Is my rangefinder misaligned?

[Sparrow]

If it looked like this sort of thing there is probably nothing wrong with it ... it's just the parallax difference between the VF's field of view and the RF's and is unaffected by make or model but gets more pronounced with cameras that have a longer RF base length

[jonmanjiro]

Originally Posted by stormbytes

The camera that replaces the M6-TTL (for me, that is) has the adjustment accessible. AFAIK, the TTL model requires you destroy (or remove) a sticker, then adjust using a special (and by special I mean 'expensive') tool.

The M6-TTL was not highly recommended by the Leica tech, unless you shoot a lot of flash, and even then, at 1/50th ? Not very practical.

FYI the sticker that gets destroyed is the "Leica" red dot (both your now returned M6 TTL and your new to you M6 classic have it). The Leica red dot covers a hole used for accessing the adjustment screw and has to come off when making adjustments. As mentioned earlier in this thread, the tool used to make the adjustment is the same for all cameras from M4-P and later.

[jonmanjiro]

Originally Posted by stormbytes

My impression, based on that lengthy conversation with a 30+ year veteran Leica technician (who actually worked for Leitz) is that Leica hasn't actually changed its mechanism. However, with the economics factor in play, the quality of its parts suffered at different times and more so with recent models.

I was told explicitly to look for used models with sn's in the ranges of:

1974xxx to 1978xxx
1991xxx to 1998xxx

The explanation given was that earlier models (aka "first out of the box") had "bugs", and latter models (those produced after Leica's corporate restructuring/sale) were made with some slightly cheaper parts.

I realize this amounts to heresy in the RF/Leica community, and I was equally shocked to hear it, but like any for-profit establishment, Leica *did* in fact cut corners to save a buck.

As for my own foray into Leica/RF, it has been educational. I'm happy to have had the option to return the M6-TTL and to make a more educated purchase the second time around.

Ok this makes a bit more sense than "I was told that the TTL isn't a particularly good design, and that the M6 was better (and cheaper)".

It is well known that Leica curbed costs by changing the materials used for some parts during the course of production of the M6, but that is of course something very different from Leica making a change in the design. Just wanted to clarify

[stormbytes]

Originally Posted by jonmanjiro

Ok this makes a bit more sense than "I was told that the TTL isn't a particularly good design, and that the M6 was better (and cheaper)".

In hindsight, I should have elaborated. I was reffering to the added electronics and the fact that the shutter speed dial turns the 'wrong' way. I'll leave out the fact that most would find 1/50s flah-sync essentially useless.