italy74
Well-known
Ok, taking advantage of the saturday morning, I went to the only local shop who keeps Leica stuff. Not exactly close but not necessary to go to Milan as well - which would require half day between gone and return. I can't get it for now but I really wanted to see by myself a few things.
He has both collectible cameras (MP / M6) and "common" M6 with a .85 VF. I tried with a Summicron 50, I guess it was from the early '70s, and here's what I found about it, once batteries were on.
First of all, handling it was like handling a cigarette-box-sixed brick. Very solid and pleasant, up to the expectations.
Second - what worried me more - the viewfinder: wearing glasses, although thin, it was quite difficult for me to see the 35mm framelines, but the good news is that both the patch and the framelines themselves were clearly visible otherwise. Probably, if i'd have to design one from scratch, I'd avoid both the 135 and the 75 framelines, which in the 50 resulted to be quite bothering. 50mm framelines were just right, though.
90 mm were adequate .. at least I thought it was much smaller even if the 90 I saw a few days ago into an M3 were even better. Unfortunately M3 is as beautiful as not exactly suited for me ( I'd like to have at least 35 mm framelines AND some kind of metering reference)
Third, the metering arrows. Definitely bright although I was viewing them inside the shop so not against the sun, however I feel they were ok for practical use. Something that puzzled me a bit was the fact I expected that the meter worked (retake a metering) every time I half-pressed the shutter while it looked to retain the first metering for a while. At least, the arrows suggested that.
Fourth, the click, nay the "CLOP", definitely different than any SLR (the M3 I tried was closer to a "SNICK"), probably not as quiet as I expected (see the other thread) however quite discreet for sure.
Fifth, I was finally able to look inside the camera as concerns the film loading and finally understood that strange way only Leica has (for what I know), and I also understood why someone says to ply the leader of the film so that it fits steadier in the takeup spool I guess. I guess experience may help a lot in changing film faster than the other way. I saw expert photographers of both systems able to swap rolls in less than 40 seconds (youtube videos)
What I found a bit awkward was the ISO setting. Although you have to do only once every roll, it's kind of time consuming and not as easy as expected because you have to work with your index finger only and you have to pay care about the turn you do. Probably, an outer dial instead of a finger-driven one, would have been easier to operate.
Bottom line, will continue looking at it, M6 .85 (and I guess M7 and MP as well) looks really worthwhile cameras for work. Read it correctly, of course they are, it's just me who have to understand if they can fit my work style (especially seen the price) and the answer is positive.
He has both collectible cameras (MP / M6) and "common" M6 with a .85 VF. I tried with a Summicron 50, I guess it was from the early '70s, and here's what I found about it, once batteries were on.
First of all, handling it was like handling a cigarette-box-sixed brick. Very solid and pleasant, up to the expectations.
Second - what worried me more - the viewfinder: wearing glasses, although thin, it was quite difficult for me to see the 35mm framelines, but the good news is that both the patch and the framelines themselves were clearly visible otherwise. Probably, if i'd have to design one from scratch, I'd avoid both the 135 and the 75 framelines, which in the 50 resulted to be quite bothering. 50mm framelines were just right, though.
90 mm were adequate .. at least I thought it was much smaller even if the 90 I saw a few days ago into an M3 were even better. Unfortunately M3 is as beautiful as not exactly suited for me ( I'd like to have at least 35 mm framelines AND some kind of metering reference)
Third, the metering arrows. Definitely bright although I was viewing them inside the shop so not against the sun, however I feel they were ok for practical use. Something that puzzled me a bit was the fact I expected that the meter worked (retake a metering) every time I half-pressed the shutter while it looked to retain the first metering for a while. At least, the arrows suggested that.
Fourth, the click, nay the "CLOP", definitely different than any SLR (the M3 I tried was closer to a "SNICK"), probably not as quiet as I expected (see the other thread) however quite discreet for sure.
Fifth, I was finally able to look inside the camera as concerns the film loading and finally understood that strange way only Leica has (for what I know), and I also understood why someone says to ply the leader of the film so that it fits steadier in the takeup spool I guess. I guess experience may help a lot in changing film faster than the other way. I saw expert photographers of both systems able to swap rolls in less than 40 seconds (youtube videos)
What I found a bit awkward was the ISO setting. Although you have to do only once every roll, it's kind of time consuming and not as easy as expected because you have to work with your index finger only and you have to pay care about the turn you do. Probably, an outer dial instead of a finger-driven one, would have been easier to operate.
Bottom line, will continue looking at it, M6 .85 (and I guess M7 and MP as well) looks really worthwhile cameras for work. Read it correctly, of course they are, it's just me who have to understand if they can fit my work style (especially seen the price) and the answer is positive.
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