Leica M2 vs M4 vs M6 Any Real Difference in Optical Results?

[rulnacco]

Why would there be any optical differences whatsoever? Given that the camera body is merely a light-tight box, and everything that hits the film passes through the lens, there will be absolutely (with one possible exception, just a moment) zero difference in image quality between Leica M film bodies.

The one possible exception (in very limited circumstances): of the three bodies you mentioned, the only one that comes with a 0.85 viewfinder as an option is the M6, which model I happen to have. Because of the greater magnification and the longer effective base length, on rare occasions with a 35 or 50mm lens I *might* nail focus better with that body than with an M2 or M4--but those occasions would likely be infrequent indeed. And as others have mentioned, if I use a 90mm or a 135mm (both of which I do use...rarely), I probably will in general be more successful at focusing sharply with an M6 0.85. If you have a standard M6, it has the same 0.72 magnification as the M2 and M4, so you'll see no difference. And you could reverse that and say that even my 0.85 suffers the same defect as all factory M6s, in that it's missing a rangefinder condenser, which can cause white-out of the focus patch that definitely interferes with focusing.

Don't stress it: figure out which camera is going to be most ergonomic and pleasurable for you to use--there are clear differences between the M2, M4, and M6 on that front--and use it, and don't worry about any phantasmagoric "differences in image quality".

 

[GregY]

Why would there be any optical differences whatsoever? Given that the camera body is merely a light-tight box, and everything that hits the film passes through the lens, there will be absolutely (with one possible exception, just a moment) zero difference in image quality between Leica M film bodies.

The one possible exception (in very limited circumstances): of the three bodies you mentioned, the only one that comes with a 0.85 viewfinder as an option is the M6, which model I happen to have. Because of the greater magnification and the longer effective base length, on rare occasions with a 35 or 50mm lens I *might* nail focus better with that body than with an M2 or M4--but those occasions would likely be infrequent indeed. And as others have mentioned, if I use a 90mm or a 135mm (both of which I do use...rarely), I probably will in general be more successful at focusing sharply with an M6 0.85. If you have a standard M6, it has the same 0.72 magnification as the M2 and M4, so you'll see no difference. And you could reverse that and say that even my 0.85 suffers the same defect as all factory M6s, in that it's missing a rangefinder condenser, which can cause white-out of the focus patch that definitely interferes with focusing.

Don't stress it: figure out which camera is going to be most ergonomic and pleasurable for you to use--there are clear differences between the M2, M4, and M6 on that front--and use it, and don't worry about any phantasmagoric "differences in image quality".

Well said.....& as far as "optical differences".....wouldn't those show up in prints & refer back to the condition,quality, & differences in the lens/es used? As you pointed out "the camera is merely a light-tight box."

 

[rulnacco]

If you're going to go with a 135mm, may I highly recommend the Tele-Elmar. I have one--and it's big fun to use on my M3 and M6 with 0.85 viewfinder. It's a bit more compact than the older models, and ergonomically quite usable. Dirt cheap, too, for what it delivers--I got mine for a shade over $300, and I picked up the external bright-line finder (which makes composing much easier) for next to nothing, too...it seems to be *the* cheapest Leica external viewfinder, by far.

I'm a Nikon guy as well with a large collection of AIS lenses (including the 105) but I'm pretty sure that (other than maximum aperture), the 135mm Tele-Elmar will give the 105/2.5 and 135/2.8 or 3.5 Nikkors a run for their money, and may indeed outclass them.

 

[M. Axel Wikstrom]

Leica M and thread mount 90mm lenses were under $100 almost all the time up until a few years ago. No one wanted them. The 135 is almost absurd on a thread mount Leica - but it's still a good lens. You really need to use your imagination with the universal finder, though. It's an incredibly small area. It is, of course, the same in the framelines of the M - but at least you can see around it there.

I’ve made several nice images with a 135mm Elmar on a screw mount Leica.

Here are a few that I took earlier this year:
20250212-South America 202520250212_11115384 by Marco Wikstrom, on Flickr
20250212-South America 202520250212_12500994 by Marco Wikstrom, on Flickr

 

[Don_ih]

Those are very nice. The 135 Elmar is an excellent lens. The physical size is mostly what makes people not want it. It looks a bit like a piece of horse anatomy transplanted onto a chihuahua...

 

[GregY]

Those are very nice. The 135 Elmar is an excellent lens. The physical size is mostly what makes people not want it. It looks a bit like a piece of horse anatomy transplanted onto a chihuahua...

Good one Don, I can't say that i disagree with that description.....

 

[bjorke]

Good one Don, I can't say that i disagree with that description.....

Exactly why I want one, now.

 

[chuckroast]

Exactly why I want one, now.

Exactly why I want one, now.

A chihuahua or the horse part?

 

[M. Axel Wikstrom]

Those are very nice. The 135 Elmar is an excellent lens. The physical size is mostly what makes people not want it. It looks a bit like a piece of horse anatomy transplanted onto a chihuahua...

Thanks.

It looks a little big on a screw mount Leica especially with the hood, but with the hood reversed it doesn’t take much room in the bag.

 

[RezaLoghme]

how did we end up here?

 

[Arthurwg]

IIIF

I'm traveling in Spain and Morocco at the moment and the one camera that I've taken is my IIIF with the 50mm Elmar F3.5. It's fun.

 

[RezaLoghme]

In the end a camera body is just a lens holder. The lens is making the final photo.

 

[skahde]

I'm traveling in Spain and Morocco at the moment and the one camera that I've taken is my IIIF with the 50mm Elmar F3.5. It's fun.

Let us know how you are getting through security-checks, last year in Morocco it was a breeze while in Spain I couldn't avoid my film being scanned, fortunately Malaga still had conventional scanners.

 

[chuckroast]

Let us know how you are getting through security-checks, last year in Morocco it was a breeze while in Spain I couldn't avoid my film being scanned, fortunately Malaga still had conventional scanners.

I was in Greece earlier this year carrying an M2 and film. I had it scanned at every transit point (Chicago, Athens, Corfu) and had no issues. But, I was only carrying monochrome Fomapan 200. I don't know what would have happened with faster or colour films.

 

[RezaLoghme]

Let us know how you are getting through security-checks, last year in Morocco it was a breeze while in Spain I couldn't avoid my film being scanned, fortunately Malaga still had conventional scanners.

Thats where the new EV1 body can play its strengths!

 

[skahde]

Modern CT-scanners will inevitably cause trouble with high fog, Portra 400 looks like it has been in a hot drawer for 5 years after being scanned once. A friend running a commercial lab and I ran some tests: The results looked awful. High fog may be a lesser problem with b+w if exposed and developed accordingly. But maybe we carry this to a dedicated thread.

 

[skahde]

Thats where the new EV1 body can play its strengths!

I have yet to find out what it can do that any mirrorless with an adapted M-lens cant and will probably leave it that way, stick with my Fujis and buy some more lenses for my film-cameras with the money saved.

 

[GregY]

Thats where the new EV1 body can play its strengths!

....unfortunately in the end you have a digital file..... worlds apart from a printable negative.

 

[mshchem]

Ev1 horrible idea. I get it, but should have a magnificent finder, not just another with focus peaking because the resolution of EVFs is still horrible, you need the ugly red lines to manual focus. Nope.

My only thought on the original topic is that the current M6 has the upgraded multicoated finder window. A German made M4 with the pretty Leica script, is quite nice and Soooo easy to load. A black chrome Elcan M4 would be sweet too.

 

[Don_ih]

In the end a camera body is just a lens holder. The lens is making the final photo.

The lens won't make much of a photo unless the body puts the lens at the exact distance from the film it should and the shutter operates properly.

 

[RezaLoghme]

In the end its the developer which makes the pic. Rodinal, for example.

 

[Don_ih]

In the end, it's the photographer that makes the photo. Cameras are used, film is used, developer is used. Creativity doesn't come in a bottle - although plenty of bottles may be used.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

The lens won't make much of a photo unless the body puts the lens at the exact distance from the film it should and the shutter operates properly.

The entire imaging path is critical. That may account for why I am so impressed with my Voigtlander Vito BL camera and its tiny 50mm ƒ/3.5 Color-Skopar lens. The rigid body, precise film rails, assembly of the lens, and perfect placement of the lens with relation to those rails - it just all came together perfectly on this particular body. Some examples with Panatomic-X (yes the real thing):

https://worldofdecay.blogspot.com/2025/10/vinny-does-shelton-washington-with.html

 

[RezaLoghme]

You can also connect 135mm lenses to other camera bodies.

 

[GregY]

Ev1 horrible idea. I get it, but should have a magnificent finder, not just another with focus peaking because the resolution of EVFs is still horrible, you need the ugly red lines to manual focus. Nope.

My only thought on the original topic is that the current M6 has the upgraded multicoated finder window. A German made M4 with the pretty Leica script, is quite nice and Soooo easy to load. A black chrome Elcan M4 would be sweet too.

Isn't the Elcan a 50mm lens design? Or are you referring the the late made in Canada black chrome M4 models?