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 have an M2 and an M6. The M6 is in better condition, but I've noticed I've been using the M2 a lot more. The M2 is great if you use 35mm and 50mm.
 
If I were going to have only one M-camera and had to choose between the two, I'd go for the M6. Wider VF, a meter and fewer miles on on the shutter. Also, there are affordable winders for an M6 -- not so much for an M2. An M2 is a 50-60 year old camera. They are beautiful and have proved durable, but when I had to choose late last year between selling my M2 and and one of two M6's, I sold the M2. Will I buy another some day? I hope to. But for my style of photography an M6 made more sense. Plus my oldest M6 was only 20 years old and still a baby in Leica M terms. ;-)

By the way, used to live by Lake Merritt. Rockridge has its charms though. Oakland is a great town.
 
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If you prefer the vintage look of M2 to M6's built-in meter, then go for an M2.
I bought an M6 for $900 from ebay.de and I've never used the built-in meter. The red indicators in the VF are annoying so I decided to not use it at all. 😀
 
Decided not to use the M6 at all? Or the meter, removing the batteries to darken the annoying red diodes?
I've only ever had an M2 and an M8, so with one I cannot use batteries and with the other I must. 🙂
 
I have an M2, so my problem isn't M2 v M6, but which M6 version to get! Classic or TTL? Basically, I need camera that can operate in 100% mechanical mode. And I presume that the black dotted LHSA's inherited the less-than-smooth winding of their 'normal' cousins?
 
get the M6, give it a try, if you feel the ttl metering and the 28mm framelines aren't being worth it you can always resell it and then get the M2. I'd do that with the M6 first as between the two is the one that differs the most from your IIIc.
 
RFluhver said:
I have an M2, so my problem isn't M2 v M6, but which M6 version to get! Classic or TTL? Basically, I need camera that can operate in 100% mechanical mode....
Click to expand...
As you probably know, both M6 varieties have through-the-lens metering and are fully mechanical otherwise. The "TTL" just refers to that model's added ability to meter flash through the lens as well as ambient light. So, flash use may affect your choice.

Since I don't use flash, the main difference for me would be the shutter speed dials. The M6 "Classic" has a shutter speed dial like the one on your M2. The M6 TTL's shutter speed dial is larger, turns the opposite direction, and is more like that on the M7. This may affect your choice... I don't think there are any other significant differences between these M6 models...
 
I have an M2, and have compared it with the next-door neighbor's M6 ttl. Given the choice, I would go for the M6 for 4 reasons:
1. The finder on the M6 is about 1 stop brighter (and my M2 has an upgraded 28-135 finder).
2. The M6 lacks a self-timer, which I find gets in the way on the M2.
3. The M6 is much easier to load. Rapid load kits are hard to find.
4. The frame counter on the M2 can be accidentally knocked, and you won't know how many frames are left. I really hate the frame counter.
 
I find the (original but CLA'd) VF on the M2 to be brighter and simpler than the M6's VF. And a button-rewind M2 is the cleanest. I prefer the M3 frame counter but I don't mind the frame counter on the M2 after seeing so many fouled ones of the more complex variety.
 
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