M2 or M6 for next purchase?

M2 or M6 for next purchase?

  • M2 - built to last a lifetime

    Votes: 177 46.1%

  • M6 - meter and 28mm framelines are a bonus

    Votes: 183 47.7%

  • Neither - and let me explain why!

    Votes: 24 6.3%
  • Total voters
    384
While I love my M4 I rarely use it anymore since I got my M7 about two years ago. I just bought another M7 (with the .58x VF) to use with my 28mm. If your buying the camera to use (as oppose to fondle) then I'd never buy a leica without a built in meter. I'd only buy the M6 if I couldn't afford the M7.
 
Al Kaplan said:
My experience with meters over nearly five decades, both seperate and built in, is that they never seem to last five years without needing some sort of repair, or even outright replacement. This goes for Leicaflexes, various Leica R models, the Leica CL, the Metrawatt made MC and MR meters for Leica M's and assorted Gossen and Weston meters I've had over the years. At least with a seperate meter you can continue to use your camera while the meter gets repaired, or start using your camera with a newer better meter. I prefer incident readings anyway.
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You must have bad luck. I've never had a problem with my M4-R meters, Leicaflex SL or CLE meter drifting out of calibration. My Miranda Sensorex meter quit so now I'm in the same spot you are - using a handheld meter.
 
I love my M2, its a great camera and I like the fact that it doesn't have a meter in it. It's nice to never have to worry about batteries. You can find a good one for around 700 and if it needs a CLA just send it to Youxin Ye and he'll fix it right up.
 
If you are talking in terms of M2/M4, the M6 finder is abysmal. There is a meter, but its not particularly great. The feel of the camera isnt even in the same league. I went from an M3 to an M6 and the 6 bugged me and bugged me but was useful. When I got into 2's and 4's down the line, the 6 became my beater and basically the only time I use it now is in horrid conditions. Just have no respect for that camera, there's nothing special about it. If it was my only M, it would be fine and I would be glad to have it even though Id be cursing the finder the whole time. Luckily, there are other choices out there.
 
Imagine my surprise when I logged into RFF and found this thread resurrected. It was a nice walk down memory lane to read through it again. It's particularly amusing because I now have both a M2 and M6 that I use regularly. You can also add an R-D1, a couple more Summicrons, a couple of Summiluxes, a Biogon .... well, you get the picture.
 
Sjixxxy said:
For curiosity's sake, if someone else had started this thread now, how would you have responded?
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Interesting question. To tell you the truth, If I could only keep one of my cameras, it would be the M6. Although I often use it like the M2 (with an incident meter in my pocket), the convenience of having a built-in meter is often helpful. My M2 has a slightly quieter shutter and a smoother wind-on, but the M6 (an early Wetzlar model) is not far behind. I do love the simplicity of the M2 framelines, but at the same time I really don't notice the 135mm frames when using a 35mm lens or the 75mm frame when using a 50mm lens.

I am glad, however, that I started with the M2. It got me in the habit of setting my shutter speed and aperture in advance, and just concentrating on composition and focus when I bring the camera to my eye.

I guess my answer now would be to buy both. 😀 Use the M6 during the daylight hours and the M2 at night, when the light meter is of little use.
 
richard_l said:
The M2 viewfinder is much nicer than that of the M6, being less cluttered and less prone to flare. (Although flare on the M6 is an issue that is blown way out of proportion by Leica detractors and those who are too lazy to use one of the various techniques to eliminate it.)
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I am a new M6 user (my first M), and have allready planned to attach little hoods to the body windows. Can it helps? What kind of techniques you mean?



pvdhaar said:
I'd think the sweet spot would be an M4. Has the best of both worlds..

1. Rewind lever instead of knob
2. Quick load built-in standard
3. 35/50/90/135mm frames
4. Priced more like an M2 than an M6
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5. Viewfinder with inflexible Leica quality, no economized (again in MP 2003) ? M6 have more flare, economist rules, and perhaps same with M4-2 and M4-P ?

I use much 50mm FL. Maybe I should have M3 for that (and I have looked and keeped M3 in my hands allready). But have M4 0.72x finder magnification as M6 have? I think it's best for 35mm FL. I am eyeglass user.

I plan having two body, each for my both favorite lenses, 50+35mm. Only thing that I am not sure in M3 is a loading. I don't have tried loading yet which I must do before I can buy.
 
I'm kind of late to the party but, given the choice of an M2 or an M6, I would choose the M6 (ironic since the only leica that I currently own is an M2). I used to own an M6 ttl and honestly didn't notice any big build quality difference between the two (both are very well made and will last the average user a lifetime). I personally find it kind of silly that a good number of people are touting the lack of an inboard meter on the M2 as a "feature" - all you have to do is take the battery out of the M6 if you want to shoot without a meter. The rewind knob argument boils down to personal preference (I prefer the M6 style). The m2 finder is a bit better (flare-wise) but I wouldn't consider it worlds ahead of the m6 (you can have the m6 finder upgraded in order to reduce flare if you want). As far as framelines are concerned - again it boils down to personal preference. I prefer the stripped down m2 framelines but others (with a larger selection of lenses) would rather have the m6 lines. My biggest gripe with a standard m2 is the film loading - I hate the standard spool.
 
Honus said:
Use the M6 during the daylight hours and the M2 at night, when the light meter is of little use.
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Assuming you mean like really dark night scenes, or where there is a very high amount of light differnece between foreground & background?

I haven't used a camera's build in meter since 2003, but want to go from mt M3 to an M6 because a) 25mm-35mm is about 90% of my use, and I want more lens options. b) I hate externally metering indoor social, family events.
 
Have and use both. Reach for the M6 more often but like the feel of the M2 better, go figure... also two DS M3's and a lllf BD with a Summar. The M3's run different film and/or lenses. Like them just as much, but you knew that..... 35 Color Scopar, newer 'cron, 1.4 Nikor S-C, 90&135 Elmars and looking for a 15 mm or 21mm. Shoot 90% B&W... Neopan 1600, 400 & 100, Efke 25 & 100, Tech Pan & ocasionally Velvia 50 & 100. Currently playing with SFX 200. Tempted to jump on the Double XX movie stock wagon with some of the rest of youze..... Keep the temp constant and don't over agitate. Bill
 
If I were faced with the same situation as the OP, the M4 would be the obvious choice. Better built than the M4-P or the M6, 35mm lines, a great viewfinder, and a quick loading system. Put a 35mm Asph Summicron on the front, stick a 90mm Summicron APO Asph in your back pocket. Then supplement this with an even better built M3 with a 50mm Summicron welded to the front and you've got yourself a great little system to cover almost anything.
 
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