love/hate my M6

[Tom A]

Back from three weeks in Europe, three cameras and three lenses, MP, R4M and a M2, 50f1.5 C-Sonnar (on the m2), Nokton 35f1.4 SC on the MP (it is a 0,58 version) and the 15f4.5 Heliar M-mount on the R4M. Thus two metered cameras and the M2. Just finished running the first 15 rolls out of 60.
The M2 wins out in some instances for speed - no fiddling with aperture rings to match diodes -just point, focus and shoot. It is also easier to over-ride for compensation than the metered cameras.
Admittedly, some screwed up exposures with it. The Bessa and the MP works well in ragged edge shooting (low light) - but I do bracket when possible. The 15/4,5 is prone to reading the sky as the main light and one has to compensate for that. All three cameras worked flawlessly as did the lenses.

 

[MCTuomey]

i aspire to notturtle's working method, thanks for sharing it here.

as my impatient swedish commercial photographer friend likes to tell me, "the meter is where you start. the exposure is where you end up. you do need to apply your eye and brain a little, you know." he also likes to say that meters that average give average exposures, which makes me chuckle.

 

[clayne]

I find that over time one just becomes used to knowing the appropriate range of shutter speeds to use given the light. But this is *if* they don't rely on the meter.

Of course screwed exposures come with it until one gets good enough - it's not easy - but the workflow is better in the end.

 

[oldoc]

The M6 clearly needs TTL framing, autofocus and 3D matrix metering 😀

Like it needs four holes in the shutter curtain.
Stick with it Ted.
You'll love it, and be proud of what you get.

 

[Richard G]

Great post Ted. Resonates with my own experience: an M2 acquired when I was 17 and move 'up' to add an M6 when I was 38, 11 years ago. Still love the M2 with hand-held meter. Still love the M6. Trouble believing those little arrows and not liking the distraction when I know my reading is better. Often I am metering unnecessarily from my hand as a quasi-incident meter. Thanks to your post I see some excellent suggestions for getting better in line with the built in meter which I think we might as well do since we've got it. Inspiring post Ted: you'll definitely master it.

 

[tedwhite]

Senmich - the M6 isn't my first RF. I've had a Bessa R for several years.

To update: I took various folks' comments about loving the M4 and M2 to heart. I sold the M6, am waiting for the just-right M2 to come along, have buckled my Ultron Aspherical 28/1.9 to my Bessa R, and am basically having fun. Just shot a roll of Fujichrome Provia F 100 and will be posting a few to the gallery (very nice film, by the way). Tom wanted to see what the Provia F/Ultron 28 combo looked like.

Actually (here comes the heresy) I think I actually prefer working with the Bessa R over the M6. Sure, the build quality doesn't compare, but the meter lights I like better, and the film window is mighty convenient. Plus I'm not handling this RF camera like it's a rare diamond. If I break it, another's easy to come by at no great price. Every time I use the Bessa R I am amazed at what a bargain it is.

 

[Renzsu]

I've sold my dslr, gotten a hassy and love it.. now I'm going to take the plunge and get an M6.. it won't be easy but who cares when you're having fun 🙂

 

[tedwhite]

As a postscript to my Post #49, and regarding meter accuracy, the metering system on the Bessa R should deserve some praise. I just shot a 36 exp. roll of Fujichrome Provia (ISO 100) with it and every exposure was spot on. Not an easy task with 'chrome films.

Still waiting for that M2 to come my way. I plan on using strictly B&W film in it with an occasional glance at a hand-held meter.

 

[roger15]

I didn't like it at all because it was NOT my SLR. It was slow, everything in the viewfinder was in focus, and the meter was different. I swore it off and went back to my SLR. But the quality of the camera and the images that came out of it made me want to buy one and think of it as another type of photographic tool. Since I had always taken better photos with an all manual SLR years before owning the AF SLR, I eventually started to use the Leica more often and eventually ditched the SLR altogether. Been hooked ever since. It's not for everyone though, but at least give it a long-term shot.

 

[kshapero]

it will.
focusing properly with a 28mm at some f/5.6-8.0 you will probably use in daylight at 400asa is not that important anyway. when I'm out for street shots, I often hardly focus at all, especially not at 28mm. neopan 400 or 1600 loaded, 1/250, f/4-11, focus ring set to something between 1 and 4 metres, depending on the environment, and the only thing left to do is compose the shot (I start doing that before I even raise the camera), be as quick, unobtrusive and efficient as possible and tada. it's very hard to missfocus that way, with a little luck and practice, scale focusing can even work at f/1.5!

keep it up and show us some pictures soon!

excellent read

 

[semilog]

I'm lucky. First camera I ever used was my dad's M3+DR50. After shooting (mostly Nikon) SLRs for 15 years, when I finally got an M6 it was like slipping on a comfortable pair of shoes.

 

[semilog]

I really loved my Nikon FM3a with the needle for metering, I knew exactly how far over or under exposed I would be.... until it got dark, then it was useless (not being lit)

FE2/FM3a -- my favorite VF display, by far. Analog rules.

 

[35photo]

Let me recommend this: Preset shutter speed. Focus first. Turn fstop. Arrow on right brighter than arrow on left. Remember Zen. You must function as part of the instrument and without thinking. Keep working with the instrument eventually it will become part of you.

This is really good advice! That's what I do pick a shutter speed and then work the aperture. At first yeah the M6 was diffcult coming from using SLRs, but in time the camera became a part of me. I would practice using the camera with no film just focusing on different things, firing the shutter just getting a really feel for the camera. I think it was the shutter release for me that was hard in terms of being able to hold the camera steady and firing the shutter. It was just so different from my Nikon autofocus camera it takes awhile just keep using it and practicing with it. Even after using the M6 for 10+ years, when I got an M4 last year the shutter release was different and the viewfinder as well, than the M6 so I had to get a feel for that and practicing with it....as they say practice makes perfect.....

Marko

 

[cidereye]

This is really good advice! That's what I do pick a shutter speed and then work the aperture. At first yeah the M6 was diffcult coming from using SLRs, but in time the camera became a part of me. I would practice using the camera with no film just focusing on different things, firing the shutter just getting a really feel for the camera. I think it was the shutter release for me that was hard in terms of being able to hold the camera steady and firing the shutter. It was just so different from my Nikon autofocus camera it takes awhile just keep using it and practicing with it. Even after using the M6 for 10+ years, when I got an M4 last year the shutter release was different and the viewfinder as well, than the M6 so I had to get a feel for that and practicing with it....as they say practice makes perfect.....

Marko

Myself, I didn't really have a problem moving from many years of SLR cameras to RF's, maybe made easier that I started with the Contax G1 & G2 true - moved to an M8 & M2 and then sold the M8 to buy an M6 recently. But I will say that I have found the M6 (TTL 0.85) difficult to adapt to after using an M2, I honestly thought having a metered M would be quicker to use than an un-metered one but for me that's not been the case. I still find it far quicker to take an initial meter reading with my small Sekonic L-208 and just shoot only then having to alter f stops by the odd 1/2 stop->stop for changing light/shadow when necessary.

For me personally I have no other option but agree with Tom A that the M2 is the best M Leica. But hey, YMMV obviously. 🙂

 

[Cyriljay]

Since i bought my first M6 about 14 years back now I had being using it as my best mastered tool and it has never failed in any way. It's built meter has been very accurate and I never use any hand held meter. My next generation M8 has the same meter built-in and it is very reliable too in all M concepts.

 

[raytoei@gmail.com]

coming from a M4-P, i had the same problems with the LEDs....

i finally broke down and removed the batteries...hahhaha

i thought of the putting the batteries wrong way round so
that it is in the compartments in case i need it
but i am not sure what is the impact of doing this...
will it fry the electronics ?

 

[Teuthida]

Best Solution: carry an F5 in your bag along with the M. Best of both worlds.