I assume the protective clear plastic on the bottom of my brand new M6TTL is meant to be removed eventually. A fingernail under the edge met with no easy peeling off of the plastic.

I'm tempted to leave it for now - I assume that the adhesive won't ruin the black chrome finish and that any adhesive will come off eventually when the plastic deteriorates.

Any helpful comments?

-- Thomas Herbert (therbert@miami.edu), December 02, 2001

Answers

You're likely to hear a variety of opinions expressed on this one! The plastic ostencibly protects the bottom plate -- the most easily scratched and scuffed place on the camera -- from said scratches and scuffs. Many believe that the re-sale of used Leica M's with the plastic still on the bottom brings higher prices, because it is less likely to be scratched. And in truth, this seems to be borne out in actuality. Personally, I pull it off because I use my gear and am likely to scuff it up in locations other than the base plate. This way I figure at least the wear on my body(s) will be more uniform all over.

It's kind of like those guys that put bras on their Porches a few years back to protect the front from bugs and grit-dings. The only problem was, they parked their cars in the sun while at work. A year later, they remove the bra only to find that the paint on the rest of the car has faded slightly, yet the front of the car that was under the bra looks like new. Now they have a Porche that the paint doesn't match on. Seen any bras on Porches lately? I rest my case ;-)

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), December 02, 2001.

I looked at that plastic on my then new 1988 M6 classic, thought for a minute, left it in place until it feel off on its own.

It is still there, and the bottom of my camera looks great, (the rest is marred and scratched up from use). I'll give that plastic about a dozen more years to fall off... and if it doesn't, I'll wait some more. In the mean time I plan to add some more wear and tear to the rest of the camera.

Future EBAY listing: "Flawless bottom plate from Leica M6 for sale."

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), December 02, 2001.

I kind of like the looks of the plastic. It has some classy markings on it. I left mine on my classic.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), December 02, 2001.

It doesn't feel like its meant to come off so I've left mine on.

I'm taking special care of it so that in 10 years or so I can sell the almost unprocurable " pristine plastic M6 bottom" to Jack.

-- Tim Gee (twg@optushome.com.au), December 02, 2001.

I took it off my M6TTL the day I took it out of the box. And, I peeled the "CE" sticker off too. They both seemed impure to me. If you plan to maximize resale, put it in a never-ready case, or go the used route and try to buy low and sell high.

-- Dan Brown (brpatent@swbell.net), December 02, 2001.

Did I say sell it to Jack? I meant to say Al.

I was distracted by wife saying "lunch is on the table"

Now the tea is getting cold. Life's hard.

-- Tim gee (twg@optushome.com.au), December 02, 2001.

Geeze... Now I'm the one getting picked on :)

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), December 03, 2001.

donŽt mind jack, weŽve always enjoy nude places...

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), December 03, 2001.

Hmmm, my plate's still on. I guess it's like my own fingernail or hair. When the time has come, they fall off. So I'm gonna leave 'em where they are.

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), December 03, 2001.

just took mine off after reading this thread. ahhh... beautiful purity...how could i have kept it on? no chaep plastic should spoil my baby. freedom for baseplates! let them breathe!

-- stefan randlkofer (geesbert@yahoo.com), December 03, 2001.

I decided to keep mine as protection until it fell off on its own. It did. When I dropped my M6TTL. Some protection.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), December 03, 2001.

Dan: Good idea! The "ce" stickers are coming off tonight!

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), December 03, 2001.

When I gave my son Daniel his first camera he put Pokemon stickers all over, IŽll ask him what he thinks about this, he is my best advisor. ;)

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), December 03, 2001.

Took the plastic off two days after I bought the M. Started to mess with it like a scab, then just had to peel it entirely off. Sigh... sure do miss the plastic stickers on the bottom of my $2000 camera body...

-- Eric Reid (eric_reid@lkshore.com), December 03, 2001.