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

[Kodachromeguy]

I really liked Hexar RF while I owned it. It had an amazing meter. But it was too big and bulky. Not really a pocket camera. To be honest I have never held anything else but Leica CL but I can not imagine they are as big and bulky as Hexar RF

The Hexar was too bulky but you are comparing it to a Leica model that you never held?

 

[gone]

I also owned a Hexar RF. Briefly. It really was a "better" camera than a Leica M7 in terms of the features and price, but I never got on w/ it. The viewfinder was a little darkish, and it had a "dead" feeling in my hands. It just didn't give you much feedback as to what it was doing. Never had any focus issues, it always focused just fine w/ my Leica lenses.

Come to think of it, that was my last RF camera except for a Konica C35 that I bought for $15. It was just the right size and had a very sharp lens. Fun camera in every way. After the Hexar RF, I went back to SLRs because I wanted to see exactly what the shot would (hopefully) look like in the viewfinder when the lens was stopped down or left wide open.

 

[mshchem]

EXCLUSIVE: $178K worth of camera equipment stolen in armed robbery at store near SF's Union Square

Surveillance from the area shows four individuals get out of a gray sedan around 1:20 p.m. on Saturday near Bush and Grant Streets. Images used in the police investigation show at least one suspect with a firearm entering the Leica store, which sells high-end camera equipment.

abc7news.com

People desperate for the M6

 

[logan2z]

EXCLUSIVE: $178K worth of camera equipment stolen in armed robbery at store near SF's Union Square

Surveillance from the area shows four individuals get out of a gray sedan around 1:20 p.m. on Saturday near Bush and Grant Streets. Images used in the police investigation show at least one suspect with a firearm entering the Leica store, which sells high-end camera equipment.

abc7news.com

People desperate for the M6

Not something to be made light of. I know people who work in that store, someone could have been killed during that brazen, midday armed robbery.

 

[mshchem]

Not something to be made light of. I know people who work in that store, someone could have been killed during that brazen, midday armed robbery.

I'm not joking. Everywhere this kind of thing is happening. I'm sure that well organized criminals are behind a lot of this. Probably going straight out of the country.
I'm sure we will never know, I wonder if certain items were targeted?

 

[madNbad]

I'm not joking. Everywhere this kind of thing is happening. I'm sure that well organized criminals are behind a lot of this. Probably going straight out of the country.
I'm sure we will never know, I wonder if certain items were targeted?

This is not your common "I stole and sold it on eBay" crowd. They professional groups, often funded with drug money, targeting high end store. The items not wanted by whoever are supplying the funding are sold world wide. The actual thieves don't need to be violent but they do it for the thrill, eventually leading more business to move to an online only model.

 

[madNbad]

Several years ago the bank I use moved to a new location. The first time I visited all of the tellers were only accessible by video. Makes it really hard to hold up a bank when the teller is in a office miles away.

 

[mshchem]

It's a sad thing. As has already been said, someone is going to get hurt. Seems more brazen everyday. Young men, damn fools.

 

[athbr]

Not sure if this has been addressed here yet but had a nice chat with Leica Customer Service about meter boards for old M6s vis-a-vis Jesko's comments on the reintroduction of the model:

"We were able to repair M6 classic metering before the launch of reissue. We had a lot of parts left since the original M6 manufacturing. New M6 uses different electronics, similar to MP.

"Current internal new m6 parts cannot be directly interchanged with the old m6.

Perhaps Jesko was referring to some up and coming conversion idea. Maybe it will be possible to upgrade your old m6 into the new m6 internally. But so far, we do not have any information regarding this."

-- Adam Tukacevskis, Customer Care Advisor Leica Camera UK

Hope this helps. Fingers crossed such a conversion is made available.

cheers,

 

[snusmumriken]

What

Not sure if this has been addressed here yet but had a nice chat with Leica Customer Service about meter boards for old M6s vis-a-vis Jesko's comments on the reintroduction of the model:

"We were able to repair M6 classic metering before the launch of reissue. We had a lot of parts left since the original M6 manufacturing. New M6 uses different electronics, similar to MP.

"Current internal new m6 parts cannot be directly interchanged with the old m6.

Perhaps Jesko was referring to some up and coming conversion idea. Maybe it will be possible to upgrade your old m6 into the new m6 internally. But so far, we do not have any information regarding this."

-- Adam Tukacevskis, Customer Care Advisor Leica Camera UK

Hope this helps. Fingers crossed such a conversion is made available.

cheers,

Got me worried now. What can I expect to go wrong with the metering of my old M6?

 

[BradS]

Got me worried now. What can I expect to go wrong with the metering of my old M6?

There were issues with circuit boards in the very first batches. Leica quickly remedied that issue and there are no issues since. The early ones have likely all failed and been repaired by now so, if your M6 is from other than the first few batches, or if from the first few batches and it works, then there is really no need to worry. In other words, if it works now, it is very likely just fine - nothing to worry about. Use it, take care of it and enjoy...and don't leave battery in it when unused.

 

[Huss]

What


Got me worried now. What can I expect to go wrong with the metering of my old M6?

Don't worry about it. Seriously.

 

[snusmumriken]

There were issues with circuit boards in the very first batches. Leica remedied that issue and there are no issues since. The early ones have likely all failed and been repaired by now so, if your M6 is from other than the first few batches, or if from the first few batches and it works, then there is really no need to worry. In other words, if it works now, it is very likely just fine - nothing to worry about. Use it, take care of it and enjoy...and don't leave battery in it when unused.

Don't worry about it. Seriously.

Phew, thanks chaps. I wasn’t expecting ever to have to buy another camera.

 

[athbr]

What


Got me worried now. What can I expect to go wrong with the metering of my old M6?

Wasn't trying to worry you really.

The post was just to clarify the ways in which the new and old M6 are the same and different internally.

It would be nice though to see Leica leveraging this to extend support to old M6 users. I am hopeful that they are trying to do so.

 

[mshchem]

Anyone seeing more of the new M6? From what I've heard it's going to be 6 months or longer. I'm saving my nickels and dimes, as long as I don't need to dip into a joint account my wife won't object

 

[Radost]

Can somebody explain why people will pay almost the same as an MP price for m6?

 

[BradS]

Can somebody explain why people will pay almost the same as an MP price for m6?

because they're basically the same?
Only cosmetic and ergonomic differences.
Choose the one you like best.
It is totally subjective.

 

[mshchem]

Can somebody explain why people will pay almost the same as an MP price for m6?

I bought a MP recently, had to wait 3 months. Internals are the same as new M6. My MP is beautiful black lacquer finish. I have a couple Leicas, I want one of the new ones too. These things are a joy to behold and use. There's more than I want a picture. Taking a picture can be accomplished with a $200 used autofocus outfit, or a darn cell phone. No joy in that.

I use medium format mostly, Fuji 6x9 rangefinders, it fun to pick up a Leica M and use the original.

 

[Radost]

I bought a MP recently, had to wait 3 months. Internals are the same as new M6. My MP is beautiful black lacquer finish. I have a couple Leicas, I want one of the new ones too. These things are a joy to behold and use. There's more than I want a picture. Taking a picture can be accomplished with a $200 used autofocus outfit, or a darn cell phone. No joy in that.

I use medium format mostly, Fuji 6x9 rangefinders, it fun to pick up a Leica M and use the original.

Can somebody confirm the m6 is the same camera camera inside as MP?

 

[mshchem]

Can somebody confirm the m6 is the same camera camera inside as MP?

My independent Leica repair person told me this. The LED display 2 arrows and a dot, was 1st used in the M6ttl, the MP has the same display. There's no reason for any dramatic internal changes. Volume of the same basic platform should help with cost.

 

[mshchem]

Youxin Ye, told me, it's not a new M6, it's a MP with a slanted crank. .

 

[bags27]

Makes sense that it's the same guts inside. Leica tries to be efficient with parts. Look at all those same outer shells on SL lenses.

 

[Radost]

If this is the case why is it cheaper? Is it not brass top plate?

 

[logan2z]

If this is the case why is it cheaper? Is it not brass top plate?

It does have a brass top plate.

I don't know why it's $400 cheaper. Maybe the M6's black finish is cheaper to produce than the silver chrome or black paint MP finish?

 

[Radost]

It does have a brass top plate.

I don't know why it's $400 cheaper. Maybe the M6's black finish is cheaper to produce than the silver chrome or black paint MP finish?

Maybe the fact that the red dot will get you robbed at gun point is why it is cheaper. (;
No but seriously the Germans “especially leica” dont just shave $400