The New Leitz - Wetzlar Leica M6 (and the dreaded film scratching issue)

[Huss]

Just got word back from an unofficial repair service that got official response from Wetzlar. New M6 circuit boards can’t be used for the old M6 or M6 TTLs.

Maybe that’s just Leica saying that they still don’t want to supply electronic parts to unoffical repairers… So, it’s either mothership Wetzlar (I was quoted 1.100+ EUR five years ago so I wouldn’t be surprised it was now closer to 2.000 EUR) or Leica partnered service (circuit board 250 EUR plus typically 500 EUR for mandatory CLA if you want the board replaced (all prices without VAT)).

I don’t miss the meter in my M6. In fact I only figured that my meter might be dying when I upgraded to M2 and was prepairing to sell my M6. Was a mistake to not get the circuit board replaced then at the unofficial service for 150 (part)+ 300 (CLA), but I never figured M6 would be so sought after. Might as well do it now for close to 1.000 EUR and sell my M6 when Leica adjusts their new M6 to a more sustainable price of 6.999 EUR.

Seems like an awful lot of BS came out of Leica's marketing dept w/ the release of this camera. Including saying meter parts retrofitable, which made no sense as the original M6 had the two led meter. Anyone still believe the new M6 is a totally new camera under the skin? Like Leica mktg has claimed?

 

[Huss]

I own four...well, four of something, so I'm the best..

Step back a moment and revisit your statement that you cannot see anything in a .58 finder unless you use a magnifier.

Explain that one whydontcha?

 

[Huss]

Website says handmade. What a joke, these are CNC machined like most everything today.

You expect them to be chiseled out of a block of brass?

 

[Huss]

Seriously??? I taught m6 is the smallest M leica apart from CL?

Smallest M Leica? Yes, and? Just because it is the smallest doesn't mean it isn't the same size as a Konica. And all Ms for all practical purposes, apart from the M5, are the same size.

 

[faberryman]

Step back a moment and revisit your statement that you cannot see anything in a .58 finder unless you use a magnifier.

Explain that one whydontcha?

The comments about the magnifier and owning four of something you quoted are in response to different posts and are completely unrelated.

 

[mshchem]

I expect that the "new" M6 will have the two arrows and the center dot like the M6ttl and the current MP. Whether the meter is similar internally is a guess until we get a peek under the cover.

 

[Huss]

The comments about the magnifier and owning four of something you quoted are in response to different posts and are completely unrelated.

I am asking you about your comments saying you claim you couldnt see anything w the .58 finder you tried.
Cuz that sound like 100% bollox seeing I have one and there are zero issues. It’s almost like you are making stuff up.

faberryman said:
I have looked though Leica .58 viewfinder. You definitely need to get the magnifying diopter to be able to make out anything.

 

[koraks]

Cuz that sound like 100% bollox seeing I have one and there are zero issues. It’s almost like you are making stuff up.

Huss, there are more constructive ways of voicing your doubts about statements of others. I'd also like to remind you of your own remark earlier today where you voiced your concern about people not being willing to joint his site. We can all choose to be part of the solution instead of the problem.

Please do carry on - respectfully. Thank you.

 

[faberryman]

I am asking you about your comments saying you claim you couldnt see anything w the .58 finder you tried.
Cuz that sound like 100% bollox seeing I have one and there are zero issues. It’s almost like you are making stuff up.

faberryman said:
I have looked though Leica .58 viewfinder. You definitely need to get the magnifying diopter to be able to make out anything.

Perhaps I was being a little hyperbolic, but when I looked through the viewfinder of a .58 Leica at Tamarkins when I was in Chicago a few years ago to see an Aaron Siskand exhibit at the Art Institute, I thought the subjects were very small and it would be difficult to focus and frame, so I would prefer a .72 Leica when shooting with a 28mm lens. Of course, if you used it as a specialty body and also had a .72 body and/or an .85 body, I guess it would be workable for certain kinds of images once you got used to it. I know you have a slew of different cameras to use, so perhaps the .58 Leica is perfect for whatever you use it for.

By way of background, my frame of reference is a .92x viewfinder in a film SLR (not unlike the .91x viewfinder in the Leica M3), so I found the viewfinder in the .58 Leica pretty unimpressive. I also have two digital cameras: a Fuji XE2 with a .62x viewfinder and an XT2 viewfinder with a .77x viewfinder, and I prefer using the XT2. I relegated the XE2 to backup. I could use it in a pinch if I had to. So no, I am not making anything up, just expressing an opinion.

 

[logan2z]

I expect that the "new" M6 will have the two arrows and the center dot like the M6ttl and the current MP.

Yup, here is the description of the meter operation from the new M6 manual:

 

[faberryman]

Wow so many cameras. You’re the best

I thought your three .58 Leicas were just the tip of the iceberg. That's it? Are they all black paint?

 

[Huss]

Perhaps I was being a little hyperbolic, but when I looked through the viewfinder of a .58 Leica at Tamarkins when I was in Chicago a few years ago to see an Aaron Siskand exhibit at the Art Institute, I thought the subjects were very small and it would be difficult to focus and frame, so I would prefer a .72 Leica when shooting with a 28mm lens. Of course, if you used it as a specialty body and also had a .72 body and/or an .85 body, I guess it would be workable for certain kinds of images once you got used to it. I know you have a slew of different cameras to use, so perhaps the .58 Leica is perfect for whatever you use it for.

By way of background, my frame of reference is a .92x viewfinder in a film SLR (not unlike the .91x viewfinder in the Leica M3), so I found the viewfinder in the .58 Leica pretty unimpressive. I also have two digital cameras: a Fuji XE2 with a .62x viewfinder and an XT2 viewfinder with a .77x viewfinder, and I prefer using the XT2. I relegated the XE2 to backup. I could use it in a pinch if I had to. So no, I am not making anything up, just expressing an opinion.

So pretty much if it happened it was a glance…. The .58 is very easy to use w the 28, 35 and 50 lenses. I also have the .72 vf and it is impossible to see the 28 frame lines unless your eye is jammed into the eyepiece and you look around. You cannot see them all at once. If you wear glasses, you cannot see them at all.
it shows me that you are making stuff up and are just assuming, especially since you introduce non Leica cameras to the mix - I also have a Fuji xpro3 and slrs - which have nothing to do w the subject at hand.

just back pedalling from someone who made stuff up.

 

[faberryman]

So pretty much if it happened it was a glance…. The .58 is very easy to use w the 28, 35 and 50 lenses. I also have the .72 vf and it is impossible to see the 28 frame lines unless your eye is jammed into the eyepiece and you look around. You cannot see them all at once. If you wear glasses, you cannot see them at all.
it shows me that you are making stuff up and are just assuming, especially since you introduce non Leica cameras to the mix - I also have a Fuji xpro3 and slrs - which have nothing to do w the subject at hand.

just back pedalling from someone who made stuff up.

Whatever Huss. I tried to explain why I think a .58 viewfinder results in too small a viewing image. You don’t have to accept my explanation and you don’t have to agree with me. Leica discontinued the .58 bodies. Apparently not that many people wanted to buy them. Maybe some of them found the .58 viewfinder too small too. I hope you both enjoy and make great pictures with yours.

 

[Huss]

Whatever Huss. I tried to explain why I think a .58 viewfinder results in too small a viewing image. You don’t have to accept my explanation and you don’t have to agree with me. Leica discontinued the .58 bodies. Apparently not that many people wanted to buy them. Maybe some of them found the .58 viewfinder too small too. I hope you both enjoy and make great pictures with yours.

This is how much sense your 28mm comment makes. It shows the area of a 28mm lens. Like when you look through an SLR with a 28mm lens. When you do that, do you also say to yourself 'everything is so tiny, it seems so far away?" No you don't.
And as for complaining that it would be hard to focus, that in essence proves you have not used the .58, or seems to me any RF. Because the beauty of RF cameras is that they are the most accurate and quickest way to focus wide angle lenses. The RF patch is not effected by DOF or other vagaries when using a wide angle lens. Using an RF is the most accurate way to focus a wide angle lens, and the easiest.
If you actually used one, you would have noticed that immediately.

 

[faberryman]

This is how much sense your 28mm comment makes. It shows the area of a 28mm lens. Like when you look through an SLR with a 28mm lens. When you do that, do you also say to yourself 'everything is so tiny, it seems so far away?" No you don't.
And as for complaining that it would be hard to focus, that in essence proves you have not used the .58, or seems to me any RF. Because the beauty of RF cameras is that they are the most accurate and quickest way to focus wide angle lenses. The RF patch is not effected by DOF or other vagaries when using a wide angle lens. Using an RF is the most accurate way to focus a wide angle lens, and the easiest.
If you actually used one, you would have noticed that immediately.

Like I said, I hope you enjoy and make great photos with your .58 Leica.

Oh, I forgot to mention that the viewfinders in the Leica Barnacks are too small too.

 

[Fujicaman1957]

I've got $2000 invested in a M3 that came with a 50mm DR and a M4 and a 35mm with googles. I can buy a bunch of light meters with $3500 bucks.

 

[Huss]

I've got $2000 invested in a M3 that came with a 50mm DR and a M4 and a 35mm with googles. I can buy a bunch of light meters with $3500 bucks.

That's nice. I have the Leica meter MR (converted to run on modern battery) and the Voigtlander VCII meter (as well as a few handheld meters). I actually prefer the Voigtlander as it has a much smaller footprint, is very easy to attach and remove with basically zero chance of damaging the camera's top plate (unlike the Leica), and is just quicker and easier to use. The chrome version matches the chrome M3 exactly, while the black one looks good on black Ms.

The nice thing about the Leica meter is it attaches to the shutter speed dial, so the only separate exposure input you need to do is change the aperture. The VCII does not, so you need to remember to change both shutter speed and aperture - which initially is easy to overlook if you are used to the Leica meter!

Leica USA sent me shipping tracking info, my new M6 should be here next Thursday.

 

[logan2z]

Leica USA sent me shipping tracking info, my new M6 should be here next Thursday.

Awesome. Good thing you canceled the Leica Manchester order with the 'who knows?' delivery date.

 

[Arthurwg]

I used my M6 in July. Takes good pictures.

 

[Sirius Glass]

That's nice. I have the Leica meter MR (converted to run on modern battery) and the Voigtlander VCII meter (as well as a few handheld meters). I actually prefer the Voigtlander as it has a much smaller footprint, is very easy to attach and remove with basically zero chance of damaging the camera's top plate (unlike the Leica), and is just quicker and easier to use. The chrome version matches the chrome M3 exactly, while the black one looks good on black Ms.

The nice thing about the Leica meter is it attaches to the shutter speed dial, so the only separate exposure input you need to do is change the aperture. The VCII does not, so you need to remember to change both shutter speed and aperture - which initially is easy to overlook if you are used to the Leica meter!

Leica USA sent me shipping tracking info, my new M6 should be here next Thursday.

Will you invite us over for the unwrapping and loading the first film roll?

 

[faberryman]

Will you invite us over for the unwrapping and loading the first film roll?

Don't worry. They'll be a thousand YouTube unboxings. You won't have to get out of your chair. You won't even have to watch them. Just knowing they exist is enough. Perhaps too much. But I am glad that Huss is excited to get his newest Leica.

 

[Huss]

Will you invite us over for the unwrapping and loading the first film roll?

Unboxing videos are the dumbest thing ever. Camerawest has one for the new M6. And it just reminded me how dumb filming that is.

 

[Huss]

Awesome. Good thing you canceled the Leica Manchester order with the 'who knows?' delivery date.

Yeah, no idea when they'll get them, or how many. Weird thing is places like B&H and Adorama don't even list it on their sites. In a way, that's good because they don't have it!

 

[MattKing]

Unboxing videos are the dumbest thing ever.

Well, if you combine them with "how to assemble" videos, they can be handy with IKEA furniture

 

[Sirius Glass]

Don't worry. They'll be a thousand YouTube unboxings. You won't have to get out of your chair. You won't even have to watch them. Just knowing they exist is enough. Perhaps too much. But I am glad that Huss is excited to get his newest Leica.

Unboxing videos are the dumbest thing ever. Camerawest has one for the new M6. And it just reminded me how dumb filming that is.

Screw the videos, I want to be there when Huss opens the package and load the film, then goes out and does some photography to test the camera.