never remember which way to turn the dial anyway :) now my new m2 turns the other way again, and I guess the meter turns one way or the other way too, and my Rolleiflex has a bunch of dials that turn circles too... Eh I'll probably never figure it out :D
 
If the frame counter goes bad, i.e. fail to reset or can hang up (and they can in some M6 or later cameras due to cheapened mechanism), the best fix is to replace the counter with the older M4 or M3 style counter when the were last made right. This can be done on an M6 "classic" but not on an M6 TTL due to a change in body dimensions. This is what DAG says when mine went bad on an MP.
 
John Lawrence said:
Interesting. I may be wrong, but seem to remember reading in Eastland's M6 TTL Handbook that the shutter speeds were actually engraved on to the dial and filled with paint. I haven't got my camera with me as I type so unfortunately can't check this.

John
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John,
if you look at the dial there is a hole at the outer edge. Insert a pin and the speed marking dial can be lifted off leaving the knurled shutter dial in place. You then unscrew to remove. It's stuck on with double sided pad. I suspect it's the same on an M7 but I haven't had one of those so can't confirm,
regards john

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Turtle said:
I started with the MP and so got classics for back up as the shutter dial goes the same way. They are also a touch smaller. It does not matter as long as you are used to it. Rotating the dial against the arrow is completely intuitive to me now.

Those who say that you can mix and match bodies that rotate different ways are evidently not shooting in pressurised situations. Its a terrible idea, so best to stick to one. If I were to swap out my Ms, and say got to M7s I would get M6 TTLs too and so swap out the lot.
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Turtle - I think that your post perfectly describes the conundrum of mixing and matching. Like you said best to stick bodies that rotate in the same direction.

My dream camera has always been the black MP or alternatively the black LHSA. If I purchased the MP, then I would get a battered user M2 as backup. They both rotate in the same direction.

However, if I purchased the LHSA, then I would keep my current TTL as the backup body, as they both rotate the same way.

I remember an interesting anecdote when I was shooting some photos in Japan. I was with a friend who was a member of a Leica club there. We went out shooting with a grizzled elderly Japanese photographer who happened to be an ex-photojournalist for one of the dailies.

He had several bodies that were wrapped around his neck. He had if memory serves me correctly an M2, M3 and M7. I asked him through the translation of my friend if he found it difficult using the opposing dials of the older Ms and the M7.

His reply was what really struck me. He said something along the lines that a seasoned or experienced photo-journalist should be able to seamlessly cross from different cameras with different dials as well as be able to use different focal lengths in split second situations.

Anyway, I am still learning to do that, but I don't think that I am a better photographer when I can do that. I like to keep it simple.
 
Another vote for the M6 ttl here.

For my preference, the ttl's shutter speed dial turns in the correct position - the interface between all relevant exposure controls (aperture, meter, and shutter speed dial) were at last united in the Leica M as of this model's introduction.

The the larger shutter speed dial is easy to manipulate. While I agree that the machined dials used in other models are nicer than the ttl's, the advantage in size makes up for this less-than-luxurious part.

As Michael mentions above The DR Summicron can indeed be mounted with its eyes provided you remove the plastic mount used to stabilize the eyes to the front of the body. The same is true for the M7. I've noticed no issues with the eyes losing registration with the body even without the mount. Perhaps this can be chaulked up as an example of the kind of Leitz over-engineering that we're all so fond of!

Lastly, the TTL flash circuit of the M6 ttl model is terrific. While the inherent maximum sync speed of the cloth shutter is indeed a limitation, the ttl consistently produces the best looking flash pictures of any TTL camera or stand-alone flash I've used.
 
The M6TTL is a nightmare for the classic repair-people. The essential adjustment-spots are covered with an electronic sheet. That's why it is 3mm higher than a classic M6.
Most Leica repair people do not accept jobs on an M6TTL. Only for that reason one should choose an M6 classic (or MP). They look much more elegant too due to the fact that their profile is 3mm lower. Their form is conform the original design of Heinrich Jancke.

Erik.
 
nobbylon said:
John,
if you look at the dial there is a hole at the outer edge. Insert a pin and the speed marking dial can be lifted off leaving the knurled shutter dial in place. You then unscrew to remove. It's stuck on with double sided pad. I suspect it's the same on an M7 but I haven't had one of those so can't confirm,
regards john

5405509342_3e99c3cd7b.jpg
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Thanks, I see what you mean.

John
 
dof said:
Hi Erik,

I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to provide a list of these repair people. I've never heard of anyone refusing to work on an M6 ttl.

Thanks,
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Hi dof,

I know it with certainty from mr Scherpenborg of Nijmegen, The Netherlands, but I've heard the same thing about Sherry Krauter too. Okay, that is not "most" of the repair people.

Erik.
 
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Erik van Straten said:
Hi dof,

I know it with certainty from mr Scherpenborg of Nijmegen, The Netherlands, but I've heard the same thing about Sherry Krauter too. Okay, that is not "most" of the repair people.

Erik.
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Thanks for the clarification Erik. Yes, "Most" sounded a little drastic!

Best,
 
I have a .58 TTL and a .85 TTL and love them both. Never had a problem with the dial. I had a flare problem with the .85 viewfinder but I ended up upgrading the vf through Leica and have not had any further flare issues. :)
 
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