M6 TTL viewfinder flaring

[terry_m1]

When using my M6 TTL indoors with and without flash, its viewfinder

flares horribly, making focusing impossible. This has made me very

mad considering what I paid for it new. Are there any fixes for

this? Thanks.

 

Terry

[david_dimaria]

I have heard that Leica corrects this problem for around $125. What they do is add an extra lens inside the viewfinder like the newer MP and M7. There is more information at:

 

http://www.cameraquest.com/leica.htm

 

and also other places on the site. It's very annoying, I have been having the same problem. I emailed Leica this weekend to get info on where to have this upgrade done. When I hear back from them I will post the info on this thread.

[lutz]

Terry, if it's the rangefinder patch, try <a href="http://www.leicagoodies.com/shade.html">this</a>.

[sprouty]

I think the cost is closer to double what you've heard, and as I've posted before: despite the absurdity of having to fix a $2000 camera with a $5.00 piece of tape or by reaching into your pocket for another $270 it really does make a difference.

 

-sp

[neil_swanson]

I had my M7 and M6ttl both "unflared" by DAG. For the way I shoot and the

light I shoot in it really does work. Those who shoot outside most of the time

may have never even seen it. But indoors, one lamp off the one side kind of

shooting these cameras really do benefit from the mod. DAG is faster and

less expensive than Leica and he uses all the same parts. I'm sure Sheery

does the same.

[kevin m.]

Neil, what does DAG charge for the flare fix?

[ben z]

Leica charges around $275, DAG charges $165. I borrowed an M6TTL for a week a couple years ago and I was also frustrated by the white-out of the rangefinder. An M6 classic of the >2million serial# I owned also whited out badly. My M4-P (now sold)and my recently purchased early (circa 1985)M6 flare a bit more than my MP and M4 but not nearly as much as the later Classic or the TTL, and not enough to make me need to bother upgrading it. Maybe something additionally was cheapened as time went on.

[kevin m.]

Thanks, Ben!

[__jon__]

DAG did mine recently when my M6 was in for a CLA. I didn't get the flare often, but when

it occured it was frustrating. I haven't been able to get any flare since the upgrade. Don is

a great guy, also.

[ben z]

Don told me $165 for just the upgrade, $100 if it was done the same time as an overhaul.

[terry_m1]

I called and spoke with Don this morning and he quoted me $165 plus $18 shipping/insurance. I'm going to send it to him, for work he has done for me as well as my father has been outstanding! There is no way I would pay Leica-New Jersey to fix it for almost $300: I refuse to pay them that for a problem that should not have been incorporated into this model by their engineers. Shame on Leica-Solms!

[eliot_rosen]

Terry, this subject comes up frequently on this forum. Some users of Leica M are very sensitive to VF flare while others hardly notice it (like me). It may be that if you shift your eye position slightly when it flares, the flare will disappear. That is the most logical explanation. I didn't even know there was such a thing as a flare problem until I read it on the Leica forum. :-)

[terry_m1]

Eliot, the center focusing square in my M6 TTL flares no matter where my eye is placed outside the rear window, making focusing impossible, when I aim my lenses at certain light angles.

[kevin m.]

Nothing personal, Eliot, but everybody's different. My M6TTL flares <i>every</i> time there's a point light source to the side of the finder. The biggest proponent of the 'just reposition your eye' myth is now gone, but he oddly posted few photos, and none that I recall were shot in low light.

[cameron_sawyer]

For newcomers: Kevin is talking about the infamous Jay; this place is much duller without him, but he was certainly wrong about RF flare. It's a real problem and worth doing the upgrade. It's rather pathetic if you've ever used an el-cheapo Bessa which is entirely immune to this problem, but we put up with these things for the sake of other pleasures. My M6 0.85 is at DAG right this very moment having it done.

[eric merrill]

I put one of these on my M6TTL several years ago. I almost forget it's still there:

 

<p>

<a href="http://www.konermann.net/shade.html">http://www.konermann.net/shade.html</a>

 

<p>

It's a lot cheaper than the $100-something alternative. Some people don't like it. I've had no problems with it. Worst case, you're out $11. :)