A few questions about the Leica M6 TTL

<p>Hi folks,</p>

<p>I recently bought an M6 TTL in mint condition and have a few questions:</p>

<p>1. How long do the batteries last? I put in two brand new LR44 batteries and after less than 1 week and just 2 rolls of film it looks like they need changing. The led indicators in the viewfinder only stay on for a fraction of a second instead of the usual 12 seconds.</p>

<p>2. What is the difference between Bulb mode and the Off setting? I noticed that the shutter can still be released even when the dial is set to Off. If that's normal then surely Off and Bulb mode are the same thing.</p>

<p>3. When turning the shutter speed dial clockwise from 1/1000 towards Off (i.e. lowering the shutter speed) I notice there is a higher pitched click sound when the dial goes from 2 to 1. The click sound is distinctly differently from all the other dial positions. The click sound doesn't happen when turning the dial the other way. Is this normal?</p>

<p>Any help greatly appreciated.</p>

 

<p>Jamie, is it possible that you did not turn off the camera when not shooting? That may be a possible answer to 1, as the batteries will last much longer than you experienced.. Other than that, other possibilities may be a) new batteries that are not really new, that is, have had a very long shelf period before you purchased them, or b) there are dirty contacts in the battery compartment or the cover plate is not screwed in enough. The M6 TTL, like the M6 and other previous film Leicas, has a mechanical shutter that can operate without batteries, but possibly the Off setting isn't really off and the dial is at B instead of Off. That might also explain rapid depletion of the batteries.<br>

Cannot help with 3. Maybe related to 2, if the dial is offset a bit from its correct indication?<br>

</p>

I thought this camera had an auto-off, or do you mean it is better to turn it off right away?

<p>Thanks Arthur,</p>

<p>I did turn off the camera when not shooting. However, leaving it "On" should not make any difference. The only power in the M6 is for the meter and the meter only activates when the shutter button is partially depressed. It goes off again 12 seconds later. I also made sure that the shutter button was not left depressed when it was packed in my camera bag. The batteries were new and well within their specified date but I suppose trying a new set won't do any harm. The battery cover was fastened properly and the contacts are like new.</p>

<p>The shutter speed dial seems to be lined up perfectly and sits nicely in the "Off" position. I just can't understand why this camera has an "Off" position if it still allows the shutter to be fired. Seems stupid.</p>

Try a new set of batteries. See if you can find SR44s which don't have a drop off in charge in the second half of their life.

Find a manual and read it. The film Leica is a mechanical device, the M7 slightly less so. Turning the shutter speed dial to

OFF only ensures the meter is off. The film transport still works so the shutter can still be cocked. More mechanics would

have been required to make OFF prevent shutter firing. Hopefully there is nothing seriously wrong with your camera, but

the worry is that there is a short circuit somewhere and the top might need to come off under the hand of someone very

competent.

Thanks Richard. I have some SR44s

so will try those. I have the manual and

have already read it. It just seems

stupid to have a bulb mode and an off

position when they are both exactly the

same.

<p>Apparently the TTL draws current when the release is pressed even when the dial is set to 'B'; only the 'off' setting switches off the electronics:<br>

http://leica.nemeng.com/001b.shtml<br>

http://leica-users.org/v17/msg07164.html</p>

 

<p>Thanks Richard, that explains why the Off setting exists.</p>

<p>With respect to 3. No difference on my M6 TTL.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>With respect to 3. No difference on my M6 TTL.</p>

 

</blockquote>

<p>Do you mean your camera also makes that click sound?</p>

<p>For what it's worth, my M6 Classic makes a higher pitched click when moving from 1 to B (but not from B to 1, 2 to 1, or 1 to 2).</p>

<p>Thanks Richard. </p>

<p>I also found the following helpful information about a common cause of battery drainage on the M6 TTL cameras:</p>

<p><em>"When you remove the batteries from a TTL -underneath, in the bottom of the "well" there are two small,round contacts (silver colored as stated above). Take a pencil and run the tip of the pencil over them. If you can feel that the top of the contacts are protruding above the "well" floor" - carefully push them down slightly. You can secure them with a piece of electricians tape too.</em><br /><em>These contacts are for service and checking the electronic circuitry in the camera. For some reason Leica saw fit to only have them "push" fit and they can "creep" up and if the do - they will keep the circuit open and drain the batteries quickly. </em><br /><em>Both my Millennium M6 and another TTL had this problem and by doing the "surgery" they are now holding batteries with charge for 40-50 rolls with no problems."</em></p>

<p>No, I meant it does not make the click sound. I am sorry for having been unclear.</p>

<p>Jamie, thank you for having informed us of this problem of battery drainage by the service contacts being displaced. Fortunately I did not encounter it myself in the 10 years or so of my use of the M6 (a great camera) but it is important to be aware of it.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>No, I meant it does not make the click sound. I am sorry for having been unclear.</p>

 

</blockquote>

<p>Thank you Ferdi for the clarification :-)</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p>Jamie, thank you for having informed us of this problem of battery drainage by the service contacts being displaced.</p>

 

</blockquote>

<p>You're welcome Arthur. The electrical contacts were OK on my camera so I won't know if I have a battery drain problem until these new batteries have been in for a few more days.</p>

<p>Hi Jamie,<br>

Serendipitous timing since I too have just got this camera and unfortunately also have this problem. I have tried all the suggestions in this conversation, including black tape covering those contacts. The meter and LEDs still stay on - constantly - until the dial is turned to Off.<br>

I simply cannot imagine shooting this way! Having to worry about turning the dial to Off during a shooting session, then when ready, remembering what shutter speed to dial it back to ... unheard of!<br>

Any results from your inquiries or other fixes?<br>

Thanks in advance - Vikram.</p>

 

<p>Hi Vikram,</p>

<p>I'm sorry to hear that. If the meter stays on all the time it is an internal fault in the camera and it will need to be sent in for repair. I did read about someone else having the same problem but I can't remember the exact cause. I think it was either a faulty shutter button or a wire had come off inside the camera leaving the circuit on.</p>

<p>I am lucky because my meter turns off after ~10 seconds as it is supposed to. I am still hoping my problem was a dodgy set of batteries but I won't know for sure until I've used it and shot another couple of rolls. I tried testing for battery drain using a voltmeter but couldn't get my head around the readings. I am not experienced with electronics but I was getting a very small voltage reading even when my camera was turned off. If I'm right then my camera may have a battery drain problem.</p>

<p>I hope your camera has a warranty!</p>

<p>Just checked my M6 Classic. There is a faint click when I turn from B to I sec. Thereafter all changes are pretty silent. I haven't used my M6 for film in about 2 years but every once in a while I run through the times and fire the shutter. As far as I can tell the batteries are still fine after about 3 years and a handful of films.</p>

<p>Thanks Harry, that's good to know :-)</p>