M3, M2 Metal Lever VS M4, M6 plastic lever?

[Avotius]

I have used both and found that I prefer the all metal lever, not for vanity or whatever, its just because I like to fiddle with things and found myself constantly playing with the plastic thing which bugged me

 

[varjag]

Ok, to complicate it further.. how many of people preferring M3 style lever would not object to tipped one if both parts were metal?

 

[Pherdinand]

what exactly do you mean by "softer"?????

 

[Ben Z]

I've used both and don't have a favorite. I tend not to be the type to deviate from factory issue, so I use whatever the camera came with. The plastic tip is only plastic on the top. Underneath, where it attaches to the main arm, is metal.

 

[thomasw_]

Ok, to complicate it further.. how many of people preferring M3 style lever would not object to tipped one if both parts were metal?

i wouldn't like that. the main reason being that the play with the two pieces isn't as rigid. the m3 lever's rigidity makes have more a definitive or stronger feel than the m4/5/6 levers; this 'play' in the lever always makes me think twice about whether it has slipped...or whether i have push too forcefully and cracked it. less pieces means less to go astray.

 

[Ken Ford]

I much prefer the solid type - I find the pivoting one a distraction. If the plastic tip didn't pivot, I'd be OK with it - being a Nikon SLR guy, I actually like plastic wind lever tips.

 

[pmu]

Yesterday; I was walking outside and M6 hanging from my neck and at some point I happened to slightly touch the camera with my right hand...I noticed that I felt something weird between my hand and the camera...I thought that something dropped out of the trees and caught between my hand and camera (I was walking in the woods, you know). I picked it in my hand and noticed that it was a tiny screw, what?! It was the screw that holds that plastic tip in that advance lever. I mean I barely touched the camera and right at that moment that small screw from M6 lever came loose and dropped between my hand and the camera! What are the odds to that? I am quite lucky that the advance lever is not in two pieces right now... And because of this, yes... WTB: all metal advance lever.

 

[payasam]

The levers of my Canon SLRs have plastic tips, my M3 had a plain metal one. Neither kind is difficult in use. I'd go with plain metal because it is simpler.

 

[pmu]

I am quite lucky that the advance lever is not in two pieces right now... And because of this, yes... WTB: all metal advance lever.

LOL, actually I don't want to buy that all metal lever anymore. I did highly scientific tests that lasted for about 3 minutes and figured out that the best solution is to glue that plastic tip to the metal part. And that is what I did, glued it with epoxy, hahaa... (And I glued that screw too).

 

[Krosya]

I recently replace my M6's lever with the M3 lever. It has a more solid feel to me.

My thumb would slip off the plastic tip of the M6 but not so with the M3 lever.

Yep - what he said. Thats why I did it and never looked back - my M6 handles soooooooo much better for me now.

 

[pmu]

Even if some of you propably think that this was a stupid move, but the fact that I glued that M6 plastic tip (and the screw) to that lever so that it is now "solid" -- that was extremely smart move.

+ the advance lever feels now very solid
+ feels comfortable because of plastic tip, not slippery
+ the advance movement feels "smaller" than with my other M with all metal lever... very quick and easy to shoot.
+ no more worrying about breaking that plastic part or loosing that screw that holds the lever in one piece
+ saved around 60 USD because I got what I wanted and didn't have to buy new lever and didn't have to buy tools to change that lever

- possible decrease of camera value (and that is easy to fix)

If you want to get ridd of that original M4/M6 style lever I recommend to tape that plastic part so that it does not move -- try that way and if you like it...just glue it. Works like a dream.