gee-bug

I just bought a used 50 Summicron (series 11817) from a Denver camera show and was just fooling with it to find that the lens barrel unscrews and can be removed from the focusing and aperture rings. Is this normal? Inside, there are some number etchings, so it has obviously been opened before. It can be screwed back together very tightly, so I'm not too worried about it coming loose, but I've never heard of this and am just curious if this is normal and why. For cleaning? It would enable one to lubricate the focus helicoid. If anyone could answer by 15:00 U.S. Mountain time I'd greatly appreciate it, I could still return it!

 

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Any general opinions on this lens would be appreciated also, the dealer said series 11817 was rated the sharpest by LHSA - probably just a line to get me to buy.

The end of the story: after our vacation I sent the body to Leica NJ

and they adjusted the RF and replaced the top plate - no more dent!

All for free, gotta love that Passport Warranty! It feels - and

smells - like new again. When I opened the sealed plastic baggie it

was shipped in the smell hit me, and I took a good long whiff -

exquisite! I'm not sure how they accomplish the "new camera smell",

but I love it. It took NJ three weeks from the date on the repair

estimate, which, incidentally was Sept. 11 (shudder).

 

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The shutter and film advance are silky smooth again. They seemed to

be not-so-silky after the fall, but it may have been my imagination.

So glad to have my M6 back, I'll sleep well tonight.

I really don't want to start the filter wars again, but the lens cap

hassle is precisely why I went to using UV filters + hoods. The

(front) lens caps always stay at home. To me it is worth the slight

image degradation (I can't tell any difference) and occasional

flaring not to have to deal with a !@#$ lens cap. Try it, it is very

liberating. Again, I don't want to stir the flames...

Bravo, Jack, a brilliant synopsis of everone's "IMHO". I'm a new TTL

+ one lens user, and I went for the 35cron simply because I was able

to get a great deal on a used one. I love it, but for taking people

pictures you have to get pretty close, which makes some subjects

uneasy. I'm looking forward to my next lens: 50cron or 90E.

(Dammit, why don't they make a 75E?)

I was in Santa Fe, New Mexico (USA) a few weeks ago during Fiesta and saw two people with TTL's on the Plaza. One had a black body with tape (the camera, not the owner) and a 50cron and a 90E on a lens holder. The other, carried by a British woman (heard her speaking) was chrome with a 35Acron. Fun to get an acknowledging glance from fellow owners.

Maybe an after effect of this tragedy is that this country (USA) will finally develop a reliable and comprehensive interstate passenger rail system. I'm not averse to flying, but most of the time I don't <i>need</i> to fly, it's just the only option. It has been a real eye-opener to see how the FAA shutdown and the new security regs have caused such turmoil.

I'm a new M6TTL owner and had two meter/battery mishaps in as many

days. First I couldn't get the left arrow to stop blinking. I was

flabbergasted for literally five minutes, pointing the camera

frantically at various very bright scenes, I had no idea what was

wrong - the lens cap! Doh! Second mishap: on my first road trip

vacation with the new camera, stopped at a gas station in Conifer,

CO, pulled out my M6 hoping to catch some candids at the pump, and no

meter! Apparently it had been sitting upside down in the back seat,

pressing on the shutter release, thus draining the battery. Luckily

there is a Radio Shack in Conifer. Replaced the battery and all was

well, but now I've learned my lesson about always turning the shutter

speed dial to "OFF". Live and learn...

I had the same focusing problem with my FM2n outfit, which prompted me to get an M6TTL. For the past year or so I kept getting rolls back from the developer with at least 25% of the frames out of focus. I had some trouble initially with the M6 (w/35 ASPH cron) simply because I forgot to focus, since everthing in the viewfinder was clear as a bell. Now I find that I pay much more attention to pre-focusing and the DOF marks on the lens than I ever did with my FM2n - and I'm a better photographer because of it. Oh yeah, the "snick" of the M6 shutter is sublime compared to the "thuh-whack" of the FM2n. Also handholding at 1/15th is suh-weet!

I concur with Robin and Al: a 75E is badly needed, not only for size, but also for price considerations. I'm currently a poor one-lens (35 ASPH cron) type, and am dreaming of what my next lens will be. A 50 cron probably, but I would rather have a 75, but can't afford the lux, and just don't need f1.4.

I have returned triumphant! (I think) I initially tried

unsuccessfully to grind down a small screwdriver but couldn't get it

right, so went to Sears and bought a "master offset gauge", a multi-

blade tool for checking engine valve clearances. It's bent so it's

easy to get into the camera, also the "blades" have nice rounded ends

so as not to scratch the screw. I got it the rangefinder aligned on

the fourth try - about 5 minutes. The .20mm blade fit the screw

precisely. Sears part# 940802, the "Craftsman 26-blade master offset

gauge".

 

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I know I should have been good and sent it back to Leica, but I just

got the damn thing and am going on vacation in two days and couldn't

stand the thought of being without it.

 

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One last item for ye gurus: I noticed that at 1/15 and 1/30 there is

a sound like a tiny ball bearing bouncing twice after the shutter

fires. I don't think I noticed that before, but it may have always

been there. It only happens at these two speeds, is it normal?

 

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Thanks to everyone for all the help and suggestions, esp. John

Collier with the adjustment info and the "Cheers and relax". Also

Richard for pointing out that my since my camera is no

longer "perfect", I'm more likely to use it - true. The kid gloves

come off now.

Thanks for this info, John. I think the vertical alignment is okay, so I'll try the screw adjustment. Does anybody know where I might find more info on making this adjustment? Like a website with some pictures? Thanks for any help.

Yeah, the film cannister was making most if the noise. Now (with it

removed) there is just the slightest "tick-tick" when I shake the

camera - probably normal.

 

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Unfortunately... I just checked the infinity focus in the daylight

and it is way off. I can't even focus on telephone poles at

~200yds. So now I get to experience the legendary Leica service

department, what fun! How long does it take for them to fix a camera?

My wife accidentally knocked my week-old M6TTL off a chair on to a concrete floor - about a 1.5 foot drop. I checked the camera and no physical signs of harm, but I found that there is a sound when I shake the camera. I hadn't noticed this before, but I hadn't shaken the camera before. It doesn't sound like a "broken" rattling, but almost like a lever moving internally. Is this normal or are bodies typically silent when shaken? (Everybody shake your Leica!) Also, I can't tell for sure but I think the rangefinder isn't focusing properly at infinity. Since it is night here the only thing I can focus on at infinity is the moon. I can't tell if it's not focusing or if it is just my nearsightedness causing some ghosting of the moon's image. Guess I'll have to wait until morning and find a tower far enough away to check. Any advice on other things I should check? Will such a drop typically knock the rangefinder off? I just filled out the warranty card today but haven't mailed it.

 

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Ugh, I remember a similiar nauseous feeling after the first dent in my new car. I won't sleep well tonight...

Hmm... this gives me an idea, though it would probably diminish resale

value: color-code the f-stops and DOF lines ala Nikon MF lenses.

To see more Leica pictures on the <a

href="http://www.nationalgeographic.com">NG website</a> type "Leica"

in the "Search Our Site" box at the top of the page. Interesting to

try other camera makes too.

Thanks for all the comments and advice, unfortunately financial

requirements (and my wife) may force me to sell off my Nikon gear - I

will post a link here to my ebay listing if that becomes the case.

 

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The main reason I got the M6 was the size and weight issue: I wanted a

professional all-manual/mechanical camera without the bulk of big

lenses. I recently got a Nikkor 200mm f4 and quickly realized that

I'm not destined to be a nature photographer - basically I despise

lugging and futzing with a tripod. Also seem to have lost interest in

macro photography, again the !@#$ tripod, and already have too many

boring close-ups of flowers, coins, bugs, etc. The bulk issue was

causing me to use my FM2 less and less, opting instead for the

convenience and excellent optics of my wife's Yashica T4. Indeed, I

usually get better results from the T4's Tessar than from any of my

Nikkors. The M6 seems to be the perfect marriage of excellent

optics, small size, and complete manual control.

 

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Just got another roll (Portra NC) back from the developer and had a

much higher hit ratio with this roll, but still some misses: I think

I need to back off taking everything at f2 trying to acheive

the "Leica Effect". Especially at short range and of volatile

subjects like my dog. I have several examples of great bokeh -

unfortunately the entire image is bokeh! The nice thing about

the one lens approach is that I can concentrate on learning the DOF

qualities of just this lens.

 

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A tip on using this forum (sorry if this is a "duh"): click on

the "New Answers" link, then bookmark that page. If you read this

forum every day, it quickly shows you which threads have been updated.

First "real" camera? The M6TTL I just got this Saturday! Just

kidding, of course. It was a Nikon FM and a 50mm 1.8 Series E that I

bought in 1981 when I was in 8th grade with my lawnmowing money. This

started me down the Nikon road, though I never owned a "professional"

body. Had an FE2 for a few years (hated the match-needle metering)

and did a brief stint with a Nikonos III (wish I still had) and a

Nikkormat FT3. Traded the latter for my current FM2, which have

hardly used since I bought a Yashica T4 P&S for my wife and found that

it generally produces superior pictures. A big eye-opener for me,

since I've always been Joe Nikon. Anyway, the T4 got me interested in

German glass and downsizing the weight and bulk of my gear, hence the

M6TTL.

The day finally has finally come: I just got a new chrome .72 M6TTL and a minty-fresh used 35 ASPH cron. I'll make a plug for Chris at Mike's Camera, CO Blvd, Denver. I had done my research, and he gave me a screaming deal on the lens. This is my first foray into Leicadom after 20 some years with FM/FM2s. I burned a few of rolls at a local end-of-summer street fest with my new M6 this weekend and would like to share some observations.

 

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First of all, wow! What a difference going from the blurry gray world of the FM2 finder to the bright as day finder on the M6! The only danger is that I occasionally forget to focus, since everything is so bright and beautiful. One thing I miss from the FM2 is the

- 0 + LED readout. On the M6 it is a bit difficult for my brain to compute that the right arrow indicates overexposure and the left underexposure. BTW, I almost got a used M6 classic, but convinced myself that the two arrow readout would drive me nuts - as it seems there is no way of telling when you're near correct exposure until you've actually dialed it in. Also didn't like the teensy shutter speed dial on the classic. Another thing I miss from the FM2: seeing the shutter speed and aperture in the finder.

 

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I have a little trouble getting my fingers on the aperture ring on the 35 cron. I'm used to grabbing the ring closest to the body instead of the ring closest to the hood. Also not quite used to the focusing knob, but think I could grow to love it.

 

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What a difference between using the two cameras! I really felt like the invisible man with my new M6. No one seemed to care that I was pointing this little lens in their direction. No one heard the shutter. This in stark contrast to using the FM2 and people staring at me, the guy with the phallic symbol lens & SLR around his neck, and the annoyed looks I'd get when they heard the cuh-lack! of the mirror flap.

 

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I managed several Leica-esque shots from the first few rolls with the M6 but also made several booboos. It will definitely take some time to get used to it. My spousal unit says no more Leica purchases until next year - she warns that I'm really pushing it with this $3K purchase. I'd be interested in hearing from any other folks who have made a similar equipment transition (FM2 or any all-manual SLR to an M6). I haven't decided whether to keep or ebay my Nikon gear yet, I want to get through the M6 honeymoon first.

 

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Oh, almost forgot, in case no one has thought of this yet: on a chrome body, mask the Leica symbols with silver mylar tape instead of black tape. Silver mylar tape is used to "crop" slides and available at most photo shops. This worked well for me this weekend, but I don't know about durability of the tape.

 

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This is a indeed a very informative forum. I was on the LUG for awhile but unsubscribed because I found it to be too difficult to wade through many off topic threads to find the information I needed. Also IMHO, the LUG has a problem with "netiquette".

A fun thing to do on the <a

href="http://www.nationalgeographic.com>Nat'l Geo. website</a> is to

type "Leica" in the "SEARCH OUR SITE" box at the top of the page.

You'll get back lots of links to Leica photos taken by the NG pros.