Leica M6

The one I looked at was a classic and it was nice for $1500.00. It was sold.the store has a guarantee of proper function. However I think the popular camera film models seem higher lately.

 

I was thinking any glass I came across could be used on my only 4/3rds also.

.72 for 35mm

Someone mentioned the new Leica M10 and its improved eye relief. That's a good point. Even if you're shopping for a film Leica, it would be useful to compare the new M10 viewfinder with one of the older cameras to see if there's really much difference. The Leica store at Union Square in San Francisco should have some bodies of both types in stock, even if they don't have the exact model you're looking for (e.g., MP vs M6).

 

There is a parking garage directly under Union Square. It's been a while since I've used it, but I think the entrance faces the Macy's department store. It's expensive parking, but it's worth the money if you're driving all the way to S.F. from your distant location (Monterey?). The gasoline is costing you much more than the parking would. But parking somewhere cheaper and taking BART or a bus is good, too.

Apparently I can drive and park in San Jose and take Bart from there. That's the good news but the bad news is I do not want to go into all that again and am not going back. The owner of that store has the Camera West Store in Walnut Creek and that is an ok store for me as I can park and go into the store. Which I did last Monday

 

I can also scoot over to Berkeley and visit my daughter and her husband. That kind of makes the gas and all more sensible since I have 2 things going on. Camera West maintains a website but it's not up to date but if I see another M6 on the website I will call and then drive out and see the camera on a Saturday as I can take my kids out to lunch or something also. The website currently shows they have 2 M6 camera's at the store but they in fact do not at least when I was in there on Monday.

I have never experienced any framing inaccuracies with my M6 using 35mm, 50mm, and 90mm focal lengths. I have an early M6 Classic (0.72) that was made in Wetzlar and has never been serviced yet the framing is flawless.

 

In regards to whiteout, I experienced it significantly for the first 30 minutes I used the camera and then it went away. I shoot daily in all kinds of natural lighting conditions and perhaps see flare once a year and too briefly to even make note of.

 

I suspect that some people may have poor samples or vision issues which contribute to framing and whiteout. I have neither and have experienced neither.

 

I have found the M6 Classic to be my go-to camera. I have an impressive stable of film cameras in multiple formats: the M6 Classic is one of two cameras I will never willingly part with. It is an extension of my eye and the most intuitive, effortless camera I have ever used.

Both problems are well known and have been widely discussed.

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/121683-frame-line-accuracy/ is one example.

And here is Johann Fuller at https://www.photo.net/discuss/threads/m-framing-accuracy.67381:

"[The M Leica] is a precision tool in all respects

except the damn framing! and you cannot afford to lose film area on the small 35mm film format."

Framing accuracy and Leica M do not belong in the same sentence. However the true image is always larger than encompassed by the frame, so you are less likely to clip heads, but waste a lot of image space. That's not an ideal solution for small format photography, where every millimeter counts. If you want accurate framing, many DSLRs and electronic finders are the way to go.

 

In lieu of an adjustable eyepiece, a screw-on diopter is a minor inconvenience. I matched my "distance" prescription as closely as possible so I can see without glasses. The same diopter can be used with a magnifier, which I find essential for lenses longer than 50 mm. The magnifier comes with a little case which clips to the neck strap. The downside is you have to remove your glasses and put them somewhere without causing damage. These are among the reasons it was easy to set aside my M9 when the Sony A7ii appeared.

 

The M10 at least retains live view, which can be used full time with what appears to be a relatively small electronic finder. At least you can be seen with a Leica (those hissing "heracy" aside) with some of the advantages of an accurate viewfinder. The primary advantage of the Leica finder is the ability to see outside the frame, to anticipate action and the "decisive moment."

From my small encounter with a Leica I could not see outside of the frame. I had to shove the camera up against my face just to see the frame. I am guessing the seeing the outside of the frame is meant if you use a telelphoto lens and have a small little square in the center to view your subject. I guess you would be able to see outside the frame that way but you would not see much inside the frame. I only looked at one for a minute so little experience here with it.

 

Unless your referring to shooting with both eyes open and I suppose you could see outside of the camera at least on the left side. I can do that with a SLR however and it's not something that would work for me. I just got a free SLR last week. The viewfinder on the Nikon N80 is off to the left side of center and my left eye is clear to see. stuff but it works better if I close it. I generally shoot with a 50mm lens. I have already taken my free Nikon N80 to Yosemite and Pinnacles National park and it works very well. It has a power winder which gives it a large flat back to the camera and that makes it hang on a strap very well while hiking. In May I plan on doing the Yosemite Half Dome hike. I will probably take the N80 instead of the Nikon FM2n. I will decide the morning of the hike between a 28mm lens and a 50mm lens. I am not taking both lenses. I will take 2 contrast filters however.

 

I shoot with glasses and tried the diopter style of shooting. It works fine while shooting actually but I cannot see the scene in front of me very well without glasses. So it means glasses on and off constantly. I wear a hat outside so I cannot just push the glasses up. For me shooting with glasses is how I want to go.

 

I watched a video on you tube last night with Ted Vieira and he compared the Leica M3 and M6. He wears glasses and said the M3 can scratch your glasses if your not careful. He said the M6 should not be a problem but some care is needed with that also. He made no mention of any problems with eye relief. He shoots with a 35mm and a 50mm lens on his Leica's. He buys a lot of Leica stuff and then makes video's of his experience. He seems to shoot Las Vegas street photos with B/W film and is a Professional glamour photographer but shoots Fuji digital for his Professional jobs. His video's are very pleasant to watch.

Edited March 24, 2017 by rossb

Photographers are always cropping shots or adjusting the framing, and for every shot you get more in than you wanted you probably wish you had included more: unless that is you plan every shot like an Renaissance artist using a camera obscura, which pretty well discounts spontaneous shooting of objects and people that cannot be moved or predicted. One might just as well attempt to argue that prime lenses are no good because you can't frame everything exactly the way you want them all the time. So I think much of this concern is overblown. If indeed you are one of those people who would never buy an SLR unless it showed 100% of the view captured on film, then the Leica M 6 is not for you, but otherwise I would not let it seriously put you off.

I guess everyone has a system that is working for them. For myself I frame up the photo and shoot it. I make a crop in the scanning process and then again in photoshop depending on the final size of the print I plan on making. Either 4x6 or 8x10 are the choices that I work with. Precision in the viewfinder is not something I worry about but a little extra is welcome. I print at 4x6 and 8x10 which require very different crops.

Wearing glasses with the M6 0.72, you should easily be able to see outside the 50mm frame, but (as you've found) probably not the 35mm frame - if you consider a Leica in the future, then from what you've written a 0.58 finder might well suit you better, though it's much less common secondhand. The M6 has a rubber ring around the eyepiece, which should help you avoid scratches. I agree that the issues of frameline accuracy and RF patch flare shouldn't be overblown, they are just things to be aware of (like the momentary blackout at the moment of exposure when shooting an SLR!).

I guess I have lost interest in buying one as it's impossible to check them out and the eye relief is not ok with me. But if I ever get a chance to try one out we we see.

I have an M6TTL with the .58 finder, and I wear glasses. I can see the 28mm framelines without moving my eye around, and the 35mm lines are perfect. The 28 Voigtlander and 35 Summicron are my only lenses, and both are fine with glasses.

deleted Edited April 28, 2017 by Didier Lamy

I own a M6 0.85 + a 50mm ZM, and I wear glasses. Difficult to frame without time and calm. My favorite equivalent: a F3HP + a very flat 40mm Ultron. A bit heavier, a lot noisier..

A M6 is one of the rangefinders I have thought about. Is the current MP film camera any better for a person with glasses that wants to use a 28mm lens in regard to seeing the frame lines in a .72 finder?

A M6 is one of the rangefinders I have thought about. Is the current MP film camera any better for a person with glasses that wants to use a 28mm lens in regard to seeing the frame lines in a .72 finder?

I shouldn't think so, though at one point (and later via the a la carte programme) the MP was also available in 0.58. But I have never tried the MP 0.72/28mm/glasses combination.

Actually my son just ordered a M6 classic with 35mm lens from the Japan Camera Hunter so it turns out I will get to check one out all I wish to. However since my last post I moved on to medium format and I may just go with that from now on. Hard to say after 1 week but the photo quality boost is hard to ignore. Develop, Scan and Print at home.

I will be interested in your impressions of the M6. My interest is to find something small and light and also of high quality. I have done a lot of medium format in the past.

There's no doubt about the quality and it's a beautiful (and relatively small) camera to use, though actually a little heavier than your FM2n. My Leica 50/1.4, though again small, is also heavier than my equivalent Nikon AF lens.

Richard you are correct about the FM2n and ais lenses, however I have been using Zeiss lenses to get closer to medium format. Compared to the Zeiss lenses the Leica lenses are lighter. Also the Nikon F6 is heavier.

James, this camera is before all fun to operate. Not that easy, just loading a film needs some training, but that is most of the fun. Framing is an art. And make it even beautiful by changing the dot and removing the white letters. ANd you will get plenty of Leica preople wondering what kind of MP, MA this is..

My son received his Leica M6 from the Japan Camera Hunter. It took 5 days is all for shipping. He described it as in excellent condition but after examining the camera I would describe it as dead mint. It also came with a Leica strap, the back side has the little cover over the flash attachment part. It came with batteries installed, a Japan Camera Hunter 5 roll film holder with a roll of film. It also came with a lapel button with Japan Camera Hunter on it. The camera was advertised with a Voightlander lens which is on the camera and also in mint condition. It's a 35mm focal length and exactly as he described only it's in better condition then advertised. I think when people receive an item that is better then expected they get very satisfied with the purchase. It's the M6 classic in Silver with .72 magnification. Viewfinder is spotless, bright and awesome.

 

My son said I could borrow it so that I could get the feel of a Leica. I will give it a try out but I do not want to bother him with that until he has used it for a few weeks. I just want to shoot one roll of film.

Sounds good. I look forward to your report.

Now that i have actually had a chance to hold his camera and look through the viewfinder i have changed my mind about it. It is ok with glasses but the framelines are tight. Its totally fine without glasses. Anyway i would be fine with it. On the flipside i just bought a medium format and would not really want to bring up buying a new camera for quite a while. The MF also required a new scanner so its a good time in life to shoot and not shop.