richard_l
Well-known
I thought those who have metered Leicas might be interested in this.
Yesterday I toured a large winery and took pictures both outdoors and in available light indoors. I took a light meter, and I thought I had taken the M2, but I had picked up the M6 by mistake, so I decided to use the Gossen Digisix anyhow, in rellected light mode, to set the exposure. In almost every case the M6's meter agreed with the Digisix. When they differed it was obviously due only to the different metering patterns. Anyhow, either both the M6 and the Digisix are accurate, or else they are both off by exactly the same amount, which seems unlikely. Not bad for a regular ol' M6 which, according to the M6TTL faction, should be about ready to fall apart unless it has an emergency CLA.
The only bummer is that I had wanted to use color film, which was in the M2, but the M6 was loaded with black & white.
Yesterday I toured a large winery and took pictures both outdoors and in available light indoors. I took a light meter, and I thought I had taken the M2, but I had picked up the M6 by mistake, so I decided to use the Gossen Digisix anyhow, in rellected light mode, to set the exposure. In almost every case the M6's meter agreed with the Digisix. When they differed it was obviously due only to the different metering patterns. Anyhow, either both the M6 and the Digisix are accurate, or else they are both off by exactly the same amount, which seems unlikely. Not bad for a regular ol' M6 which, according to the M6TTL faction, should be about ready to fall apart unless it has an emergency CLA.
The only bummer is that I had wanted to use color film, which was in the M2, but the M6 was loaded with black & white.
Why would anyone think that the meter in an M6 "Classic" is anything but accurate? It is a photodiode, uses an electronic meter, and is not that old. The older CDS cells go "non-linear" and lose sensitivity at the high and low end, but usually are good enough for color print film. But then again, my CL does a good job. Most of my 1960's Nikon F Photomic meters are good, I had to clean the resister ring and pickup heads on a couple. The Photodiode meter of my 1976 F2Sb is "right-on" as is my original 1977 Nikon FM with it's Gallium Arsenide meter. Only one that Nikon made.
JNewell
Leica M Recidivist
My M5, F2AS and CL, each of which is probably older than most of those reading this and together reach almost the century mark, all agree with each others' meters and with my little Digisix (and all work like, umm, clockwork). Not bad, considering that each of them is about twice as old as the average M6 Classic?
peter_n
Veteran
I have an M6TTL which is newer, but I am amazed at the accuracy of the meter in it. I've tested it with a Megatron Euromaster II (a modern Weston V) and a Minolta AutoFlash III, both very accurate and reliable meters, and the readings agree. My new M7's meter agrees with the M6TTL. The meters in these Leicas are really pretty good!