As I almost always use a 35mm lens, I recently switched to a .58 M6. I've seen comments here about the difficulty of using longer lenses (i.e. anything over the 35!) with this camera - particularly fast lenses, like the Noctilux. Apart from the obvious smaller framing-box, what is the reason for this?

I am asking because I still have my original .72 M6. Part of me thinks that perhaps, with the initial purchase made, I should just keep it and, in twenty years time, I'll be glad I did. This is especially true if the consensus here is that the .58 is really only useful for 35mm or smaller lenses.

Regards,
Fergus

-- Fergus Hammond (fhammond@adobe.com), May 29, 2001

Answers

Fergus:

For what it is worth, I recently purchased a .58 body, and used it on a trip with my 50mm summilux and 90mm Summicron -- both of these combos worked just fine on focus and otherwise, other than the 90 framelines seeming a bit small-ish.

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), May 29, 2001.

I use a 90 f2.8 on my Minolta CLE, which is a .58 Mag finder. The 90 lines are very tiny, making critical composition difficult. On the M6, the lower .58 magnification also decreases the effective base length of the rangefinder, which all other things being equal, is what gives the greater accuracy in focusing. I do not think I could get accurate results with a 90mm f2.0 or 75 f1.4 wide open on the CLE, as even my f2.8 90mm requires very critical focusing to get sharp images wide open. I have gotten good results with the 50mm f2.0 wide open on my .58 mag camera, and again, that is probably about as fast of a 50 I'd shoot with.

-- Andrew schank (aschank@flash.net), May 29, 2001.

The problem lies with the shorter effective rangefinder base of the .58 body, and the less forgiving Depth of Field of longer lenses. The wider viewfinder makes it a little tougher to focus accurately, which is ok with wide angle lenses where more DOF probably covers the innacuracy. With the longer lens however (mainly 75mm and up) the shallow DOF (esp with fast lenses wide open) can kill your focus.

I never use my Noctilux wide open on the .58 - tough enough as is on the .72. I prefer to use that lens on a .85 due to the longer effective rangefinder base of that body. Similar with other long lenses, and esp the fast ones used at or near max aperature.

-- Ken Shipman (kennyshipman@aol.com), May 29, 2001.

The longest lens I have used on the Hexar RF (same physical baselength as the M6, with 0.6x magnification so nearly the same as the 0.58)is the 135/3.4 APO-Telyt. Wide open at the 1.5m near focus limit it has not given me any more trouble than the 0.72. I do not own a 50/1.4, 50/1 or 75/1.4. I did own the 75, rarely got it in focus on the 0.72.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), May 29, 2001.

1. I also have a .6 Hexar RF. In addition to low RF magnification it is out of adjustment and the focusing image shifts if I shift my eye left and right - but I still take some of my best 90mm shots with it, even at f/2. I wouldn't sweat the .58 finder with 50 1.4 or 90 2.8 - 90 f/2 takes some concentration, 75, 135, and Nocti may be pushing it too far.

2. Keep the .72 anyway. It's a backup, for mechanicals or to shoot two different films together. And it will cost you more to replace it later than you'd get for it in cash now. Don't wait 20 years - be glad you have it NOW!

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), May 29, 2001.

Ken have you ever though in buing a M3 body to you noctilux, you would enjoy it, well with the .85 you must do very well

-- rwatson (al1231234@hotmail.com), May 29, 2001.

Before the .85 came along I did use the Noctilux on my M3. I'm afraid the M6 .85 has spoiled me a little. Since I still have the M3, and rarely combine the Noctilux with any other lens, I should go back and enjoy the pair more often.

-- Ken Shipman (kennyshipman@aol.com), June 02, 2001.