Should I swap my M4-P and Bessa R3A for an M6?

[Guth]

Yes, it is a classic... I loved my M6. I never knew of the "issues" until coming to this site. Some people (like me) just like an internal meter.

From my own personal observations, just as with forums focused on guitars, hifi equipment, motorcycles, cars, etc., when it comes to photography-focused forums there are a lot of opinions shared and behaviors exhibited in general that might best be described as tribal in nature. I fall into this pattern myself at times and while I have my hunches as to why, in all honestly I'm not sure that I could pinpoint exactly why this is the case.

At the end of the day, as long as a person is enjoying the use of whatever piece of gear/kit/machinery it is in their possession as it pertains to their chosen pursuit, then more power to them. The proof, to a degree, is in the pudding as the saying goes, or rather in the photos themselves as the case may be here. But that still does not account for the user experience itself, which from one person to the next is going to vary to some degree as to what is ideal. In other words, one size definitely does not fit all.

 

[Ronald M]

M6 meter can not be repaired. There were failures in early years, but no technical info on it.

 

[Guth]

M6 meter can not be repaired. There were failures in early years, but no technical info on it.

Yes, I believe this was established earlier in this thread. So a couple of meters died in these cameras — such failures don’t appear to be widespread enough to create concern for anyone other than a few individuals. The average meter lifespan for these cameras is still TBD, perhaps it will be 50, 75, or 100+ years (Probably not likely but my own time will likely come before that of the light meter in my camera).

None of the above changes the fact that for those wanting to make use of a built-in light meter, the M4-P and other earlier M-camera iterations don’t qualify. Yes, the user could make an effort to learn how to set the exposure themselves, but that is dancing around the issue, especially if their preference is to not do so. Pricing for M6 cameras would seem to indicate that the majority of users today value the availability of a built-in light meter as found in the M6 over the strengths found in the other older M-camera iterations. That doesn’t strike me as particularly surprising and should come as a relief to those waiting to get into an older non-metered M camera, or those wishing to add an additional non-metered body to whatever they already own.

 

[Bill Blackwell]

M6 meter can not be repaired. ...

Since when? I just spoke with Don Goldberg about this recently and he says otherwise.

 

[CLAdictic]

I have an M4-P, the special edition. A pleasure to hold and shoot. I have a small Gossen hand meter. Also have a new model VC meter that fits in the accessory shoe. There is a third meter I have which is the Leica MR very accurate. In addition to the above I have a Bessa R3A. I love my M4-P and enjoy the Bessa. It's not a simple answer to your question.

 

[Out to Lunch]

Going to sleep, again.

 

[rhechcapel]

For anyone else who is still following this, I kept my M4-P.
It is indeed a lovely camera, and I have bought the Voigtlander VC II and Reveni Labs light meters for it. Both look great on it, and it's not that much of an issue not having the meter in the viewfinder.

In fact, when I shooting B&W I pretty much just set my shutter speed when I move into drastically different lighting conditions and then forget about it which is very freeing.

Obviously with colour film I need to take a little more care, and then it's also nice to slow down and meter from the hotshoe.

 

[farlymac]

For anyone else who is still following this, I kept my M4-P.
It is indeed a lovely camera, and I have bought the Voigtlander VC II and Reveni Labs light meters for it. Both look great on it, and it's not that much of an issue not having the meter in the viewfinder.

In fact, when I shooting B&W I pretty much just set my shutter speed when I move into drastically different lighting conditions and then forget about it which is very freeing.

Obviously with colour film I need to take a little more care, and then it's also nice to slow down and meter from the hotshoe.

The very reason I got a VCII for my M4-P. Got tired of ruining color film.


PF

 

[lxmike]

whichever way you decide, l wish you well in your quest

 

[Sierra Club]

Older meterless Leicas look quite sexy with external meters like Hedeco.

By the way - I'd highly recommend shooting without light meter every once in a while, it's a really liberating experience especially considering film is a very forgiving medium in this regard.

 

[mpaniagua]

Since when? I just spoke with Don Goldberg about this recently and he says otherwise.

I suppose what it means is that the lightmeter can't be repaired. It needs a donor lightmeter.

 

[MISH]

I have always heard that it was only the ttl that there is no replacement parts for.
BTW: I have a M6 ttl and I am quite confident that I will wear out before that camera does. My close watch on the internet has not turned up anyone with a faulty light meter.


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