Long Cable Release

[outforalaska]

I've been wanting to get a long cable release for my M6. I go solo hiking a lot and want to do a few self-portraits. My brother would tell me I should buy a little digital point and shoot, but I love my Leica.
Are the threads on the shutter button standard? I've been browsing online and it looks like a 20' air bulb shutter release would be the trick I need. Would the air bulb release work on the M6?

Another question - Are there any smaller recommended flash units that I could play around with. I'm pretty new to flash work. I've used auto units on Canon SLR's before with decent results, but I've never done any manual stuff. I realize the M6 Classic is not a good camera for any flash work with the 1/50th speed, but I'm not really looking for any award winning pictures.
My biggest concern is reading about using the wrong flash with a camera and screwing up electronics. Which manual units would be safe to use on the M6 hotshoe?

 

[Al Kaplan]

Plenty of good flash work was done with cameras that restricted you to 1/30 second. The Vivita 283 is the gold standard of flashes. Introduced back in the mid 1970's it has plenty of power, four auto settings, and lots of accessories. The Stofen Omni Bounce diffuser is a good place to start. All of the newer flashes have a low voltage trigger circuit. If you buy a used 283 it might have the higher voltage.

The M Leicas have a very easy to press release and one of those bulb and air hose releases should work just fine. The standard tapered tip cable relese is what you want. 99% of cameras use the same release fitting. If you should ever get an old screw mount Leica or Canon, or a Yashica twin lens reflex, you can buy an adapter to use the same release.

 

[johnastovall]

If the flash has the higher voltage, all you need is safe sync.

Here's the one I use.