One of the first things I noticed about the M6 was how easy it is to mount and dismount lenses. I always thought this was one of the great unheralded virtues of the Leica M cameras.

The lens release presses back into the camera, and its right beneath your thumb when you grasp the lens, making removal a one-handed operation. The lenses are small and have a solid base to grasp, instead of a spinning aperture ring.

But the thing that really makes it work is the little red index dot on the base of the lens. Simply brilliant. With an SLR (or, ahem, a Contax G) you have to line up a tiny little red mark behind the lens as it disappears into the camera, an awkward operation at best. With the Leica M, you just push the lens into the camera and click - your done.

That little red dot is one of the great achievements of modern civilization. I didn't know how fond I was of the little bugger until it disappeared from my 50mm Summicron.

I understand its common for these to fall off and get lost. Does anyone know about getting it replaced, or fixing it so it doesn't fall off anymore?

-- Joe Buechler (jbuechler@toad.net), July 09, 2000

Answers

Leica has replacement "red dots" that are easily glued back on. If you are in the USA use:. Otherwise contact your national distributor for parts. Cheers

-- John Collier (jbcollier@home.com), July 10, 2000.

I do not know why it did not print the email address but here it is again: leicaparts@ juno.com

-- John Collier (jbcollier@home.com), July 10, 2000.

Joe

How right you are, and of course R lenses have them too! Allows you to mount them in the dark....

-- Robin Smith (rsmith@springer-ny.com), July 10, 2000.

Thanks for the tip; I've missed the little dot on my older 35 summicron after it fell off; didn't realize one could get spares.

By the way, my new M6 TTL .85 does not click. But the lens is held just as surely and positively...

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), July 10, 2000.

Are we sure about the address for the Little Red Index Dot? I'm not getting anything.

-- Jim Shields (jim.shields@tasis.ch), November 18, 2000.