What is wrong with this M6

[loneranger]

I bought a used M6 recently to use with zeiss sonnar 50. When I put the lens on, the 50 frame line does not come up, instead it looks like a 80 or 90 frame line. This is a 0.72 version. Also I noticed that the little lever next to the lens mount that changes the framelines, was loose. I tightened the screw that holds it in place. But I am still not sure why the correct frameline is not coming up. Does anyone have any idea.

 

[chrishayton]

What other frame comes up at the same time? 28mm?

 

[loneranger]

The problem is I dont know what the frame lines are, I am just guessing, there are two that come up with the 50mm lens, both are way in the middle of the view finder, one occupies less than half of the view finder and the other about 1/3.

 

[chrishayton]

sounds like your looking at the 50 and 75mm settings to me (middle settings when using the selecter switch?)

Edit. The 90mm comes up with 28mm frames as well.
And 35mm and 135mm come up together.
Should be possible to work out which is which by knowing that 28mm is widest and 135 the smallest

 

[Cron]

the outer one seems to be 50, the inner one 75, but it is hard to tell.
Nevertheless there should be tow smaller frames - 90 and 135

 

[Rogrund]

Yes, that's the 50 and 75 mm framelines. There's nothing wrong with your M6. Now go take some pictures! 🙂

 

[loneranger]

Ok fine, I trust you guys know what you are talking about and that I have the correct 50mm frameline. However I just compared the field of view with my olympus 50mm lens on a om4. The 50mm olympus shows about 20% more in the viewfinder that the supposed 50mm frameline in the M6. Is that normal? Is the 50 frameline that much smaller than what you'd get in the actual picture. Just does not make sense to me.

 

[nzeeman]

pull the lever to the right and see if some new framelines appear, if they do yours are 50mm and if dont then maybe it is wrong...

btw i heard that m6 have smaller framelines than real field of view - but i dont know if that is 20% difference...

 

[payasam]

Unless I'm mistaken, the M finder frames are designed to show what will be in the picture at nearest focus and progressively more as distance increases. The 20 per cent difference is a safety margin -- not present in the OM4 as that is an SLR.

 

[ferider]

Ok fine, I trust you guys know what you are talking about and that I have the correct 50mm frameline. However I just compared the field of view with my olympus 50mm lens on a om4. The 50mm olympus shows about 20% more in the viewfinder that the supposed 50mm frameline in the M6. Is that normal? Is the 50 frameline that much smaller than what you'd get in the actual picture. Just does not make sense to me.

Welcome to modern M framelines. The framelines show the FOV at 0.7m distance for a slide frame. Very conservative. If you want bigger 50mm framelines you need to use an older Leica, like M2, M3, or M4.

Best,

Roland.

 

[loneranger]

That is rediculous, it is like looking through a mouse hole.

 

[Traut]

I only shoot 35 and wider on the .72 M6 for that reason. My M3 is for 50 and longer. the M2 and M4 are easier to use.

Buy one of the inexpensive 1.25x magnifiers. It will help considerably.

 

[ferider]

Then again, your OM4 has almost 100% view. Rare for SLRs.

I've shown these before:

A scene shot with a 50 Elmar-M:

M2 and M6 framelines (this M6 had 75mm framelines removed):

You get used to it.

Roland.

 

[awilder]

Trade it in for an M3 or 0.85x M6 if you want a bigger finder for the 50 framelines. The built-in crop of the framelines vs. the actual negative will still be present due to the inherent design of the M system, less so with the M3 because it's minimum focus is 1 meter, not 0.7 meter like later cameras.

 

[loneranger]

Then again, your OM4 has almost 100% view. Rare for SLRs.

I've shown these before:

A scene shot with a 50 Elmar-M:

M2 and M6 framelines (this M6 had 75mm framelines removed):

You get used to it.

Roland.

Vow, now I know there is nothing wrong with my M6 .72. If I was a diehard 50mm user, I would consider selling it and getting the M3/4, but I also like wider angles, so I guess I have to live with this. One positive, when I put on the leica 40mm C, I can use the whole viewfinder to compose, even though it brings up the (tiny) 50 frameline. Thanks everyone for your help.

 

[Steve_F]

Oh dear.
A few days ago I posted a thread saying I was close to my first 'M' body and pretty much decided on an M6 (although I do like the idea of an M4-P). Now I read this thread and as someone who loves the 50mm F/L (after a 50mm Summicron also) I'm in a bit of a quandary now.
Are the 50mm frame lines on an M7 better?

Thanks

Steve.

 

[ferider]

Hi Steve,

very late M4-P, M6, M7 and MP are all the same. The old framelines exist in M2, M3, M4, M4-2, and earlier M4-P (the one with brass top and recessed viewfinder window).

Roland.

 

[BobPS]

SteveF,

You can get a 0.85 version of the M6, or get a 0.72 one and buy a separate 1.25x magnifier.

Mine is a 0.72 version and I have no problem at all using a 50 cron on it. I bought a 1.25x finder from hong kong. It helps cause it makes the image bigger and critical focusing, close distance at wide aperture is faster and easier (cause the image and the focus patch is bigger with 1.25x). But even without the 1.25 magnifier, it is not difficult. It's just that bigger focus patch with 1.25x makes it easier.

I'm also a 50mm user, it's my favorite lens on SLR and I have no problem at all using 50 cron on my M6. Don't worry about it, you'll get used to it.

Bob

 

[Pablito]

Oh dear.
A few days ago I posted a thread saying I was close to my first 'M' body and pretty much decided on an M6 (although I do like the idea of an M4-P). Now I read this thread and as someone who loves the 50mm F/L (after a 50mm Summicron also) I'm in a bit of a quandary now.
Are the 50mm frame lines on an M7 better?

Thanks

Steve.

Just get your M6. You get used to it. Also look at the framelines - they are thick. You learn to use the outside of the framelines for stuff that is far away the inside when you are focusing close. No RF camera will give you exact, perfect framing.

 

[Steve_F]

Hi all,
Thanks for the vote of confidence. I figured I'd have to loosen up a bit with my composition.
It's a habit I'd gotten into by learning my photography on SLR's and slide film; get it spot on in camera. I have to admit that it's rare these days I print my 35mm B&W negs as a full frame. I tend to get a bit more creative.
I've every intention getting my M6 and starting to learn 'the Leica way'.

Thanks,

Steve.