Turn of M6 metering?

[unsharp]

Can someone tell me, is it possible to turn off the meter in the M6 Classic? So that shutter and the camera works as normal, but without exposure indicator arrows in the viewfinder, i.e works like an M4?

Anders

edit the M4 reference

 

[denishr]

The first thing that comes to mind is to remove the battery 🙂

Why, Anders?

You find those LED indicators annoying?
Same here... I was looking forward to a metered M camera, but now that I have it, I wonder....
Nice camera, no doubt about it... But those LEDs are sometimes really annoying. I think I've already gone too "traditional" 🙂
After a month or so of using M6 exclusively, I ran a roll of B&W film through the M2 recently... Liberating 😀
I took some initial light readings with a meter (sun/shade, etc.), and remembered the values, and continued to shoot. Quite liberating.

It would be nice to have a "meter ON/OFF" switch on the M6, though.... 🙁

Denis

 

[jaapv]

Just remove the battery! It is only for the exposure meter and LED's, it doesn't power anything else. You can't use a MR meter,however, as the exposure-time wheel lacks the connection.

 

[unsharp]

Denis, I am in a similar position as you, although I do not own a M6 (yet?)!

Currently I am using a Bessa R3A that, off course, have an internal meter but also "manual mode". A few weeks ago I bought a Seconic 308 incident meter, and I only shoot manual since then. I have now learned pretty good to make exposures without the meter, at least outside on a good day. I also sometimes, which stresses my girlfriend, carry the meter around just to excercise!

I really enjoy manual mode, and the incident meter have tought me that it is much, much, easier to estimate exposure than I thought. The reflective meter in the camera changes quickly with colors in the motive, which earlier made me think light metering was SOO difficult and complex.

Anyway, I am for some time now looking for a M4,M2, but thought M6 could be a good, newer, alternative. But only as long as the meter reading can be turned off. I dont like the R3A's desparate blinking to try to correct my artistic freedom to exposure 😉 , and want my next rangefinder to be without this.

jaapv, is it true? Can the M6 run all shutter times without the battery?

Anders

 

[denishr]

Anders, just one word of caution!
I don't think it's a good idea to insert and remove the battery all the time... Not because of the camera or anything - the reason is rather flimsy battery cover. There have been many reports that this gets easily lost, becomes lose-fitting, etc... Can't say anything about that from personal experience - I just inserted a new battery a month ago and left it there. However, seeing how clumsy that battery cover looks and feels, I feel obliged to warn you. I know I won't be taking my own advice about constantly removing and re-inserting the battery - it's too complicated and impractical, and, besides, it could wear out the battery cover, which might come off of itself 🙁

Denis

 

[jaapv]

Yes,Anders, the shutter is totally mechanical and not dependent on battery power. Denis is right about not using this as a switch, but if you simply want to disable the Led's in the viewfinder for longer periods of time there is absolutely nothing against removing the batteries. BTW, the battery cover is not as flimsy as it may seem. Both the screw thread and the spring are made of high grade materials and will normally last a lifetime. However, that is no remedy for dropping and losing the thingy! 😀

 

[jaapv]

Anyway, I am for some time now looking for a M4,M2, but thought M6 could be a good, newer, alternative. .......... and want my next rangefinder to be without this.


Anders

In that case, any M camera except the M6, M6TTL and M7 would be just the thing for you. Regarding functionality, quality and handling there is practically no difference from the earliest M3 through to the newest MP. Just a different range of cadres in the viewfilder, slight cosmetic changes etc. Many would argue that the original M3 is the "best" of the M series.
Stick on a MR meter whenever you want coupled metering, remove the thing for most of your shooting and you'll have the best of two worlds.

 

[unsharp]

Thanks all!

So the M6 and all the other newer M's work fine without the battery?
And I thought that there was only a few speeds: 1/60 and 1/125, that works when the battery is out. Don't know where I got that idea, in the M6 manual I could not find anything on if the shutter operates without battery.

M6 is an option to the M2/M4s then.

Anders

 

[Thomaspin]

Buy an M2 - better non-flaring finder, no v/f frame clutter, far superior engineering quality, net money in the bank. I sold my M6 years ago....

 

[jaapv]

I don't know about the M7, it has an electronically controlled shutter.

 

[Roger Hicks]

All save the M7 work fine without batteries.

Cheers,

Roger (www.rogerandfrances.com)

 

[unsharp]

Now look what you guys made me do 🙂 !!!

Here I was, since two months awaiting an auction to buy a nice M4 chrome. All my awake hours searching the web any info on M4s. Printing manuals, serial number lists etc, etc. And what happens? A week and a half before the auction finally will start, I ask an innocent question about M6 to you guys...

I don’t know how my brain works, really. A week ago nobody could convince me to get a M6 over a M4. And then, from one minute to the other, I suddenly consider M6 an interesting camera, and two days later I buy one!

I am very happy with the camera. I was out testing it quickly during my lunch yesterday. I had taken out the batteries and was using my Seconic 308. Great fun.

Anders

PS. M4s are still very nice…

 

[jaapv]

Congratulations and happy shooting, post some results, Anders.
It looks to me you made the right choice, you can shoot without the LEDS and when you feel you need internal measuring or simply change your mind, you still have the option. 🙂
Jaap

 

[richard_l]

It's still handy to have the built-in meter. If you ever use color slide film with a polarizer or Scala with contrast filters, TTL metering increases the probability of getting the correct exposure. (With most other films, exposure is not so critical.)

 

[Jan Brittenson]

DAG (dagcam@chorus.net) sells a replacement M6 battery cover with a power off feature, but I'm not sure about the exact details. I guess you're not the first to want an item like this. 🙂 Write him and ask!

 

[unsharp]

The option to have TTL metering is nice, I can only agree with you all.
I was in a rush while testing. To be able to test at different apertures I used my ND 0,6 filter (thanks for the advice earlier BTW, Richard!) and sure enough, in the stress, I failed to set the ISO on the Seconic correct and the exposure on the M6, or in what order I don’t remember, I made a mess and wasted a few shoots anyway. Interestingly enough three frames where two stops over exposed, and the copies looked fine. The one that I severely underexposed came out useless. Still, I will use the M6 without the metering to start with, just to learn more about exposure.

This morning shows a nice, but slightly overcast, weather. It will be a nice day for a roll of Velvia 100F, which I don’t have, but the NPC160 in my hand is also a film in my taste.

I hope during the summer I will be able to buy a scanner, so that I talk less and show more 🙂

Anders

 

[unsharp]

Jan,

Is there a picture of the DAG batteri cover to be found somewhere?

Anders

 

[Ray Kilby]

Remove the batteries. It's a mechanical camera, the power is for the meter thats all.

Ray Kilby.