I'm a new Leica user: M6-TTL, 28mm Elmarit, 90mmSummicron having moved to shis stage in my life from Hassy, and Nikon F5. I still use a Noblex MF for those "grand" shots, and a Konica Hexar for my P&S which delives excellent results. I'v decided to lighten the load and move to Leica. Question: Is multiple exposure possible with the current version M6 (get it in 2-3 days) and can one use filters such as grduated ND be used on the M6?

Than

-- Donald Maldonado (maldos@earthlink.net), August 29, 2000

Answers

ND grads are probably the most difficult filter to use with success on a rangefinder, except for maybe a close up lens. A polarizer is easy by comparison. Without being able to look through the lens at the taking aperture, it will only be dumb luck if you actually get the effect you are hoping for. I have tried to use a graduated filter on a fuji 645 range finder, and it didn't work out so great. On my SLR, I can really see the effect, which changes depending on the f stop chosen.

I don't believe any of the M series cameras had a provision for double exposures--I know my M3 can't, unless there is some secret technique I don't know about.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), August 30, 2000.

Doing multiple exposures with a M camera (except the M5) causes damage to the winding mechanism. On some cameras you can hold the rewind button in (lever on M6) and this allows you to cock the shutter without advancing the film. When you do this with a M, the winding mechanism makes terrible grinding noises. Definitely a bad idea.

-- John Collier (jbcollier@home.com), August 30, 2000.

Check with Leica.It makes a noise but DOES NO damage.Check no slack in film by softly turning rewind.Stop at resistance.Hold rewind with finger.Set switch to rewind and hold.With remaining fingers cock shutter by moving the advance lever.Thats it. Have done hundreds of doubles.Not always succesful as with cameras made to do it.Suggest you forget all the toys of SLR world and use M for straight photography.Stop worrying about your Leica,simply use it.I use mine daily.Pro and personal work.Done it for 33 years with M3.So it looks used.The chrome is wearing off leaving a golden glow! Shot about 3500 rolls.Try that with anything else....

-- jason gold (jason1155234@webtv.net), August 30, 2000.

I'd have to concur with John on this one. I took two M6's without film, removed the bottom plate, held finger pressure against the take- up spool (to simulate film with no slack), and with the rewind lever switched to the "R" position, attempted to advance the wind lever.

It was clear that the advance lever was not going to move without tremendous force. Also, the rewind lever kept snapping back to the normal operating position. I would conclude that this can't be good for the mechanism, as you should never force a precision machine. I did this for years with older SLR's without any problem, but the M series Leica seems to have a differently designed film train system.

As I have been using M's for over 10 years and this is the first time that I even tried this, (due to your question), maybe there is logic to the point that the RF Leica is not the best special effects tool for photography... Keep it real.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), August 30, 2000.

Don't you dare toy with your new M camera like that. Skip trying to use your M camera as an SLR -- it's just not made for it. Even though you possibly _could_ use your M for double exposures, why do it? Use the SLR for the tricky stuff. Put the Konica down and use your M as your P&S. I guarantee the results will be better. Also, skip the g.ND filter. If you're using anything more than a UVa or Skylight on your M camera, you're trying too hard.

-- Tony Rowlett (rowlett@mail.com), August 30, 2000.

Hmmmm. Multiple exposures and subtle filters are really the domain of an SLR, Leica M nut that I am.

Off the top of my head, you could rewind the shutter on an LTM Leica by turning the shutter speed dial and get multiple exposures, but I could be wrong about this.

For more ideas/opinions on SLRs vs rangefinders, see my web page,

http://wizard.net/~tbryant/photo35.html

Vidi Luminium.

-- Tom Bryant (tbryant@wizard.net), August 30, 2000.

By all means check with Leica. I did. It will cause damage, expensive damage.

-- John Collier (jbcollier@home.com), August 30, 2000.

Thanks for the update imformation.I use old M3 and M2 which can do double exposures.The M6 seems a very different animal...

-- jason gold (jason1155234@webtv.net), August 31, 2000.

Yes, I used to do the same with my M-3s--no problem. Just having a sound you aren't accustomed to is not necessarily a sign something horrible is happening--I always assumed that it was an issue of a gear somewhere trying to push down a lever which would then pop back up, and that someday one of the two would wear out quicker than otherwise, but probably not in my lifetime. There certainly wasn't any indication from any source at the time that it could be dangerous, and I believe I picked up the idea from some Leica manual or another.

Wouldn't it be nice if at least one of the Leica lists had someone on it who actually fixes the things and could give authoritative answers to questions like this? I would not even sure that the person who answers the phone at Leica HQ would necessarily give the right answer--as we all know the standard factory reply to any question is almost always if it's not in the instructions it's wrong, with an inplication that if they catch you they'll punish you (using off- brand inkjet inks is a great example)--such advice isn't always based in fact, and doens't always come from someone who has any idea what the right answer is.

-- Michael Darnton (mdarnton@hotmail.com), August 31, 2000.

Never do double exposures with any M camera except the M5. I asked the head technician of Kindermann Canada and, after he recovered, he warned me, in no uncertain terms, not to do multiple exposures by forcing the shutter to cock while holding the rewind lever or button. I have also have seen this question come up on the LUG and all the experienced users repeated that Leica warns against doing multiple exposures this way. If you must do mutiple exposures then before loading the camera, fire the shutter, then load making sure to pull the leader so that it touches the camera body. Shoot your series of first exposures, then rewind the film with out pulling the film leader all the way in. Now reload exactly the same way (shutter fired and leader to the body) and registration should be fine.

Cheers

-- John Collier (jbcollier@home.com), September 01, 2000.