Hi there.

I'm toying with the idea of buying a Leica M6. I already use a Mamiya 7 RF with great success, so I know the RF approach works for me. Not knowing much about Leica, I've had a hunt about, and found a couple of ads for new M6s. However, I'm confused. Can someone explain them to me?

The ads are as follows:

M6 TTL Black/Silver (28/90 35/135 50/75) 1,357 M6 0.85 TTL Black/Silver (35/135 50/75 90) 1,357 M6 0.58 TTL Black/Silver (28/90 35 50/75) 1,357

...my question is, what are the figures to the right of the colour options - my initial reaction was, wow, three lenses plus the M6 for 1,357 (UKP) - much cheaper than I thought the M6 would be. Then reality hit and I thought, no, perhaps I'm misunderstanding those figures. If this IS a three lens set, at that price I am mortgaging the cat and getting one!

Can someone confirm what they are. I really hope that they are lenses. If so, are they any good (relative to Leica M6 lenses in general, and perhaps relative to Canon EOS lenses - I also use an EOS system with a 28-70/2.8L and an 85/1.8 USM lens).

Lastly, the 0.85/0.58 bit - I take it that that is the RF viewfinder magnification factor; if so, which would be most likely to suit someone like myself who wears glasses?

Any assistance would be appreciated.

John

-- John Clark (jtc@my-roots.com), July 02, 2001

Answers

Leica M viewfinder options

-- Lucien (lucien_vd@yahoo.fr), July 02, 2001.

The numbers in brackets are the framelines respectively frameline combinations that are visible; the combinations have somewhat historical reasons. Standard magnification has been 0.72x since the late 1950ies (in the M2). The 0.85 version shows no 28mm brightlines and makes the frame for the 35mm lens hard to see for some users who wear glasses; if you used a 135mm on the 0.58, you'd need an accessory viewfinder and might have trouble focussing that lens accurately, but you'll see the 28mm frame with ease despite your glasses.

At £1,357 for a new M6 and three lenses, your dealer would sell Leica's annual production for the world market in one month. Unfortunately reality bites.

-- Oliver Schrinner (piraya@hispavista.com), July 02, 2001.

Leica M6 and three lenses for 1,357 pounds--wow, that's an act of charity by Leica! Unfortunately, as already clarified by the two posters above, the numbers refer not to lenses but the framelines visible in the respective M6 models' viewfinders. Guess the cat's staying.

-- Hoyin Lee (leehoyin@hutchcity.com), July 02, 2001.

Hi John

£1357 is cheap for a new M6 TTL body. I would usually expect to pay around £1400/1500. Second hand M6s can be very good value. Prices are usually around £1000. As for lenses, I can only suggest my own personal favorite: 35mm/2 asph. You can usually find these for about £650 second hand. Contact me if you want suggestions about where to buy in the South-East/London. Do keep an eye open for items in the classifieds in Amateur Photographer and Loot. I have bought well from both of these.

Cheers

Matt

-- Matthew Pulzer (pulzer@dial.pipex.com), July 02, 2001.