M6 vs M3

M6 vs M3

  • M6

    Votes: 363 61.0%

  • M3

    Votes: 232 39.0%
  • Total voters
    595
Well my M2-S became a casualty of Canada Post, so I was down to just my M6 TTL. Found a very clean, recently serviced M3 DS and now I know what everyone was talking about. Use it exclusively with my 5cm collapsible cron.

After having it for three weeks now I can say I LOVE my M3 and like my M6 TTL. The M3 is easier for these old eyes to focus with its beautiful viewfinder, and it just feels better in the hand.

Best,
-Tim
 
I realized that this thread [and some others] sometimes pops up to the home page but without any new post. May be something wrong here?

Anyways, for not being bashed as spam, I have both M6 and M3. Couldn't decide which one I LOVE more cause 35/2 on M6 and 50/2 on M3 and I use both focal lengths.
 
kiemchacsu said:
I realized that this thread [and some others] sometimes pops up to the home page but without any new post. May be something wrong here?

Anyways, for not being bashed as spam, I have both M6 and M3. Couldn't decide which one I LOVE more cause 35/2 on M6 and 50/2 on M3 and I use both focal lengths.
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I think that it gets bumped to the top every time someone answers the poll as well. I might be wrong though.
 
My choice would be M6-TTL 0.85 with a Zeiss 35/2. I would love to have an M3 but personally I find meterless cameras a royal PITA to actually use, so it would come out from time to time to be fondled and listened to as I run through the shutter speeds - like my S3 Millennium. Beautiful to hold and handle (especially with the 1:1 VF allowing both eyes to stay open) but in a year of ownership I have yet to put a single roll through it. I find that having to use a shoe-mounted meter slows things down so much I feel like I might as well be using the GW690III (except that with 35mm you get a lot more shots before changing rolls).

I am getting my IIIf RD ST CLA'd right now and I probably won't ever take a single shot with that either (though the camera itself is gorgeous). What a waste of money, time and effort some of these things have been (I adjusted the S3 RF myself and greased the helicoid which was fun but ultimately pointless).

Maybe there is just something wrong with the way I'm approaching photography... 🙁
 
This thread has been great reading - probably more than the OP intended ;-) I've recently had the fortune (via friends mainly) to compare an M3, M2, M6 and Zeiss Ikon. Each camera is simply superb and has it's own unique strengths BUT...

IMO absolutely nothing compares to the M3 assuming you are a 50/90 shooter predominantly. The VF, and particularly the RF, is simply superior. Nothing feels quite as solid or as refined either. Yeah it might be all BS to 'real photographers' but if you care about such things there is a difference. I was completely surprised how the oldest M can still feel like the best.

Me? I sold my M3 recently so I could use a 35 Biogon C - bought an M2 with M6 finder. It's really nice but just not quite as nice as the M3 . I miss it :-(
 
Internal meter was my main reason to go m6 over m3/2. Yes you can put on a hot shoe meter, but that just takes away from how clean and sleek the body is.

I'll probably pick up an m3 when I get another lens (50/90)
 
just my 2 cents since I did use a M3 for about 1 film:

I love the 0.58 finder of my M6ttl. it is just perfect for me. I can focus 90mm on that precisely and use my 28 elmarit asph without external finder or glueing my eye to the finder

with the 50 being my longest lens currently I dont take any advantage over the M3 finder. in fact I dont like it. with the M6 I see more surroundings than with the M3 and I love that, waiting for the moment I want and then releasing the shutter

but I see the points for the M3 so... M6 got my vote (I love the M6ttl shutter dial, dont like the small one that goes in the other direction)
 
For me, M6 vs M3 = M4 but.... if you really want an M3 to augment your other M6—and it's a little weird for me going between the two—be sure you shop carefully for your M3. Buy one on Ebay, and expect it needs servicing for best functionality. Your M6's are a lot newer. Also, a good deal of M3's rangefinder's have faded. I would say 1/3 to the point I wouldn't enjoy using it. Good luck!

You may also find that if you like the M3 (or any pre M5 M body) that the blinking red led's in your M6's viewfinder may become unbearable!
 
ssmc said:
...but personally I find meterless cameras a royal PITA to actually use, so it would come out from time to time to be fondled and listened to as I run through the shutter speeds - like my S3 Millennium.
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I wonder whats the problem? Use a small handheld meter like a digisix or l-208, set the camera and be done with it until the light changes. Its film, you can overexpose by a few stops, or underexpose by a stop or two and it's still fine, no need to meter all the time if the light doesn't change too dramatically.
 
I have the M6 ttl 0.85 + a classic, much like you. I upgraded the first to an MP viewfinder which greatly enhanced it performance. The M3 in excellent++ condition, with all the vulcanite intact and no scratches or dents and a clear aligned viewfinder is quite expensive. Do you want a basic bargain user to experiment with?...then that is another matter. Unlike digital cameras where the camera is essentially a computer with a lens attached a film camera is a light tight box. Are you interested in collecting historical technology and experimenting with it? There is nothing amiss with that. Specifically to your question: Two cameras and one lens? I would get a second lens and look toward more lenses before going back in historical technology. For anyone else reading this I am degrading previous models but reflecting my personal opinion on a specific question. (I am guilty of using vintage cameras.)
 
brokencivilian said:
Which would you choose and why? I currently have two M6's one classic one Ttl.85 and I was thinking of trading my classic for an m3 and cash from other person. Right now I have two bodies and one lens. With the money from the trade I was hoping to get a low end voigtlander lens so I have no need to worry about dings and such.

So anyway, if you were in my shoes what would you do? Keep te m6 and eventually get a lens of trade down for the m3 and get a lens sooner? I figure I can always get another m6 eventually. But then again I can also get an m3 without trading for it.
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Well, another old thread that I am answering..why is that?😕 Anyway, M3 or M6? Can't answer for the OP and will not even try.

For me? It has always been the M3 but I plan on getting an M6 or M7 with a motor drive/winder one day. That is the dream at least. The dream includes keeping the M3 and winning the lottery to buy the metered and driven M body in black with a 35mm Lux lens.:angel:

Dreams are good, right?
 
I use mostly the 35 or 50 lenses, so getting the M3 was the logical choice for me many years ago. Then I added a classic M6 with 0.85 finder. The feel of the M6 is inferior to that of the M3. If using a meter is essential, you can use CC Meter II with the M3 for an excellent Leica M that was never topped by Leica. Of course, if you mainly use wide angle lenses, then a different M body may work better for you.
 
I love my M6. It is a work horse. The internal meter is very clever. One device to leave the house with. It feels lighter than my M2. The detent is stiff between 1/50 and 1/30s which apparently is part of the M6 particularity. The shutter dial is otherwise usually easier to turn. Loading is fantastically quick. Mounting lenses is much easier than with my M2 or M5 and even my M9. I don't buy the superiority of the M3. My M2 is just as good. And I see my M6 as in no way inferior, and in many ways superior.
 
I have a M3, M2 and M6 "Millennium" and the M3 finder is in another level compared to the M6. I think a better comparison would be the M6 and M2. The M2 viewfinder is much better than the M6 even after I have had the "MP" finder upgrade. I could sell the M3 and M6 and try to find a BP M2 but the millennium is far too gorgeous to let go! It's so smooth to use and the finish is amazing. If only the finder from the M2 could be Put in the millennium!
 
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