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
I just went from IIIC to an M2 and the switch was really easy. I tested some M6's in the process and just liked the tact of the M2 a bit more. It's closer to the IIIc and is a bit simpler. I also don't have the money for something like an M6.
 
M6 for the first time

M6 for the first time

I got my first M6 yesterday, a beauty, hardly used. I´ve had M4, M4-2 and -P before. After a stint with the M8, it was first of all the meter that lured me into the M6 haven
leif e
 
Honus said:
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.
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I've bought the M2 and now thinking of M6 or maybe M8 or M9??? Just got a nice 35 asph lux for my M2.
 
martin s said:
I read virtually none of this, my not so biased opinion - m2 with a descent light meter. I have had the m6 for a couple of months now and just got my m2 two days ago - so much nicer. The looks, the feel, the fact that it is meterless. Beautiful, now I know why some collect those.

martin
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I hate quoting myself - just an update. I still prefer the M2, but in real life I need another body with a light meter. It's mostly because I've been taking the train a lot lately, and with the changing light it's almost impossible to guess (for me that is). I'm not sure if the M2 stays.

martin
 
martin s said:
I hate quoting myself - just an update. I still prefer the M2, but in real life I need another body with a light meter. It's mostly because I've been taking the train a lot lately, and with the changing light it's almost impossible to guess (for me that is). I'm not sure if the M2 stays.

martin
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Same here. I like guestimating the exposure in places where light is always the same (like LA, always sunny under the smog, and no clouds blocking the sun temporarily) but places with less uniform buildings and changing light can be a pain and deceiving. In my experience so far, it's been so much easier to use a meterless camera in California compared to South America/Europe.
After two years of using an M2, I don't really care much about its build quality and smoothness. I also think its "uncluttered viewfinder" is overrated, and the LEDs in the M6 never distracted me. Also, film loading with the M6 is much faster and convenient, and I can do it while walking which is a huge plus. If I tried it with the M2 I'd drop something.
That being said, the M2 is a pleasure to use. Just not as practical. 🙂
 
I have an m3 and a .72 m6. When I want to use a 35 with my m3, I just use electrical tape (a smarter person would use gaffer's tape) and cover up the frameline window thingy. Then I have a m3 viewfinder without any framelines and I just assume that everything I see will be in the resulting photo.
 
I have Gone from an M2 (which was LOVELY)
to an M4 ....a tad faster in Loading & I Adore the little glass film counter

Sometimes I take Eric's M6 ttl & its Quite FAB !!
I have ABSOLUTELY no issues with re: to Frame Lines or problems with the Battery
I LOVE IT ....😎
 
I have an M3 and an 0.85 M6 Classic. Heart and brain tell me that I have the perfect pair for me. A real "Leica Person" should have an M3. If you have to ask why, then you are not really a Leica person. The M6 is a really good Leica camera [just kidding!]. I am content. I don't need another camera to take better photos.
 
Raid, what is a "Real Leica Person" ? 😉

I had three M3 Leicas, one M6TTL with 0.85x VF and no .... wearing eye-glasses I didn't find it very comfortable. Additionally, after the M3 VF with 0.91x magnification all succeeding Leicas have a 0.72x as standard. So ... a "Real Leica Person" should have an M2/M4 with 35mm Summicron or Summilux. 😀
 
maddoc said:
Raid, what is a "Real Leica Person" ? 😉

I had three M3 Leicas, one M6TTL with 0.85x VF and no .... wearing eye-glasses I didn't find it very comfortable. Additionally, after the M3 VF with 0.91x magnification all succeeding Leicas have a 0.72x as standard. So ... a "Real Leica Person" should have an M2/M4 with 35mm Summicron or Summilux. 😀
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Maybe, all Leica users can be Leica People?

A "real Leica Person" may not exist in the real world!
 
I have both, M2 and M6 (re my signature). In practice I do more with the M6, why, although it has the red dot, it is less obtrusive since it is black, were the M2 is the chromium version - you get more remarks from people on the chromium cameras. Further of course because of the meter. With the M2 I use a handheld meter which is of course more cumbersome.

Btw if you are interested in one of these cameras,. send a pm. The M2 is from 1960, the M6 is a first batch and therefore very smooth operating M6 (for less than USD 1000! but it has no 28mm lines, because it is the classic one)
 
Man, This is a tough question. I've owned every M except the M9 and MP and now have an M2, M3 and M6. The M2 would be the first to go as it is an M6 w/o a meter (both 0.72 finder) and I would like to keep one with a built in meter.
To choose between my M3 and M6 would be really hard. Hope it doesn't come to that.
 
I was out last night with a bunch of friends in Brighton doing a night shoot. It was cold, it was wet and the recipe for being miserable but it was great fun. Did get some bemused looks from peeps when I was using my M2, fast film and no flash going off! It's also nice because I didn't need to worry too much about a bit of water getting into the electronics, because there are none.

I'm sure I'd love an M6 just as much as I love my M2. But it so happens I have an M2 and it's the best camera I have ever owned and used. Period. But that doesn't mean it's the best for everyone, and maybe if I ever bought an M6 I'd like that even more -- who knows. All I know is I am super happy with my M2!
 
Living in Miami, FL, high humidity, frequent unexpected rain showers, l like the fact that cameras without electronics can stand a bit of dampness and keep on functioning. I also like the idea that I can send a malfunctioning seperate light meter in for repair and not have to send the camera.

I suspect that the Leica M6 is better sealed than many other brands but electrical parts don't require a lot of corrosion to cease functioning.
 
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