new aquisition!!!! and question.

[Steve B]

Well, I just opened the box containing my freshly arrived M6. Needless to say I'm pretty excited. I have one question though that I'm sure someone here can answer. I was under the impression that this camera had framelines that set automatically when you mounted the lens. I have the .72 finder which I understand has 28mm framelines as the widest lines and these appear in the viewfinder even with a 35mm summicron mounted. Am I wrong about the auto framelines? Do I have to thumb the frameline preview lever to compose each shot? Or am I just missing something here? Thanks for sorting me out guys.

 

[erikhaugsby]

Some of the framelines double up on the M6 inorder to simplify the framline mechanism.
I am not exactly sure what framelines these are on a M6, as I don't have one.

However, I do think that with a 28mm lens there are supposed to be 28/90 framelines visible and a 35 shows the 35/135 frames.

 

[erikhaugsby]

http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00BNcx&tag=

Photo.net had a discussion on the M6 framelines here, it might help some questions.

 

[Steve B]

got it

got it

Hey guys, thanks for the link to the photo.net discussion. I now realize that I am seeing the 35mm framelines. I though I was seeing the 28mm lines as I couldn't see any larger framelines than the ones I was seeing. But when I took off my glasses and thumbed the lever I found the 28mm lines just out of view for a glasses wearer. I knew someone would set me straight. Thanks,,,,,,

 

[ben lloyd]

With the 35 'cron you should be seeing 35 and 135 framelines, and the preview lever should be at its furthest point from the lens (push it all the way towards the lens to see the 28/90 pair)

Try the lever without the lens mounted to check that the frames are appearing correctly the default position is for 35/135, (middle position 50/75). Then mount the lens again, the lever can get stuck, which might mean a CLA is in order. I hope this isn't the case.

EDIT: Y'all got in before me, glad its OK

 

[Kim Coxon]

Do you get all the framelines with the preview lever without a lens mounted? They should come up in the order:

35/135 50/75 28/90

Kim

Looks like 3 of us typing at once 😀

 

[Steve B]

Do you get all the framelines with the preview lever without a lens mounted? They should come up in the order:

35/135 50/75 28/90

Kim

Looks like 3 of us typing at once 😀

Yup, I got all the various framelines with the lever. I was mistaking the 35mm lines for the 28mm as I hadn't looked carefully enough (without my glasses) to see the 28mm lines when I flipped the lever. I've got it sorted out now and it looks like it works great.
And of course its a beautiful camera! I can't believe KEH called it an EX. I can't think how nice the EX+ they also had for sale looks as I can barely find a rub mark or blemish on this thing. I almost wish I'd found one that was a little more used looking as I'm going to be way too careful with this one as nice as it looks! I had heard that Leica shooters were picky but jeez, If I'd bought this thing new in the box I probably wouldn't complain.

 

[steve garza]

I've had great experiences with KEH. The grading is highly conservative. And the prices aren't bad either.

 

[peter_n]

Enjoy the new cam Steve! 🙂

 

[Silver]

Hi Steve, congrats on the new camera. I remember when I bought my first M6 (used) and with excited. One thing, other than the framelines (sorry if I digrss the topic) I remember discovering the slow shutter speeds (below 1/30th I think) have a whirring nose the faster speeds don't share. I thought that something was wring with my camera when I heard them, and found out they are normal.

Just thought I'd post a couple of other tidbits on the off chance you were wondering. When you load film, I have read that the bottom plate should be firmly in place before attempting to advance the film. I guess that (and I hope someone who knows more than myself will post if I am incorrect) the pressure ensures that the gears wear properly. If you get into the habit of watching the film take up spool take up the film before installing the bottom plate it will wear the mechanism faster.

 

[Steve B]

film loading

film loading

Thanks for the tidbits Silver. So far I have the first roll of film in it and I did indeed advance the film far enough to ascertain that the sprockets had engaged the leader. I'll try to be more trusting.
I did notice the whirring of the shutter mechanism at speeds below 1/30 but my canon 7 does this same thing. I wondered at first but it really doesn't sound "wrong", just different and doesn't bother me.
And yes, I'm pretty excited. The camera is everything that I have been led to believe over the years. Its such a pleasure to use and when I get this first roll of film back I'll be on the edge of my seat to confirm that a shutter this quiet really is actually doing something. Its almost spooky.
Thanks for the enthusiasm Peter_n. I'm enjoying it already.
And yes, KEHs grading system does seem amazingly safe. This thing is stinkin' beautiful.
On a side note regarding the lens. I did buy a non-a 35 summicron and the focal ring is not absolutely smooth but has a slight stick near infinity. As long as I'm spending a lot of money to be picky I wondered if having it cleaned and lubed would fix that and would it be very expensive. Any input on where I should send it if I decide to get carried away and what it might cost? I'm getting used to using the smaller lens but it doesn't work as smoothly as the camera itself.

 

[Silver]

Steve - Don't just 'trust' the film is loaded, watch the rewind lever and make sure it turns when you advance the film. After two or three strokes (your M6 should reset to two frames before the dial when the camera is opened) the knob should start to turn.

Good luck.

 

[jaapv]

I guess that (and I hope someone who knows more than myself will post if I am incorrect) the pressure ensures that the gears wear properly. If you get into the habit of watching the film take up spool take up the film before installing the bottom plate it will wear the mechanism faster.

I don't think it has anything to do with wear, fortunately. It is just that the threespoked wheellike thingamijig on the bottom plate presses the film to the correct position on the takeup fork to engage the sprockets.

 

[Goodyear]

That 'threespoked wheellike thingamijig' is my favourite thing about my new M6 - you slide the film in to roughly the right place, put the baseplate on, advance a couple of frames and you're good to go.

No misloads yet - it's almost as nice as my wife's motor-driven SLR where she just drops the film in and closes the back.

 

[jaapv]

Btw, there have been some suggestions floating around to fold the film before loading. Don't do this kind of origami. It can be destructive for your shutter curtains. Just make sure you pull out the film leader to the correct length. It should be well between two prongs of the takeup fork, but not poke all the way through.

 

[Treb]

If you get into the habit of watching the film take up spool take up the film before installing the bottom plate it will wear the mechanism faster.

Never heard that before, have trouble to believe it is true. That aside, since the M4 we have been blessed with rapid loading (yes that's what it's called!). There's no need to wind film with the bottomplate off. Push a new roll of film in the camera, make sure the film is between the take-up spool (see diagram inside your camera). Attach bottomplate and wind on, check to see if the rewind crank turns. If it does you've loaded film correctly. Never misloaded a roll of film in 15 years of M use.

 

[markinlondon]

The baseplate "seals" the takeup spool assembly ensuring the film will not slip out/off the "tulip" thingy. I haven't had any misloads in over two years with my M6 and I've often reloaded at a brisk walk. I wish I could say the same about the various SLR systems I've used (or my Bessa for that matter). I only heard of the film folding idea recently and must say I don't fancy that going past my shutter blinds when rewinding.

Mark

 

[Treb]

Folding the film is indeed bad practice, just follow the diagram.

 

[Treb]

I did buy a non-a 35 summicron and the focal ring is not absolutely smooth but has a slight stick near infinity.

Following might work:
Put lens on body. Sit on sofa. Watch favourite TV-show. While watching turn focus ring back and forth. Check focus ring smoothness after TV-show. Repeat if needed.

 

[justins7]

I've had the same M6 with those same framelinesas yours for over 10 years now and I adore that thing. I've never once had trouble with it and I've only needed to change the batteries a few times! I really think the M6 was a design masterpiece, including the meter.
Just three colors in the finder (no numbers) -- purity and genius. And still accurate and sensitive. (Just be aware of the fact that it's a spot meter, so point it at neutral areas.)

A few times I've gotten annoyed about having to put the baseplate somewhere when loading, but there's really no going back. Once you use that thing it's hard to use any other camera.