M6 meter no longer repairable?

[:: Mark]

I think that the problem with both the M6 TTL and M7 is that they use microcontrollers (a 16bit derivative of the elderly 6502 for embedded use) that have long since been out of production. Without supplies of chips it is not possible to make more circuit boards.

These chips can definitely fail: my M7 had a metering fault that looked very much like an ADC failure.

Of course, it is possible to design new circuit boards around contemporary parts - but given that the M7 was discontinued rather than redesigned, presumably Leica has already concluded that the cost of doing this could not be justified 🙁

 

[Out to Lunch]

Did Leica confirm that the M6 and M7 light meters cannot be repaired?

 

[:: Mark]

I think that it is just the M6 TTL that can not be repaired at the moment (along with some of the electronic R series). Some people have suggested that some parts in the standard M6 might be problematic now, but that camera might be simple enough and with enough users that alternatives might be found or developed.

Unfortunately, because of part availability, the stock of spares for the M7 must be finite. My guess is that Leica estimates that it has enough for a few years, to cover repairs to the last M7s that were sold.

 

[dourbalistar]

At least the M6 is a fully mechanical camera - the battery only operates the meter. If I'm not mistaken, the M7 only has two mechanical shutter speeds. You'd only be left with 1/60 and 1/125 if the circuit board goes kaput.

 

[Rob-F]

Well, I like my M7 and use it quite a bit--perhaps more than my other Leicas. I will take the risk, and hang on to it. What is the evidence for Leica electronics going bad; any known incidents of it?

BTW, circuit boards can be troubleshot and repaired at the component level.

 

[Tim Gray]

Well, I like my M7 and use it quite a bit--perhaps more than my other Leicas. I will take the risk, and hang on to it. What is the evidence for Leica electronics going bad; any known incidents of it?

BTW, circuit boards can be troubleshot and repaired at the component level.

I'm not trying to make an "M7s are unreliable" statement or anything, but I just did send one of my two M7s in for repair. Something wrong with the shutter speed dial/metering circuit. I've had it for 10 years and it was used when I bought it - no clue how old it is.

 

[raid]

At least the M6 is a fully mechanical camera - the battery only operates the meter. If I'm not mistaken, the M7 only has two mechanical shutter speeds. You'd only be left with 1/60 and 1/125 if the circuit board goes kaput.

The M6 is like my M3 when the battery is dead or the meter is dead. No big deal.