Leica M6 annoyances...

[David Reynolds]

Nah, the meter in the M6 is extremely accurate and makes the camera so much more useable compared to the M4-P. In fact, since I got the M6, I haven’t used the M4-P at all. Should probably sell it.

I think my bias came from when I purchased a brand new M5 (1974) and had difficulties with exposures right from the start.Previously I had worked with a M3 and M4 and was used to using a hand held meter. So I was already versed with aux. metering. Huss thinks maybe the built in meter was defective when I purchased the camera. He may be right. I am thinking of sending my M5 to DAG and have him check it out.

 

[Huss]

Nah, the meter in the M6 is extremely accurate and makes the camera so much more useable compared to the M4-P. In fact, since I got the M6, I haven’t used the M4-P at all. Should probably sell it.

I feel that way when I use my M7s. The AE w/ exp lock is so quick to use, it makes manual only metering seem cute. And Ms w/o meters?! The horror!
Of course I have those and they are so nice to use. I sometimes wish I could be rational and pare down my gear.

 

[film_man]

In 1974 when I bought my M5 I immediately removed the battery and used a hand held Gossen Luna Pro for metering. Best decision I ever made. In 2020 I bought the recommended battery for the M5 (Because of the environmental changes in batteries I am not sure if I bought the right one or whether it is even available) and installed it in the camera. The meter did not respond so I removed the battery. My read is Leitz should forget about metering its cameras.

Back in 1983 I was served fried potatoes for the first time. I didn't even touch them, send them away and had my stale bread instead. Last week I thought I'll try fries again. So I ordered potatoes, I think they brought me boiled ones with no salt. I didn't like them so went back to stale bread. They really should just stop frying potatoes.

 

[David Reynolds]

Back in 1983 I was served fried potatoes for the first time. I didn't even touch them, send them away and had my stale bread instead. Last week I thought I'll try fries again. So I ordered potatoes, I think they brought me boiled ones with no salt. I didn't like them so went back to stale bread. They really should just stop frying potatoes.

Fried foods according to nutritionalists are not good for you. You make the choice.

 

[BradS]

Back in 1983 I was served fried potatoes for the first time. I didn't even touch them, send them away and had my stale bread instead. Last week I thought I'll try fries again. So I ordered potatoes, I think they brought me boiled ones with no salt. I didn't like them so went back to stale bread. They really should just stop frying potatoes.

!!!

 

[Kodachromeguy]

Back in 1983 I was served fried potatoes for the first time. I didn't even touch them, send them away and had my stale bread instead. Last week I thought I'll try fries again. So I ordered potatoes, I think they brought me boiled ones with no salt. I didn't like them so went back to stale bread. They really should just stop frying potatoes.

Bwaahaahaa - excellent! Now back to that light meter that supposedly did not work 40 years ago which demonstrates why the company should not make light meters in their cameras....

 

[David Reynolds]

Bwaahaahaa - excellent! Now back to that light meter that supposedly did not work 40 years ago which demonstrates why the company should not make light meters in their cameras....

Tell me the percentage of M5 light meters that work today ( at best 50%) and a list of technicians other than DAG and Sherry Krauter that will even work on M5's because of their meter problems. Could it be that the light meters have been the major drawback to the M5.
I am not saying the M5 is a bad camera as I used mine for over 50 years with good results .What I am saying the meter was its problem area. However I chose to use a hand held meter over the built in meter as that was the way I started with Leicas . I also have a M3 and M4 and MR4, MC and Metraphot Leica meters. That's when I took up the hand held meter.
Are you also inferring that the MR4 and MC meters are extraordinary technical devices . I don't think so. One should question whether they were the cat's meow when there are better alternative solutions.

 

[Huss]

On ebay right now there are 63 M5s listed. Out of the first 10, only one has a non working meter. I lost interest after that.