M6 first impressions

[FrankS]

So I'm back from Midland area, quicky vacation with my family. Visited several touristy spots and shot about 3 rolls of HP5+ film with the new M6 and 50 Summicron. I quite liked the M6 except for a few things:

the viewfinder frames 50/75 are cluttered looking compared to my M2 or M3,

I experienced the rangefinder patch flare where it whited out, but I just moved my eye slightly left or right and it went away,

and finally since this is a .85 mag. viewfinder, the 50mm frames were quite close to the frame edges (which is fine for me using the 50mm lens most of the time, but I can see that the 35mm frames were going to be difficult for me to see with glasses on.

I did love the meter and the easier film loading. It's a black chrome camera with the white lettering removed. Top plate is blank so it looks like a serious tool. The shutter sounds okay, but not as quiet as my M2 or 3. This is a camera I am going to grow to love using more and more.
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[alice]

Hi Frank
just out of curiosity, what made you choose the M6 and not the MP?

 

[unsharp]

Sounds great Frank!

Since you now are the priviliged owner of a M2, M3 and a M6, can I ask:

Do you feel any difference in how the shutter runs in the M6 compared to M2/3?

I'm asking since I feel that the shutter in my M6 Wetzlar is running a bit "hard". The second curtain gives the feeling of moving more mass, and I find it difficult to keep the coincidental image absolutely still during the shutter's whole travel. A typical shot starts with me holding the camera steady, pressing the release gently, and it ends with a little, but irritating, movement. The movement is ever so little, but it's there, and I'm conserned about camera shake effecting sharpness. I think I can detect better sharpness in images where I use a support, even at higher shutter speeds.

(It had a CLA a week ago, but maybe I need one aswell...)

Anders

EDIT: The CV Bessa R3A i had run completely without vibrations, and I have heard somewhere that the M6 shutter is not as smooth as the earlier Ms.

 

[merciful]

Hi Frank
just out of curiosity, what made you choose the M6 and not the MP?

I'm not Frank (though I am rather frank), but I'd have to guess that Frank found the absurd difference in price between the M6 and MP to be a significant factor.

 

[Paulbe]

Frank--interesting you bought that specific camera. If it's a non-TTL and high mag it's one of only 3100 made. Of course this info and 2 bux will get you a cup of coffee at Starbux...🙂 🙂

Paul in Atlanta

 

[Ben Z]

I experienced the rangefinder patch flare where it whited out, but I just moved my eye slightly left or right and it went away,

That has been my experience as well. I had an MP, sold it, bought two M6 Classics and had enough left over for a used Voitlander 28 Ultron.

It's a black chrome camera with the white lettering removed.

I paid less than $900 for one, very late production and otherwise mint, because some bozo had painted the white engravings black. What was he thinking, that without the markings nobody would notice it's a camera? that a thief who actually knows what a Leica is wouldn't recognize it without the markings? Sheesh. Took me several coats of model plane enamel to re-fill the engravings.

Top plate is blank so it looks like a serious tool.

Hmm, one of my M6s has "Leitz Wetzlar GMBH Germany" engraved on the top plate, the other is blank. Does that mean I have to take all my serious pictures with the blank one?

 

[FrankS]

Hi Alice. Yes, Merciful is quite right: There was no choice for me between a used M6 and a new or used MP. The latter is just way too expensive for me.

Unsharp, I have the impression that my M6 shutter runs harder too. The M2 and 3 shutters sound softer, the M6 is snappier. I’ll let you know if there are any burred photo problems once I process the film.

Paulbe, I was aware of those production numbers when buying (trading actually) and since I use mainly a 50mm lens, I thought it couldn’t hurt to have such a limited camera type.

BenZ, I quite like the white lettering gone. On some of my other black cameras (Mamiya 6 and Hexar AF for instance) I have placed black electrical tape over the white lettering. Obviously I like the look of a blacked-out camera. As for the blank top plate, the earlier M6’s made in Wexlar were engraved on the top plate, while the later ones made in Solms weren’t. I’m sure you can do serious photography with either M6. 

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I wouldn't worry much about uniformity in Leica shutters. All my cameras sing to a different key. My black M6TTL is a tenor, whereas my silver M6TTL sounds pretty much like a baritone. The M3, however, whispers at a tone in between the other two, which makes it the only off key Leica in this household.

As for the shutter release button... Sometimes I sense that I need to sink my finger deeper with the M3 (as if the other two were more responsive). However, the great equalizer here is the softrelease button. Hence, I sent for two more so that all the cameras have the same feel.

Glad you like your M6, Frank. But that's bound to happen. How do you like the meter? Or do you use it without batteries?

 

[egpj]

My MP's have that white dot meter thing. As for me I just do not like it. Give me a handheld meter any day. Either that or gray card that I can get some reflected readings off of. Whites come out white and darks come out nice and dark. I try to practice that but sometimes I have to catch a shot using the ttl meter when time will not permit a proper reading.

 

[egpj]

PS. congratulations on the M6 Frank.

 

[FrankS]

Thank you guys.

I love the meter. With B+W neg film I never get too fussy about metering, as there is plenty of latitude for exposure offness.

 

[unsharp]

Solares, I have no question whatsoever about the song (or uniform) of my M6 shutter 😉

 

[JNewell]

Unsharp, I have the impression that my M6 shutter runs harder too. The M2 and 3 shutters sound softer, the M6 is snappier. I’ll let you know if there are any burred photo problems once I process the film.

My general feeling on the Ms I've owned/own is that from the M4-P on they are a little harder/louder (never owned an M4-2), and from the M5 backwards they all seem a little softer. That's a totally unscientific impression...

 

[Fred]

Frank, sounds like your getting to know the new family member very well indeed. Have fun I think all Leica M cameras have there own personalities, definitely the mechanical ones anyway.

 

[unsharp]

It's the sum of both shutters force that makes the little, little shake. I tested in B mode, and each shutters travel is ever so light. No shake at all.

Not to take FrankS thread any more, I will ask in a new thread about the release.

Anders

 

[FrankS]

Black beauty. For serious photography. 😉

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Frank, is that a Summicron 50 on the camera? Tabbed? Not tabbed?

Looks like it could tell some stories... 🙂

 

[Paulbe]

Frank---that is a beauty!! Looks also like you have the "official" and "politically correct" 12585 vented hood on the front.

Can't take great photos without an official hood ya know! 🙂

And the 50/75 framelines are not too much of a distraction. But it still isn't the good ol' M3...

Paul in Atlanta

 

[FrankS]

Thanks Paul. Good to hear that you can get used to the busy framelines.

Francisco, it is a version 3 untabbed Summicron 50. It came from Japan with a CL I traded for from Mike.

 

[Biggles]

I wish you the very best of luck with it, sir. And please let us have your impressions of the lens- I have a 50mm f2 Summicron shortlisted. In fact, it is the short lsit.