🔴 IT’S OKAY.. | New Leica M6 Re-issue 2022 (Camera for Life?)

Thoughts on the New Leica M6 vs Leica M6 Classic + Why it is not a Leica camera for life

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June 2022 - Cliff Worsham
May 2022 - Ross Millar
April 2022 - Roberto Perchiavali
March 2022 - Dexter1980dexter
Feb 2022 - Philip Choy
Jan 2022 - Oliver San Juan

#leicacamera #leicam6 #leica #mrleicacom

[wilfredshum]

The M6 I bought in 1990 is still functioning faultlessly, but lately my M9 has some electronic issues unrelated to its sensor. I doubt digital cameras are for life.

[husshardan]

My new Leica M6 2022 production scratched film and the ISO dial was defective. It took Leica over three months and multiple attempts to repair it. It ended up the pressure plate was defective, and this affected a whole bunch of them as I was told that there was a bad batch of pressure plates. This also can affect the MP and M-A as they share the same part. Problem is Leica has no idea which cameras are affected, as they do not keep track of which pressure plates went into which camera.
So if you buy a new film M, get it from a place where you can just return it if it scratches film. Not wait four months for a repair like I did (I made the mistake of buying it from abroad mail order). And when you get it, first thing to do is check to see if it scratches film. This is very easy - take a roll of the cheapest film you have and shoot it off until you reach the end. Wind it back in, take out of the camera. Put the film out of the cassette and carefully check its entire length. You want to do this with undeveloped film as it is opaque and so very easy to see if there are scratches. With my 2022 M6, the scratches were on the last third of the film.
I had to tell the tech at Leica NJ how to check for scratches which was not at all confidence inspiring - that he would not know how to do that. Once he did, he confirmed and eventually I got the story from them about bad batch of pressure plates.
This bothers me on many levels - 1/ I've never had a camera scratch film before whether it was a $20 plastic disposable camera or an expensive 'high quality camera'. 2/ Leica ships those signed quality control cards that claim they meticulously examine the camera (or lens) multiple times during production to make sure it is perfect. Obviously that is just theater.
I really like my M6 now that it works correctly (they also fixed the ISO dial - you could not set it to indicated speeds) but this experience - and knowing that mine was not a one off - would dissuade me from buying a new film M ever again. All film Ms feel great and are a joy to use, so my advice would be to buy a nice used one whether it is an M2/3/4/6 etc and save your money. Leica's quality controls have slipped so badly I'd never go through buying a new M again.

[animegeek]

I’m glad I found this video. Nobody else has said anything about issues with the newer M6. Now I don’t even want one. Thanks for saving me from wasting my time.

[madnesstothemethod]

Film photography needs an infusion of new, relatively affordable camera bodies if it is to remain financially viable for the long term. The M6, nice as it is, is simply out of the price range of the average punter. It would be nice if Nikon would dust off its old tooling and re-issue the FM2 or FM3a (or Pentax re-issue the K1000).

[alanstarkie]

In some cases, the M6 PCB can be repaired. Quite often a non-working meter is because a small wire contact called the pig-tail isn't being grounded with an internal part that leica once used as part of the 'B' flash sync mechanism. Either the pig-tail is off or the lever is distorted and not working right. Battery corrosion is another issue. Of course, occasionally there will be a fault with the hybrid circuitry and there isn't much you can do about that. We have a medium-term project to re-design the M6 PCB. Unlike the M6TTL and beyond, it will not rely on digital circuitry but analogue. This will give the camera the best chance to survive well into the rest of the 21st century.

[Dngrov]

When I shoot film., I use my M3 most of the time. Just love the VF for the 50MM, my favorite focal length. I see no need to purchase an M6.

[brusselssprout]

Well, "for life" kinda depends on how old you are when you purchase a new M6. I purchased my "classic" in 1995. It still works flawlessly, electronics, calibrations, shutter speeds and all. Never went for CLA. I am pretty sure it will bury me. And if the electronics suddenly quit this afternoon, that means I will have enjoyed the comfort of an integrated lightmeter for 27 years and will from then on have to rely on a separate device or on my phone or on my experience to measure light. The camera itself will soldier on, and I am 100% confident it will keep on reliably clicking and confirming focus and exposing film long after I am gone.

You should look at it this way: the M6 is a camera for life just like your "Barnack", sold with an optional integrated iightmeter that might collapse before you do. If you are lucky enough to make it that long.

Oh, and thanks for your channel. I really enjoy your little videos, your outlook and your charming portraits.

[christosmilonas]

I enjoy the Barnack Leicas and the M3 more than the M6. The Barnacks have diopter adjustment and are lighter and smaller. Please don't hate me 🙈

[steved]

If searching and hoping for a higher magnification viewfinder, just use the screw-in Leica ViewFinder Magnifier (pn: 12004) with the .72 system. It has 1.25x magnification. Soooo, 0.72 x 1.25 = .9 right there with the .85 magnification viewfinder found on that variant of original Leica M6. It helps tremendously when using longer lenses. And gives the versatility of using the original 0.72 magnification when using 50mm down to wide-angle lenses. Thus allowing for all the appropriate frame lines to be visible.

[sampope]

I was really interested in the M10-d but my main concern was the phone connectivity in the next 10-15 years. I have a few Leica cameras and have always wanted an M6 but didn't want to deal with older camera issues at that price point, so I'm hoping to get a new one next fall. As for the longevity I'm sure it will outlast me, and my Son can deal with any quirky issues after I'm gone, I really like the Black M11 finish and it will be cool to have matching cameras. Love the videos, keep them up Matt.

[linjicakonikon]

Outstanding and honest video.👍
I don't own Leica, I opted for Canon VT and VT Deluxe rangefinders from the late 50s. Fully mechanical, fully trusted.(And simple to repair, I'm told).

[Bigfarmer]

Matt, as we discussed I so much hope Cosina will see this video and listen to us.
PLEASE COSINA! A LOVELY NEW CT-1A SUPER!!!

[ladridz]

Hello Matt, thanks for your vidéo! Light meter is another distraction, I think m3, m2 and m4 are the best photographing experience :)

[smartdoctorphysicist]

Hi I am keeping my M6, but I am saving up for the new Leica SL3-S in 2024, thank you.

[AndreasGrund-so]

Hi Matt, very honest report. My own M6 TTL 0.85 was at Leica service in 2019, shortly after the light meter failed. Back to Leica, diagnosis no longer repairable as there are no electronic spare parts. Fortunately, I had warranty on the camera because of the previous service. I was able to trade the camera in for a new MP or M-A. I chose the M-A because it is purely mechanical. Because of this experience, I can't understand why people spend around 3000 euros for a used M6. Cheers

[beats]

Thank for this upload. There are so many ‘micro slips’ in your video. Could this be an issue with your camera gear or is this an intentional editing style?

[ericbauer]

I asked this same question from DAG here in the states he said the circuit board replacement was a rumor a couple of years ago and he has no problems
a little irresponsible not asking other technictans and causing panic

[j-s-m-photographymc]

Yea the M’s are bullet proof I got the M7 and I love it, then you get the people say the electronics will eventually break, na reliable loveable creative outstanding and next year il be getting an M3 And when I shoot my M7 I feel like a photographer. Digital for workflow film for creativity. Happy Shooting Guys great show mate you never bore me.

[stephenlumsden]

Good one. If I came into a lot of money, I would opt for a Leica m-a for a new m body as I would expect it to work for a long time. As it is I have a Contax, recently cla'd which suffices. Still thinking about a Leica, but would go for a iiig as I do not need m glass and have heard the iiig viewfinder is good.

[crissignori]

Just having another look at this, Matt. A couple other pointers .... The new M6 has more plastic than the MP so some may find that a better route to go with and lastly none of the current and relatively current M series cameras come anywhere close to the build quality of the M3, M2 and M4. The M3 blows everything else away.