Here's another question:

Where does one find a replacement bottom plate for an M6, and how much should it cost?

I need a Black one, the one I have lets the pressure plate door rattle a little instead of having that snug fit I've seen on every other M6 I've inspected.

-- Tom Nutter (tmnphotos@erols.com), January 25, 2002

Answers

You can find black M4 (expensive/rare), M4-P less exp./rare on ebay for around $200. I've never seen M6 specific ones.

Perhaps your plate is bent. Some local Leica repairers will check and fix minor problems for free on a walk-in basis. Look in the yellow pages.

-- chris chen (chrischen@msn.com), January 25, 2002.

Hi Tom. I've seen a lot of used M6's with this rear door situation. It doesn't affect anything and you should still be okay to make pictures without worrying about film planes and all that. However, if it bothers you, baseplates can be found from time to time. They are matched at the factory with a camera, though, so it's best to test the fit rather than buy sight unseen. Hope this helps...

-- Carlin (carlinm@abac.com), January 25, 2002.

Try tapping with a hammer along the back edge of the bottom plate, that might sort it out.

-- rob (rob@robertappleby.com), January 25, 2002.

Actually I have a bottom plate where the latch drops down all the time, annoying. Can anyone suggest a quick fix (I mean, like a five minute fix)? It's not usually a problem because I tend to use rapidwinders, but I'd like to have the option.

-- rob (rob@robertappleby.com), January 25, 2002.

Rob,

Try a small bit of rubber cement; like the stuff for shoe soles. It will provide the resistance you're looking for. Don't use super glue. While it will work for a while, it will chip off.

-- chris chen (chrischen@msn.com), January 25, 2002.

Thanks Chris, I'll give it a go.

-- rob (rob@robertappleby.com), January 25, 2002.

Leica sells them and would cheerfully give you a price as well. Contact your country's distributor. This place has several for sale:

http://www.lpp.org.ukhttp://www.vintagevisuals.com/

The prices are in $CAN and $200CAN is about $125US. The exchange rate makes these ones a very good deal for anyone with $US. I cannot see how changing the baseplate will improve things unless yours has some obvious damage. It seems more likely that your camera's back has been bent somehow. Perhaps someone pushed it the wrong way when it was flipped open?

For a baseplate latch that flips down too easily (this is an easy repair):

- remove the screw securing the locking cam

- pull apart the mechanism noting how everything is assembled

- gently push out the pin retaining flip down handle (easy to do with a open paper clip)

- very very gently squeeze the handle very very slightly in a vise to tighten things up.

- it is the handle's snug fit to the hub that makes the handle stay in place so adjust until it is snug again

- assemble

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), January 25, 2002.

I do not know why everything is purple but the link works and you can read the text so....

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), January 25, 2002.

Thanks John, fixed it. Brilliant, many thanks.

-- rob (rob@robertappleby.com), January 25, 2002.

You know, I actually think it is an M4 plate, because the latch is the cup-shaped variety rather than one of those flattish ones. This is an M6 I just got--I think a 1988 Model, so maybe it's not the original plate, Huh?

I think I'll try that hammer tapping trick, then send it out for a CLA because the shutter speeds are a little funny too.

Thanks.

-- Thomas M. Nutter (tmnphotos@erols.com), January 25, 2002.