I am a eyeglass wearer with a "classic" M6, and like many in my position am considering going to a 0.58 model. The lenses I use are 35 mm and 50 mm, not so much based on extensive experience, but because these are the only two lenses I own. My question is this (and maybe it cannot be answered): Which framelines on a classic M6 correspond to which framelines on a 0.58? What I mean by this, for example, is whether the 50 mm framelines on the older camera (i.e., there position in the viewfinder) would be approximately the position of the 35 mm framelines on the 0.58, ect.? Can anyone help?

P.S. There are no Leica dealers where I live.

-- Stephen York (S.G.York@worldnet.att.net), October 25, 2001

Answers

Assuming your classic has the standard .72 finder: The 35mm frameline on the .58 body falls about half-way between the 35 and 50 lines on your classic, and the view it is interposed over is broader in the .58... Click here for a visual representation of the different finders.

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), October 25, 2001.

Hi Stephen,

I can't answer your question directly as I do not own a Classic M6. However, I recently bought the 0.58x M6 because I wear eyeglasses; trifocals to be specific.

I have no trouble seeing the 28, 35, 50, 75, or 90mm framelines in the 0.58x viewfinder.

Hope this helps.

-Nick

-- Nicholas Wybolt (nwybolt@earthlink.net), October 26, 2001.

The only exact correlation is that the 28mm frame lines on the 0.58 are exactly the same as the 35mm frame lines on the 0.72. The 35mm frame lines on the 0.58 are really nice to use for eyeglasses wearers (like me) and are especially nice because there is no 135mm frameline in view, so the 35mm frame lines are not at all cluttered. I think the 0.72 is a better solution for the 50mm, but there is not probelm using the 50mm frame lines on the 0.58. I have been thinking about trying the 1.25x finder magnifier for th0.58/50mm combination.

-- Dan Brown (brpatent@swbell.net), October 26, 2001.

As an glasses wearer, I found the 0.58/0.72 difference to be less than I thought it would be. I find that I can see the 35mm frame on an M6 with my glasses fine, but only just. The 28mm requires moving the eye. On the 0.58 I still could not see the 28mm frame without moving my eye, but it was better. I think in the end I personally would choose the 0.72 as this gives you all the lens options. For a second body I would go for a 0.58. But a lot depends on your own glasses and how close they are to your eyes.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), October 26, 2001.

I recently got an M-6 0.58 (on Tom Abrahamsson's recommendation) and love it. It is easier on the eyes even if you are not an eyeglass wearer--particularly if you have a proclivity for 35 and 28 mm lenses. Importantly, the finder is very bright and this aids focusing tremendously. I have no problems with my Summilux 50/1.4 and old Nikkor 85/2 (an interesting story in itself). I've also used my 135/ 2.8 google-eyes on it with no problems. The finder is a lot better than the Hexar RF's 0.60 finder. I really love the 35mm frame lines which is not cluttered with the 135 mm frame lines. A bit like the M-2. This M-6 comes highly recommended from little old me.

I considered getting it for quite a while, held off, and in the end got the "Japan" special edition with "Leica" painted on the top. It was my first new out of the box Leica. Yesterday, for my upcoming birthday, I got the motor winder. I heard dire warnings that this winder is awful but I have so far loved it--after one day of shooting. The new M-6TTL and the motor winder seem like a nice combo. Let you know more in 6 months or so. And I am still wild about the Abrahamsson Rapidwinder. As I am about my 0.78 M's and my M-3's.

-- Alex Shishin (shishin@pp.iij4u.or.jp), October 29, 2001.