Wetzlar M6 Question

[sting-ray]

I've just received a second hand M6 in very good condition... it's placed about 1986 age wise so it's a Leitz one.
The shutter works fine and everything strictly mechanical works perfectly but I'm worried about the meter. I know the low light metering capabilities of the M6's are not up to a modern day SLR's for example but this M doesn't seem to follow the norm.
When you half depress the shutter in daylight you get the normal metering display and all the results so far match up to my AE-1 Program's meter... however in near dark nothing comes up with a half depress and as such it follows nothing happens when you "meter the lens cap".
My friend's M6 meter blinks when it's too dark for the meter and most definitely comes on flashing when you have the lenscap on.
I'm wondering if this is one of the few differences in the newer M6's from the Wetzlar ones... or whether there's something wrong with mine.
New batteries today by the way.
If it makes a difference I'm using a 40mm 'cron from the CL on it.
Thanks in advance for your advice.
Will

 

[nyx]

http://www.cameraquest.com/m6dif.htm

At the bottom of the page, there is a mention about this.

 

[sting-ray]

Ah, thankyou very much. I just couldn't believe how easily it conks out! It takes a fair bit more light than I'd like to light up. Maybe a handheld meter is in order for night-time street shooting.

Problem solved.

 

[ferider]

Sting-Ray,

both my M6 bodies are from the same period and behave similarly.
One is about 1-2 stops more sensitive than the other.

This is normal. Carrying a hand-held for the dark is always a good idea ...

Best,

Roland.

 

[Ben Z]

I have a Wetzlar M6 and one from the very last run, just before the TTL. My Wetzlar had it's meter replaced, because it blinks like the later ones. However it disagreed with my other one (and other cameras) by one stop when I got it, so I had to take the top off and adjust the potentiometers. Now they all agree in all lighting. So the non-blinking isn't an issue, but if the reading is off it can be adjusted.

 

[JNewell]

Early M6s were spec'd by Leitz at one EV less sensitive than later ones. Even the earlier ones should read down to EV0 with an f/1 lens (EV+1 with an f/1.4 lens), which is pretty grim light.

Ben, when I had Don replace the main metering circuit board in my Wetzlar M6, he advised that the no-blink indication would change to blinking, but that the meter's sensitivity would not change. I have not tried to roadtest the low end sensitivity of the meter in that body compared to my other, very late, M6, though. I was left with the impression that the difference might be the cell itself, but I didn't pursue it.

 

[Shac]

I think there’s got to be quite a bit of variation out there. According to Stephen (at the page quoted above) : “Per Jim Lager in his book "Leica An Illustrated History Volume 1 Cameras," the LED blinking feature was added in chrome from # 1761599 and in black from # 1773199.”
I have a black chrome with serial number 1761132 – but it has the blinking feature. I bought it new and it hasn't been modified. It also has shares quite a few of the features that Stephen lists for both the early and late models (i.e. it’s in between) – so Stephen seems to be quite correct when he says : “Doubtless many more variations exist between the two extremes…”
All fascinating stuff – but the bottom line is they work great
David