M6 0.58 and longer lenses

As I almost always use a 35mm lens, I recently switched to a .58 M6. I've seen comments here about the difficulty of using longer lenses (i.e. anything over the 35!) with this camera - particularly fast lenses, like the Noctilux. Apart from the obvious smaller framing-box, what is the reason for this?

</p>

I am asking because I still have my original .72 M6. Part of me thinks that perhaps, with the initial purchase made, I should just keep it and, in twenty years time, I'll be glad I did. This is especially true if the consensus here is that the .58 is really only useful for 35mm or smaller lenses.

</p>

Regards,<br>

Fergus

Fergus:

<p>

For what it is worth, I recently purchased a .58 body, and used it on

a trip with my 50mm summilux and 90mm Summicron -- both of these

combos worked just fine on focus and otherwise, other than the 90

framelines seeming a bit small-ish.

I use a 90 f2.8 on my Minolta CLE, which is a .58 Mag finder. The 90

lines are very tiny, making critical composition difficult. On the

M6, the lower .58 magnification also decreases the effective base

length of the rangefinder, which all other things being equal, is

what gives the greater accuracy in focusing. I do not think I could

get accurate results with a 90mm f2.0 or 75 f1.4 wide open on the

CLE, as even my f2.8 90mm requires very critical focusing to get

sharp images wide open. I have gotten good results with the 50mm f2.0

wide open on my .58 mag camera, and again, that is probably about as

fast of a 50 I'd shoot with.

The problem lies with the shorter effective rangefinder base of the

.58 body, and the less forgiving Depth of Field of longer lenses. The

wider viewfinder makes it a little tougher to focus accurately, which

is ok with wide angle lenses where more DOF probably covers the

innacuracy. With the longer lens however (mainly 75mm and up) the

shallow DOF (esp with fast lenses wide open) can kill your focus.

<p>

I never use my Noctilux wide open on the .58 - tough enough as is on

the .72. I prefer to use that lens on a .85 due to the longer

effective rangefinder base of that body. Similar with other long

lenses, and esp the fast ones used at or near max aperature.

The longest lens I have used on the Hexar RF (same physical

baselength as the M6, with 0.6x magnification so nearly the same as

the 0.58)is the 135/3.4 APO-Telyt. Wide open at the 1.5m near focus

limit it has not given me any more trouble than the 0.72. I do not

own a 50/1.4, 50/1 or 75/1.4. I did own the 75, rarely got it in

focus on the 0.72.

1. I also have a .6 Hexar RF. In addition to low RF magnification it

is out of adjustment and the focusing image shifts if I shift my eye

left and right - but I still take some of my best 90mm shots with it,

even at f/2. I wouldn't sweat the .58 finder with 50 1.4 or 90 2.8 -

90 f/2 takes some concentration, 75, 135, and Nocti may be pushing it

too far.

<p>

2. Keep the .72 anyway. It's a backup, for mechanicals or to shoot two

different films together. And it will cost you more to replace it

later than you'd get for it in cash now. Don't wait 20 years - be glad

you have it NOW!

Ken have you ever though in buing a M3 body to you noctilux, you

would enjoy it, well with the .85 you must do very well

Before the .85 came along I did use the Noctilux on my M3. I'm afraid

the M6 .85 has spoiled me a little. Since I still have the M3, and

rarely combine the Noctilux with any other lens, I should go back and

enjoy the pair more often.