Newbie Question: Viewfinder Brightness M6

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BryanShih

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Jan 13, 2007
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I'm happy to have found such a great resource in the RFF and hope I can contribute. In the meantime, I would appreciate any insights. I bought a used M6 a few months ago and have been plugging away happily ever since. (My D2X hasn't seen the light of day, in fact, since I got the M6.) The more I shoot with the M6 though the more I think that the viewfinder seems a bit dim, making focusing a challenge. I'm wondering if something can be done to improve the brightness or do I need to look at an MP or an M7.

Thanks,

Bryan Shih/Tokyo
 
Are you refering to the entire viewfinder as being dim or is it the focusing patch in the middle that goes sorta goldish and you can't see to focus anymore?
 
Well, My M3 is brighter than my M6, than again, my M6 hasn't seen a good CLA in a while, so that could be part of it, as I see some dust in there. M3 was also a better design, and far more complicated from what I understand. MP may be a better option from what I hear. I don't know if M7 and MP have same RF system, but it's possible. Than again - there is always Zeiss Ikon - from what I hear it has a great RF, no personal experience though.
 
If you are referring to the overall brightness, you can have the M6 viewfinder upgraded to the MP viewfinder which basically entails having a technician put back some parts Leica took out to "cheapen" the M6 and save money. I just had this done on one of my M6s by Sherry Krauter and it's worth it if you shoot a lot in low light. In bright light, the difference is subtle but in low light it makes a
BIG difference, makes it easier to focus. It's not cheap, however. Can't tell you the exact price because I got a "deal" since it was done at the same time as a CLA. I am planning to send my other M6 in for the upgrade when the finances allow.
 
...as for looking at an MP or M7, I doubt the M6 with the upgraded viewfinder will be much different. And in my opinionated opinion, the M6 is the ultimate USER Leica.
 
Thanks, Pablito. That was one of the options I was looking at. I'm glad to hear you noticed the difference in low light especially. That makes the option more intriguing...
 
My M6's VF blows both of my M3's away (brightness-wise), and it hasn't been updated. I'm bettin' it just needs a cleaning, it's too new for RF patch fade.
It's the .72VF I hate.....after being spoiled by the M3's .91 nothing I've tried comes close.
 
If you are having problems focussing, it may be you need a different dioptre eye piece finder. I had problems with my Hexar Rf and actually lost the eyepiece glass. The one I replaced it with was .5 different than the one that came with the camera. The difference was like day and night, the replacement made focussing so much easier.
 
Hello I've just bought an M6 TTL ... How do I find out if the rangefinder of the camera is working properly? Is there anything like 'rangefinder maintenance'?
Thank you
 
When I sent my M4 for a new shutter to CRR Luton Peter also did the viewfinder enhancements... without asking me. He stuck a doughnut on the viewfinder to protect my eye glasses as well, the camera came back like new.

I'd want till the first service and ask then unless it is really bad, typically a snap a shutter ribbon every 25 years.

Noel
 
This may be way too simple but sometimes fingerprints on the viewfinder or the rangefinder windows can make things look not as bright. I carry a cleaning cloth in my pocket to deal with this.
 
Bryan, The M6 is known to have issues with flare in the viewfinder focusing patch. Some versions of the M6 are worse than others. I have a .85 which is about the worst. It does effect things but I find that by turning the camera this way or that or rotating it a bit etc you can often get past the flare and see again. It just depends on how the sun or a light is shining on the front of the camera.

At some point an MP finder upgrade will be in the works for me, but honestly I haven't had any horrible problems with it that resulted in lost shots.
 
If you are referring to the overall brightness, you can have the M6 viewfinder upgraded to the MP viewfinder which basically entails having a technician put back some parts Leica took out to "cheapen" the M6 and save money.
Click to expand...

Just for clarity, those parts came out part way through the M4-2 production and remained MIA all the way through M6/M6TTL production - they were gone long before the M6 was introduced. If I recall correctly, they were only re-introduced part way into M7 production.
 
JNewell said:
Just for clarity, those parts came out part way through the M4-2 production and remained MIA all the way through M6/M6TTL production - they were gone long before the M6 was introduced. If I recall correctly, they were only re-introduced part way into M7 production.
Click to expand...
That is correct, and although serial nrs. are published on the internet as must avoid/safe to buy you really can't tell by the serial nr. Around the changeover Leica placed stickers on the M7 boxes which essentially said "MP VF on this cam".
 
i bought a used M6TTL and had a really hard time focusing the camera at night because the center focus square was too dim. took it to a repair shop and the repair guy gave the view finder a good cleaning for about 100 bucks. he says the viewfinders sometimes fog up inside and need to be cleaned.

it worked for me and my view finder is bright as ever. maybe that is what you need too?...
 
usccharles said:
i bought a used M6TTL and had a really hard time focusing the camera at night because the center focus square was too dim. took it to a repair shop and the repair guy gave the view finder a good cleaning for about 100 bucks. he says the viewfinders sometimes fog up inside and need to be cleaned.

it worked for me and my view finder is bright as ever. maybe that is what you need too?...
Click to expand...


I agree w/ usccharles. The M6 you bought may have had quite a life from the first owner. A good cleaning job can do the trick.
 
JNewell said:
Just for clarity, those parts came out part way through the M4-2 production and remained MIA all the way through M6/M6TTL production - they were gone long before the M6 was introduced. If I recall correctly, they were only re-introduced part way into M7 production.
Click to expand...

Nevertheless, my M4-P viewfinder, which was just cleaned but not upgraded, is brighter than my clean but non-upgraded M6. The M4-P is as bright, without modification, as my M6 WITH the upgrade. I have no idea why, I'm going only by what I see thru the finder.
 
Interesting (and good). I thought the MP upgrade (retrofit?) was primarily to cure the rangefinder patch flare-out...but I think the viewfinder components are also multicoated in the MP version, so that could improve brightness. Perhaps there are component-to-component variances in the manufacturing process and your M4-P got a particularly good group of pieces by chance.
 
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