Leica M6 annoyances...

[Pieter12]

I never knew that. Shooting my F2 for more than 30 years and I always leave the shutter cocked. Re-read the manual and on page 43 of 44 it has that statement. Of course the motor drive leaves the shutter cocked. I guess I need to fire off the whole 36exp when I use the MD.

I suppose because the F2 (And F, F3, F4, etc.) were intended to be used by professionals the designers did not expect the camera to sit loaded and idle for long.

 

[BradS]

Indeed, a pro would blast through the roll in one session and have it processed ASAP.

 

[Huss]

Leica also says to not leave the shutter cocked for extended periods of time. it's in the manual. And it also warns about burning holes in the shutter by pointing it at the sun! But that's for another thread I'm sure.

 

[NB23]

You want to know a real M6 annoyance? I sold my flawless black M6 TTL .085 for like $800 a few years back - would dearly love to have it back to sell it at the current prices instead.

imagine the housing market around where I live. What you sold for 300k 3 years ago is now 600.
Ouchhh

 

[ic-racer]

How about the Nikonos. Meter won't work until advanced up to the first frame. I got mine cheap that way. Sold as non-working meter.

 

[Huss]

I sold my Contax T3 about 10 years ago for $400...They go for over $1000 now.

 

[BradS]

I sold my Contax T3 about 10 years ago for $400...They go for over $1000 now.

Its just as well that you did. It is as likely as not that it would not be working today.

 

[BradS]

How about the Nikonos. Meter won't work until advanced up to the first frame. I got mine cheap that way. Sold as non-working meter.

IIRC, the Nikon FE (and FA?) does this too. However ill conceived, it seems the intent of this feature was to make consumer cameras somewhat 'idiot proof'.

Whereas the Nikon feature appears to be the result of a deliberate design decision - they actually had to add something to make this work, the Leica M6 meter quirk seems to be the (rather pathetic) result of an engineering compromise - anathema to Leica fan boys.

 

[Guth]

Whining about it won’t change anything. Honestly, if it bothers you this much you would probably be best off selling the Leica and moving on to something else. There are plenty of other cameras to choose from out there. Find one that you actually enjoy using and that puts a smile on your face.

 

[Vilk]

The Nikon F2 manual explicitly says not to leave the shutter tensioned for more than a day.

?

 

[StepheKoontz]

It doesn’t stop measuring *because* there is NO white dot.

If you knew how Leicas work you wouldn’t be posting this.

But since you think you know, now you please educate us. Go ahead.

I never understand why people have to behave like this... Clearly one needs to wind the shutter for the white dot to be in place for the meter to read accurately. Leica decided, quite smartly I might add, to disable the meter when the camera wasn't cocked, so people wouldn't try to use it like this and get erroneous readings if the camera attempted to meter off the black curtain. So the white dot on the curtain metering system is EXACTLY why the meter was designed not to operate until the shutter was cocked. Next time, try to be a little bit less rude if that is possible for you.

 

[guangong]

Its just as well that you did. It is as likely as not that it would not be working today.

Don’t know about that. Wife and I bought one new at BH when first introduced. Still going strong today. A very handy little camera if handy accessories such as adapter to take e39 filters, lens shade, etc.

 

[NB23]

I never understand why people have to behave like this... Clearly one needs to wind the shutter for the white dot to be in place for the meter to read accurately. Leica decided, quite smartly I might add, to disable the meter when the camera wasn't cocked, so people wouldn't try to use it like this and get erroneous readings if the camera attempted to meter off the black curtain. So the white dot on the curtain metering system is EXACTLY why the meter was designed not to operate until the shutter was cocked. Next time, try to be a little bit less rude if that is possible for you.

The metering circuit is totally disconected when the camera is uncocked.
No power.
White dot or not, uncocked the camera has no power.

That’s how at least the MP and M7 work.

 

[BradS]

Don’t know about that. Wife and I bought one new at BH when first introduced. Still going strong today. A very handy little camera if handy accessories such as adapter to take e39 filters, lens shade, etc.

Are you saying that because the ONE that you own hasn't failed it is unlikely that any of the other several thousand have failed?

 

[Guth]

Are you saying that because the ONE that you own hasn't failed it is unlikely that any of the other several thousand have failed?

The question that I would pose is this: Exactly how many of those cameras were sold and exactly how many of them failed — in other words what is the failure rate? 2,000 failed cameras isn’t too devastating if 200,000 were sold in the first place. I myself have no idea what kind of numbers we’re talking about in each case. Were I to have owned one of these cameras I would say that personal hands-on experience actually trumps Internet conjecture.

 

[Huss]

The metering circuit is totally disconected when the camera is uncocked.
No power.
White dot or not, uncocked the camera has no power.

That’s how at least the MP and M7 work.

I have an M7. When the shutter is cocked/film advanced, but the shutter lock button is set to lock, is there a drain on the battery?

 

[Arthurwg]

Annoyances? Only that my M6 is not an M7.

 

[NB23]

I have an M7. When the shutter is cocked/film advanced, but the shutter lock button is set to lock, is there a drain on the battery?

Not on both my M7...

 

[BradS]

@Arthurwg Hmmmm, interesting. The observation made stop and think whether I would trade the M6 for some other Leica. For me, no. I don’t think I would. The M6 is the cat’s ass...even if the meter, as accurate as it is, is only about a third as useful as it might otherwise have been.


Edit: I think I could be tempted by a Leica MP. I do like its retro style with the modern conveniences (light meter, hot shoe, full set of frame lines and easy load).

 

[Huss]

Not on both my M7...

Hmm, I think you're right as when the shutter lock is activated, the meter read out turns off.
I think there always will be 'some' parasitic drain on a battery, but much less than if the circuit is complete.

 

[madNbad]

Did anyone mention Leica recommended setting the shutter speed dial to Bulb as an off switch for the M6 Classic?

 

[David Reynolds]

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.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

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.

Oh my gosh. Where do you even start with something like this?

 

[David Reynolds]

Oh my gosh. Where do you even start with something like this?

you don't

 

[BradS]

.....Leitz should forget about metering its cameras.

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.