Leica M6TTL - any issues that you've had... or things you love

[Rob Skeoch]

Hey Guys, I'm going to do a review of the M6TTL but instead of just posting my own opinions I thought I would ask the group.... any issues or reason's you don't like the M6TTL, or things you really love about it.
Thanks.
-Rob

 

[craigclu]

Mine worked great for years. It developed an issue where the ttl didn't coordinate and the meter acted erratic. DAG found a cold solder that corrected things and it was due for a CLA at the time anyway. Other than that, it has been a great companion. I tend to rely on incident metering for important things but have learned to trust the camera's meter over time.

 

[Steven Lee]

The M6 TTL x0.85 was my first film Leica, and forever will be my favorite. I love that the shutter speed dial turns in a correct way, and the LEDs in this M6 are my favorite way to interact with a built-in lens meter in any camera, because the lights on both sides communicate under/over exposure not just in a binary way by being on/off, but also via intensity.

The viewfinder flare is exaggerated online IMO. I learned about the existence problem by reading about it online, after almost a year of owning the camera. But once I could reliably reproduce it, of course it became the most pressing issue of my life and I had to send mine to DAG to upgrade the finder to the MP standard. Another improvement I recommend is masking out the framelines you don't use. In my case the camera only shows the 50mm and 35mm, another thing DAG did for me.

The battery lasts forever.

Basically, a perfect rangefinder!

 

[Rob Skeoch]

The M6 TTL x0.85 was my first film Leica, and forever will be my favorite. I love that the shutter speed dial turns in a correct way, and the LEDs in this M6 are my favorite way to interact with a built-in lens meter in any camera, because the lights on both sides communicate under/over exposure not just in a binary way by being on/off, but also via intensity.

The viewfinder flare is exaggerated online IMO. I learned about the existence problem by reading about it online, after almost a year of owning the camera. But once I could reliably reproduce it, of course it became the most pressing issue of my life and I had to send mine to DAG to upgrade the finder to the MP standard. Another improvement I recommend is masking out the framelines you don't use. In my case the camera only shows the 50mm and 35mm, another thing DAG did for me.

The battery lasts forever.

Basically, a perfect rangefinder!

How do they mask out the framelines you don't use. Is it reversible?

 

[Steven Lee]

@Rob Skeoch Yes it is reversible.

 

[MarkS]

I really liked mine- I owned and used it for about ten years. I only sold it when the sudden requirement for cash became overwhelming. The only issue I had (using it alongside an M3) was that the battery door would loosen up- once it fell off- so a bit of gaffer tape solved that.

 

[Guth]

I have owned my M6 TTL for 25 years and it has served me well. Early on I did send the camera back to Leica under warranty to have the rangefinder alignment adjusted. Leica‘s customer service was actually really good back then and they had the camera back to me in just a few weeks. Fortunately I have not experienced any issues with the camera since then. I do experience flare in the rangefinder patch from time to time but this hasn’t bothered me as much as others it seems.

I continue to enjoy the look (black chrome) and feel (ergonomics) of the camera. I appreciate the larger shutter speed dial and the fact that the dial rotates in alignment with the arrows of the metering display indicating under and over exposure. (As do the aperture rings of the lenses.) For that matter I like the metering display itself with the center dot and two arrows that vary in intensity as Steven pointed out.

It’s a great camera — just maybe not as great as all of the hype makes it out to be. But I suspect that this is probably true of most cameras these days that people tend to fixate on online.

 

[mshchem]

I have a M6ttl I bought a few years ago. It was virtually unused from Japan. I eventually had YYe replace the meter switch under the shutter release, common issue, no big deal. Flash unit that goes with the camera works great for fill. Otherwise it feels like the current M6

Mine worked normally except that the meter would not shut off automatically if left cocked. Could still be turned off with shutter dial or simply by firing the shutter, it mostly just bugged me

Lovely camera.

 

[ZhanTeh]

I have a M6 TTL and also a M6 TTL Millennium that I use extensively.
Features that I enjoy from the TTL that some other Ms might or might not have - large shutter dial, dial turning the 'correct' way and clear led exposure arrows.

And some cons:
No matter what you hear people say online - Leicas are not built 'perfect'. The rewind lever is the weak point of all M6s. Eventually with enough use, the rewind lever will jam causing film to not advance. Luckily, the fix itself is easy, you can DIY with the correct tools.
*this is why I eventually ended up with the TTL Millennium, it has the classic rewind dial with all the goodies of the M6TTL

Compared to classic TTLs, our repair options are more limited. While all the mechanicals can be fixed by a competent repairman, spare parts are hard to come by if the light meter goes bust.

It is the 'perfect' camera for me and have served me well for a long time.
If you do not care about the large shutter dial and the direction it turns, I would consider the new MP just because of repair options.

 

[beemermark]

The M6 TTL x0.85 was my first film Leica, and forever will be my favorite. I love that the shutter speed dial turns in a correct way, and the LEDs in this M6 are my favorite way to interact with a built-in lens meter in any camera, because the lights on both sides communicate under/over exposure not just in a binary way by being on/off, but also via intensity.

The viewfinder flare is exaggerated online IMO. I learned about the existence problem by reading about it online, after almost a year of owning the camera. But once I could reliably reproduce it, of course it became the most pressing issue of my life and I had to send mine to DAG to upgrade the finder to the MP standard. Another improvement I recommend is masking out the framelines you don't use. In my case the camera only shows the 50mm and 35mm, another thing DAG did for me.

The battery lasts forever.

Basically, a perfect rangefinder!

Back in the day I bought a new M6 when they came out. The flare was horrible. This is comparing the M2,M3, and at that time my M4. The flare is real and if you didn't own a better camera you wouldn't know it. When Leica introduced the M7 it got horrible reviews. Why? Because it has the same cheap VF as the M4-2, M4-P, M6, and M6TTL. Leica backtracked and upgraded the VF for free (I have one bought in 2006). So yes, the flare is real. If the cameras were selling for less then an M4 I could understand why you would want to save a few $$$. But M6 (and M4-2 & M4-p) prices are insane IMHO. Spend a few more dollars and buy an MP.

 

[Steven Lee]

Spend a few more dollars and buy an MP.

MP's shutter speed dial is insufferable and it is a way bigger irritant than a once-a-year flaring viewfinder
They peaked at M7 and turned into a male jewelry business after that.

 

[250swb]

Hey Guys, I'm going to do a review of the M6TTL but instead of just posting my own opinions I thought I would ask the group.... any issues or reason's you don't like the M6TTL, or things you really love about it.
Thanks.
-Rob

You could mention that the M6 TTL like the M7 is now being side lined by the bigger repair shops (such as Cameraworks-UK as an example) because of the lack of spare parts for it.

 

[Guth]

MP's shutter speed dial is insufferable and it is a way bigger irritant than a once-a-year flaring viewfinder
They peaked at M7 and turned into a male jewelry business after that.

I’m all for others buying what they want and shooting with whatever makes them happy. But like you, I would not trade the design of the M6 TTL with the larger-sized sized shutter speed dial that rotates in synch with the built-in meter just to get rid of the flare in the viewfinder patch that is rarely an issue for me. This seems to bother some more than others.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

You could mention that the M6 TTL like the M7 is now being side lined by the bigger repair shops (such as Cameraworks-UK as an example) because of the lack of spare parts for it.

Oh, oh, does anyone repair the M7 (USA)? Has it become a risky purchase?

 

[Saganich]

My M6 TTL x0.85 was vry nice but suffered from battery drainage issues to the point that I gave up on batteries. Ended up selling it for a new MP.

 

[Guth]

Oh, oh, does anyone repair the M7 (USA)? Has it become a risky purchase?

I’m not sure if they do or not, but if you have a need then you might contact Advance Camera down the road from you in Portland.

 

[beemermark]

Oh, oh, does anyone repair the M7 (USA)? Has it become a risky purchase?

DAG serviced my M7 last year

 

[ph]

No disageeable experiences, but I did regard it as more delicate than my previous leicas who survived rain, snow and being dropped on the ground. I did find the viewfinder of the M3 better for keeping both eyes open and seeing the frame "suspended in mid -air". The m6 light meter was an improvement onmhaving my bulky Metrawatt in a pocket. When I started using a M 4/3 camera I gave away the M6 (to a grandchild), but kept most of the optics which peform well on the digitals (by now a CL)

p.