Thinking About BUYlNG a Leica M6? Make Sure To Pick The RIGHT ONE! The Leica M6 Review
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- čas přidán 26. 09. 2018
- I've owned a Leica M6 Classic for nearly a DECADE. Let me show you what I've learned and how to avoid buying the WRONG M6.
My Leica M6 Photos tinyurl.com/ybztufs8
10:00 I tell you about which M6 I think is better.
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Great video 👌 love that you get straight to it
Thanks for the video.
Back in the 1960s and 1970s, I shot with a Nikon SLR and the following lenses:
35mm f/2 (my first lens for my Nikon F) (later replaced by f/1.4 version)
85mm f/1.8 (my second lens for my Nikon F) (later replaced by f/1.4 version)
24mm f/2
Based on my experience with my Nikon SLR, when I purchased my Leica M6, I purchased the following lenses:
35mm f/1.4 Zeiss
90mm f/2 Leitz
21mm f/1.4 Leitz
I have been very happy with my selections.
That’s a great Leica kit!
Great video! I'm seriously thinking of picking one up later this year and I'd love to put in the MP viewfinder
That soft voice and a cusomized Leica... now that is something i like. Keep shooting!
Thanks!
Love your videos, really insightful and well made. For example, I didn't notice the depth of field "indicator" on the M3 before you mentioned it on your video. Thanks!
Thanks so much
Nice video! Thanks for this introduction!
Another great video. The m6 ttl was my first film camera (yup, dove straight into the deep end), since then, I've purchased a number of slr's (fujica st801, Olympus om1n and the Nikon fm2n and f3) and to be honest the Leica hasn't gotten much love. Part of the reason I'm not using the Leica much could be my uninformed selection in lenses. I have a Zeiss 50mm f2 planar and a Voigtlander 28mm f2, they're decent lenses but nothing that's ever given me the 'wow' feeling.
Thanks for tuning in! So many cameras, so little time. I'll probably have my M6 forever. I also had the planar. I traded it (plus some cash) for a 50 Summicron and never looked back. The Planar is a really sharp and contrasty lens but it's a little clinical for my taste. I don't know what manner of sorcery the Leica engineers use to create their lenses, but it works for me. Never met a Leica lens I didn't like. Best kept secret is the relatively inexpensive 90mm f2.8 Tele-Elmarit-M (skinny). I also have a 21mm Voigtlander that is one of my all time faves.
Thank you, very informative.
Good review! My M6 is one of my favorite cameras! Mine is currently out for a CLA as the frame lines were sticking and they wouldn’t change freely. I’ve since been shooting my M4 more, and forgot how much I loved it too. My set up was to leave 100 speed in the M4 and 400-1600 in the M6.
The light meter sure comes in handy at times, but I found that I can still do pretty well with just a handheld meter. I love my 50mm Summicron Ver III, as well as the three Zeiss lenses I have. I think one thing that Zeiss seems to generally be a little better at is flare resistance. I find it interesting that you call the Zeiss clinical (true for the 50mm f2) but interesting as that one of the criticisms of modern Leica lenses.
Thanks for the feedback. In hindsight, my statement was probably a bit broad. I can't accurately say that ALL Zeiss lenses are clinical in how they render because I haven't used all of the Zeiss lenses. I agree that the Planar and the 25mm 2.8 Biogon ZM (which I've owned in the past) are not my cup of tea although they are great lenses. That being said, I will never part with my tiny 35mm 2.8 Biogon-C. It is an exceptional lens and I actually prefer it to Leica's 35mm Summicron. In the case of a 50mm, I definitely prefer the Summicron over the Planar. I don't have any experience with modern Leica lenses because of their insane prices and some of them are getting really large which goes against the very spirit of Leica cameras. I don't know if you have a 90mm, but if you ever want to get one, I highly recommend the Leica Tele-Elmarit (skinny) 90mm f2.8. It's a special lens and probably offers the most bang for the buck in Leica lenses. flic.kr/p/cGrKEC flic.kr/s/aHskbTm76v
Film Photography Channel Film Photography Channel Thank you for the detailed response! I have the 90mm f/3.5 Voigtlander and find it a fair lens as I only use the 90mm for maybe 10% of my shots. I might get a Leica 90mm at some point after I save up for my M3, but we’ll have to see what the cards hold. I’ll continue to look through your videos, and please post videos about your thoughts on different lenses that you haven’t covered yet as I would be interested in hearing your perspective!
That's definitley in my plans for the near term. I'm putting the finishing touches on a comparison video that pits the Zeiss 35mm Biogon-C (on an M6) vs the fixed-lens Canonet QL17 GIII, Minolta HiMatic 7SII, Olympus 35DC and the Yashica Electro 35GSN. I was surprised by some of my findings on this one. I also have big plans to review my favorite Leica and Nikon lenses.
Thanks for the video. Don't know if I'll ever get a Leica - but I sure do think about it.
I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately 😬
I know you have a great camera and the gorgeous voice.
Also you are good at explaining things on front of the camera! thx
Thanks so much!
Great vid and some nice photos 👍
Thanks so much.
Hey Brother,
I love your video. I dont know how many times I've study your video. I just ordered my first leica m6 buffalo brown ttl .75. I really appreciate you helping me to be informed about this new shooting experience. I'd love to share some shots once I finally have my experiences.
Thanks for creating this personal experience based informative content.
Your brother, Pat
Please let me know. I'd love to see your work when it's ready.
@@FilmPhotographyChannel thanks search Patrick Gregory Daniels
Will do. Thanks for following up.
@@FilmPhotographyChannel np. I took a while but I think I got sidetracked honestly. I hff ave the leica q an m6 with no lens. I like the q but th digital experience is making me miss the film process bc its do fast...snap and here it is
Yep. There’s nothing like the anticipation that comes from waiting for the film results after developing.
I really appreciate this video. I've just purchased a Leica M6 and I'm in need of my first lens. I've been using 50mm lenses for a number of years now and I've always had this nagging feeling that they're a bit too narrow. Of course, "zoom with your feet," but that's not always practical. I imagine I'll get a 50mm lens for the M6 at some point, but I'm really looking to experiment with a 35mm lens. You didn't touch on that specifically, I guess, but you did have lots of other interesting information about the M6 that might be useful to someone like me, someone that hopes to own the camera for many years to come. 10 years is a long time! EDIT: Did you ever find mention of the serial numbers about when they changed the battery issue on the M6? The one I bought is a later model, so I'm hoping I'm good!
Focal length really is a personal preference. No choice is “correct”. One of my favorite M-mount lenses of all time is the Zeiss 35mm f2.8 Biogon-C. It’s very compact, really sharp and has great color and contrast. I also really love my 50mm Summicrons (I have 2) for the same reasons plus their great bokeh. It is true that if you’re carrying only one lens then the 50mm focal length can be a little narrow but it’s a great length for portrait photos. I sometimes will take a ‘cron and put the tiny Voigtlander 21mm f4 color-skopar in my jacket pocket which covers a nice range and gives vastly different photographic perspectives. I personally find the 35mm length to be perfect for landscapes, street photography and portraits which may include some surroundings. Another really fine lens is Nikon’s 28mm f2.8 AI-s. It renders photos beautifully and I’m happy to have that as the only lens on my F3 for the entire day. I don’t know if this helps but these are my thoughts.
I haven’t figured out the light meter issue yet. I think Leica made the change without advertising it. I stumbled across it when I replaced my previous M6. If your meter doesn’t activate with the lens cap on, then you won’t have any battery issues.
It has nothing to do with serial numbers (probably). To turn off the light meter, set your shutter dial at B(ulb)
the leica m6 is amazing. you have a great collection of cameras! thanks for sharing this with us! really enjoyed this
Thanks so much. It's funny, I didn't realize how long I've had my M6 until I made the video. I'm working hard on a video about living with Velvia 50. It's taken me over a week now and a bunch of rolls to get to my conclusions. I hope to post it today or tomorrow. Please share this channel with your friends! Thanks
You make splindid information and videos. Not many people can do it like you.
Thanks so much!
To turn off the light meter on any M6, set your shutter to B(ulb). They added the “off” feature on the shutter dial later, I assume to the M7
Yep that’s how my previous M6 worked. The problem is that I would forget to do that and the meter would continue to be activated as the camera tussled around in my camera bag. I’m much happier with the model I’ve got.
Film Photography Channel Ugh! This camera is literally a dream of mine. The prices have skyrocketed especially in the past couple months. The prices for an M6 start around 2000$ :(((((((
Wow, really? I haven’t check the prices on M6s for years. I paid $800 for mine if I remember. I guess that supports my theory on my podcast episode that Leicas aren’t “overpriced” if they’re increasing in value as you own them.
Great video. I'm looking for one but I'm only seeing them for closer to 2000-3000 unfortunately.
Wow, I haven't looked at M6 prices for quite a while. That's over double what I paid for mine several years ago! I see the M3's are a lot "cheaper" ($700-$1300) and it's a great camera in its own right. It's better suited for 50mm and higher focal lengths though.
Film Photography Channel I was thinking about that or an M4, but I really wanted an M6 just for the light meter. I think the resurgence in film the last couple of years must have made the demand shoot the price up. Realistically I’ll have to wait until after I get done paying for my daughter’s college. Hopefully the M6 won’t double again. Ha.
Film Photography Channel and VERY few on the market.
lack of auto exposure doesn’t bother you? I have the Zeiss Ikon and I’m really enjoying that aspect, especially for street, no need to spend time messing with the shutter speed. Nice video thanks!
Hi, lack of autoexposure in the M6 doesn't bother me in the least. That being said, I really like auto modes on other cameras and rarely use them in manual mode. FYI, I owned a Zeiss Ikon ZM (bought it used, but mint) for about a year and it fell apart! It's a beautiful camera with a great viewfinder that gets lots of attention in public. The ASA/shutter speed dial gears became misaligned and stopped working. Also, the body cover which feels like rubber, developed a hole where my nose touched the back of the camera. Also there was deep wear marks where my fingers gripped the camera. I don't know if all the models ever built had these issues. I owned mine around 2004.
Film Photography Channel good to hear! Maybe I’ll grab an m6. After shooting a few rolls I think my Zeiss has a light leak 😅 maybe from that window on the back I’m not sure
They are surprisingly (and disappointingly) poorly made! It's such a shame because the Zeiss ZM is one of the most beautiful film cameras I've ever seen. Nice, bright viewfinder too. It's important to remember that these cameras are made by Cosina under a license agreement and not Zeiss. At the time that I owned the Zeiss, I had never previously held an M6 (or any Leica). When I finally bought and handled the M6, there was no comparison! The Leica feels like a really well-built precision machine in comparison.
Interesting
Great video! Does your advance lever automatically goes back to its position?
Thanks; Yes it definitely does go back. If yours doesn't maybe it needs a CLA (Clean, Lube and Adjustment).
It goes back but doesn’t go all the way back to the shutter dial. Either way I’ll probably send it to Mr Ye 👍🏽. Thank you!
What do they charge to upgrade the view finder
Hi it really depends on which viewfinder exists on the camera that you’re upgrading. If I remember I paid around $150 for my M6. I don’t remember what the M3 cost. Yyecamera.com
Your hands are so big :) the camera looks tiny relatively
I will be interested if you are selling this camera now for 1000 lol. Great review!
That would be a great deal. 😂
Do you recommend M6 TTL or MP?
If it comes down to a practical decision, I would pick the M6 because the lower price would allow me to get more lenses. If I’m following my heart it would be an MP, lol
@@FilmPhotographyChannel I bought a mint chrome M6 TTL, yesterday I got the black paint MP it is so lovely and the shutter sounds sweet. I also have the M11, but sometimes I want simplicity and prefer loading a film. 😉
I think the M11 is by far Leica’s best digital camera to date. For me, there’s something therapeutic about selecting the film that I want to use on a given day and imagining what the photos will look like with the lens that I’m using. It puts me in a different place which for me is a huge part of why I enjoy film photography so much.
@@FilmPhotographyChannel Yes totally agree. I won’t be buying anymore cameras for long time and hopefully stick to these all my life. Leica is very expensive. 😅. Film and Digital both and have their pros and cons.
Everybody loves the M6. I am not a fan of the red lights on the VF and rather have a moving needle like the M5 but what bothers me the most is the "leica" and "m6" Logos in big white letters on the camera front. I know... i can always use tape.
There’s lots of folks that prefer to go “dot-less”. Like with the MP. It makes you a target for theft in some places too.
where did u buy this m6?
A camera store in Washington, DC. I forget the name; I think it was Pro Photo?
love your vids
$1000 nowadays can get you half a m6 these days tho
Tell me about it. Nearly every film camera I own has at least doubled in value over what I originally paid. Makes it a little harder for people trying to get their first film camera!
@@FilmPhotographyChannel yes indeed... not sure how things are in the US but here in Hong Kong, you need at least $2000 to get a decent m6 (not ttl)
the Leica M6 that my friend got is in good codition and not been used since 20 years ago and he want to sale to me for £500.00 and is none TTL MODEL and is a BLACK body
I got a friend of mine who want to sale his Leica M6 NONE TTL model to me for £1.000 and he has his camera for over 20 years
That sounds like a good deal assuming it’s in decent condition. It seems M6’s are selling for a lot closer to $2000 than $1000. Even if it’s malfunctioning you can always CLA for under $200.
UPDATE: This M6 is worth $800 more than I paid for it 7 years ago!
Did you ever find out which M6s would have the preferred light meter off setting?
@@marvieous2257 I've been looking into this myself,and from what I can gather it seems that the meter in early M6's (IE; Red Dot says 'Leitz' instead of 'Leica') will not turn on in extreme underexposure conditions. (IE; the cap is on) The newer ones blink, which is a useful warning, but it also can inadvertently drain the battery if the shutter is cocked and the button is slightly depressed. (IE; in the bag) My M6 is from 1985, and while at first there was a moment of WTF when the meter didn't light up, I've since learned to check my cap! Hope this helps
I had the 40mm Nokton as well. Nice lens. The price increase speaks to the surging popularity of film photography.
Marv Elous set your shutter dial at B(ulb), that will turn off any M6
Just leave it on bulb, turns off the meter
I’m aware, I just forgot to do that so often on my previous M6 that I was going through batteries way too fast. I had no idea that they had fixed that issue since they didn’t change the name. I just happened to run across this M6 which was much more minty than the one I had previously.
or Buy the Leica MP!!!!!! :-)
If only...
The Leica lenses are not cheap and you need from £800 to as much as £10.000 to buy them
Leica lenses are pricey but another way to look at it is that you will probably never lose money on a Leica lens vs the alternatives. When you look at Zeiss and Voigtlander M-Mount lenses (which are great lenses in their own right) they are very hard to resell so they don’t hold their value very well, have inferior build quality to a proper Leica lens and the Zeiss ZM lenses gather lots of dust very quickly (in my experience). All three of the Leica lenses that I own are worth nearly twice what I paid for them.
Great camera but it is now out of time. It is almost impossible to process film and the cost is almost prohibitive.
John that sentiment couldn’t be more inaccurate! Film sales have increased two fold in the past few years and more people are loving film photography. You’ll find on my channel a video on how to process C-41 negative film at home. It literally takes 12-15 minutes plus 1:30 drying time. The chemicals are dirt cheap and I couldn’t enjoy the whole process more. Keep the faith!
John Adams, where do you live? Plenty of labs here in NYC. You can also mail film away for processing, scans, etc.
Y u lookin like oj
Hahah