I have a M9 - thinking of adding M6 TTL 0.85. What should I know?

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I recently purchased a M9/50mm 'Cron combo. I'm just beginning to learn the camera. I owned a M7 in the past and never had a real Leica lens on it, nor did I get to use it as much as I would have liked.

I've found a M6 TTL 0.85, one of the last of the 999 versions built in 2002. I planned to move fully to digital, but given that this is the last of the TTL M6 models, I'm interested in knowing from the film shooters if this is something I should seriously consider. I don't expect to shoot much film, but I do like fine precision equipment. It won't get a lot of use, but it will get some. I'd use it, not keep it in a drawer, but I do expect more use with the M9.

Thanks in advance for the information, comments and opinions.
 
i feel like if you get it the shiny m6 will just sit in your house all day...

the good thing about a film camera is once you get a great 35mm film camera it will stay great for a lifetime with decent care, so the m6 might be the only film camera you will ever need...
 
The .85 VF is great. I have one on my M7 and really like it. You won't be able to use less than 35mm without an external finder, it's perfect for a 50mm and the 35mm will be pretty cramped or unusable if you have glasses. Other than that, it's a dead simple camera that should serve you well.
 
An upgrade from the M9 to the M6 is a sensible move as it'll bring a lot more flexibility to you - plenty of different film types to choose from rather than being stuck the with same sensor for everything :)
 
Personally, I'd get an 0.85x M7. You should know, that resolution is not everything. Actually, in today's digital, there's often too much resolution, and not enough of good tonality or DR. Film still has unequalled qualities when it comes to portraiture, or extreme lighting situations. I refer to colour negative film, and in particular B&W silver halide. Slides have been superseded by digital.
 
If you are going to use it alongside your M9 I wouldn't get the .85 viewfinder but the .72 which is nearer.

While it is obvious the difference in viewfinder magnification makes no difference to the image area or lens, it does have an influence on perception, and before long you start to think of your M9 as a 'wide angle' camera and your M6 as 'standard to tele'. Basically you end up through your own preference of focal length putting one or the other in the camera ghetto, when neither have done anything wrong. So keep the viewfinder magnification as similar as possible and get the most out of each one, don't make either a 'specialist'.
 
main issue for me from the m6 to m-anything higher is the inverted direction shutter speed dial. It's like switching between left hand drive and right hand drive manual vehicles. I had an m8 and m6, eventually sold the m6, it was not an easy switch for me. All depends on how quickly you can adapt though...

No insight on the finder, mine was the standard .72x
 
bonatto said:
main issue for me from the m6 to m-anything higher is the inverted direction shutter speed dial. It's like switching between left hand drive and right hand drive manual vehicles. I had an m8 and m6, eventually sold the m6, it was not an easy switch for me. All depends on how quickly you can adapt though...
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The M6 TTL introduced the "modern" shutter speed dial direction to the M line. It was followed by the M7, skipped with the MP, and has been standard on all of the digital models.

To the OP, I own an M6 TTL and an M8 and get much pleasure from shooting each of them, and for different reasons. At it's most coarse, the dividing line is M8 for color and M6 TTL for black and white. It's a terrific combination. I recommend you try it provided the cost is not an issue for you.
 
I look at this question as 'I have a digital M and I'm thinking of a film M'. From my own experience, I can only say that the fondle factor of the film M far outweighs the use. I feel free to shoot anything and everything with the M9 but I'm careful as all heck with the M7. I even bought a dev tank and some chems in 2010 along with the M7 but I have never used them! And it is such a shame because I love the physical feeling of the M7. It is slimmer and just feels better in the hand than the M9, and the shutter is wonderful to hear.

If you can comfortably afford it, get it and find out for yourself. Maybe it will give you the inspiration to go out and shoot a lot of film and create some super images. Or maybe you'll be like me, keeping it empty and dry-shooting it because you like the feel!
 
The MP dial goes the right way. Which is why, indeed, I'd go for an M6ttl or possibly M7, but not M6, to go with the 'wrong-way' M9.

Cheers,

R.
 
bonatto said:
didn't know that! Is there a reason they did this?
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Dear Fred,

Yes. Apparently some people find it counter-intuitive that the traditional dial goes left-right at the front when the arrows go right-left.But traditionalists, or those who've been using Leicas a long time as I have (40+ years), prefer the old layout.

When they catch up with demand, there's apparently a modest chance that they might offer 'proper' right-way-round shutter speed dials and a software option. Or they might not.

Cheers,

R.
 
V-12 said:
If you are going to use it alongside your M9 I wouldn't get the .85 viewfinder but the .72 which is nearer.

While it is obvious the difference in viewfinder magnification makes no difference to the image area or lens, it does have an influence on perception, and before long you start to think of your M9 as a 'wide angle' camera and your M6 as 'standard to tele'. Basically you end up through your own preference of focal length putting one or the other in the camera ghetto, when neither have done anything wrong. So keep the viewfinder magnification as similar as possible and get the most out of each one, don't make either a 'specialist'.
Click to expand...

+1 on that. I would not get the 0.85 without having a specific reason, such as wanting to use it with a lens that places great demands on focusing accuracy. It will be much easier to go back and forth between the M9 and a standard .72 finder.
 
Ha ha, didn't even know that the M9 "goes the wrong way".
It is always set to "A".

:)

Anyway, back to the original poster, not sure of your additional criteria for picking up the M6 TTL 999 camera. Are you wanting to get the camera for emotional or collector value? It doesn't sound like you are wanting it for user value, especially since you had an M7 and it didn't resonate with you.

If you want to get an M6 for collector value, there may be other criteria (e.g. do you like black paint?).

If you want to get an M for collector value, there are arguably better M's (MP black paint, etc).




Roger Hicks said:
The MP dial goes the right way. Which is why, indeed, I'd go for an M6ttl or possibly M7, but not M6, to go with the 'wrong-way' M9.

Cheers,

R.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks to all for the replies. ChrisN, I believe that you have focused me - thank you. The suggestion to "walk before you run" is a good one. I am still suffering from DSLR think. My Nikon had two zoom lenses, and I could pretty much pick any focal length from wide to deep zoom. With all of that choice I never did get to learn how to compose pictures.

The M7 was a great camera, but after buying it I quickly began to realize that the joy of film also requires dedication, skill and patience.

Overall, the best solution for me is to really learn my M9/50 'Cron. Yes, I am still attracted to film Leicas, but as has been suggested by many it is a different approach to photography and for now at least, digital is for me the right solution.
 
I have the M6 0.85, and I like using it. I then got the M9 and I also like using it. They would make a great travel kit. The M6 finder can flare up, but this does not bother me. Film and digital are like potatoes and tomatoes. They are different but they can compliment each other.
 
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