M6 and Power Winder

[dave lackey]

Ah, the simple life.

Lately, I have been thinking of consolidating to just one camera and lens for all of my film work. This interchangeable lens idea is good if one can afford it or needs it. But I can't and I really don't need it. I need one camera and one lens for each task, in other words, the RF may be perfect for 50% of what I shoot, the SLR is necessary for many other things the RF is not suited for, and, of course, the MF is a new territory for me to explore for the moment.😉 So, one camera with one lens for each time I go out shooting or just walking around.

I also need a meter. Life is too complicated these days and I don't want to carry anything extra...not the X1 for metering...not a light meter...nothin'. Just me and a camera with a couple of rolls of film in my pocket.

And then there is the power winder that makes it easier for left-eyed shooters like me when I want a couple of shots in succession. Like when chasing moving subjects such as kids or grabbing shots in between moving objects like cars. I love the idea of the M power winder.

So, what do YOU think?

Of course, I really would prefer a BP MP...but that is twice the price of the M6.

Coming from an M3, which M6 would you recommend?🙂

 

[L Collins]

Dave,

Read JSU's Spock qoute before you do anything.

 

[TennesseJones]

M6 classic is a little bundle of awesomeness.
Which lens will you use?

 

[icebear]

Hi Dave,

I also have a Rapidwinder for my M6 or MP and although I think, it is a marvelous piece of machinery, even better than the Leicavit itself, I haven't used it much. It indeed adds quite some weight to the body. Try a used Leica M motor and if you don't like it, you can sell it with almost no loss.
Since I have the M9 and MM I don't need a winder anyway.

 

[Ken Ford]

I'm an M6 shooter; I had an M3 for a few years too, but I've reached the point in my life that I prefer having an internal meter.

I also have occasional but significant hand pain issues that can cause problems with winding on a film body. To this end I picked up a RapidWinder; it helps some, but there are days that even the RW hurts. So a few years ago I found a used Motor M - that's my solution for when I'm having a flareup.

My first time around with the M (early 80s) I had an M4-P and a Winder M4-2. You couldn't give me one of those winders again; the Motor-M is far superior.

 

[Murchu]

If replacing your M3 with an M6, I think an M6 with the 0.85 viewfinder would be best, if you only plan on shooting your 50. At least that is what I would choose, with the M6 classic being my preferred option. Having owned both an M3 & classic M6 0.72, just beware you will be giving up a viewfinder that does not flare, as well as the covering on the M6 being far less grippy than the vulcanite on your M3. Also the cluttered/ paired framelines are not to my liking, or at least when compared to an M3.

All of which is really a roundabout way of saying you will be giving up some ergonomics in order to gain the ability to use a power-winder. I liked my M6 a lot, but love my M3 🙂

 

[sanmich]

Ah, the simple life.

Lately, I have been thinking of consolidating to just one camera and lens for all of my film work. This interchangeable lens idea is good if one can afford it or needs it. But I can't and I really don't need it. I need one camera and one lens for each task, in other words, the RF may be perfect for 50% of what I shoot, the SLR is necessary for many other things the RF is not suited for, and, of course, the MF is a new territory for me to explore for the moment.😉 So, one camera with one lens for each time I go out shooting or just walking around.

I also need a meter. Life is too complicated these days and I don't want to carry anything extra...not the X1 for metering...not a light meter...nothin'. Just me and a camera with a couple of rolls of film in my pocket.

And then there is the power winder that makes it easier for left-eyed shooters like me when I want a couple of shots in succession. Like when chasing moving subjects such as kids or grabbing shots in between moving objects like cars. I love the idea of the M power winder.

So, what do YOU think?

Of course, I really would prefer a BP MP...but that is twice the price of the M6.

Coming from an M3, which M6 would you recommend?🙂

Dave

the M6 is great.
There is one thing I found better on an M2+Leicameter:
You don't need to bring the camera to your eye every time you want to measure the light.
I am considering buying a VC meter only for that reason, and I can see how it could fit on the M6 too. when you want to spend the minimal amount of time with the camera at your eye (street for instance) presetting the aperture/speed is great.
Also: when you measure light on the M6, you are blind to the actual speed and f/ value. when presetting everything from above, you ain't...

One last thing, maybe very important: adding a meter will allow you to continue shooting with a camera you like and apparently feel comfortable with. No M6 will give you the M3 high mag finder...

 

[presspass]

Another vote for the Rapidwinder. I have them on my M7s and they're wonderful. They do add a bit of bulk and weight, but that seems to make the Ms easier to hold steady for slow shutter speeds. The current Leicavit is smaller, lighter, and a bit smoother, but the Rapidwinder works very well. Wouldn't be without it.