Gas: M6 ttl?

brianbek · 11-30-2007

Hi all

I am tempted by the following two ebay offerings:

Chrome M6 TTL and this Black M6 TTL.

Do any of you know "Toms Camera Laden" - the response on them seems ok, but this can be faked!!! Any experince?

The price is not the most cheap but not the most expensive either, as far as I can determine.

I currently have an M5, which gets used often, but it feels clunky to me and I made the mistake once to hold an M6 at a photoshop - it felt more right in my hand :-)

I am leaning most towards the silver one - the black have bubbles on top and at that price I am not sure I can live with that :-)

Are there any pitfalls I should be aware of buying an M6 TTL?

Thanks for any comments
Brian

kipkeston · 11-30-2007

Well, I was thinking of getting one off him. I called him but got his wife. I talked to him through email. He was nice, wouldn't take paypal unless I bought the M6 and the cron asph. I didn't end up getting anything from him however.

mr_phillip · 11-30-2007

Don't know anything about the seller, but of the two I take the chrome (of course, I own a chrome M6 so maybe I would say that). Seriously though, the oxidization on the black one's top plate would put me off. I understand that, if pushed, Leica will still replace those top plate free – but only as part of a full service that cost 500EUR last time I looked (that's a very liberal interpretation of the word 'free' in my book).

I guess you're already aware that the M6TTLs have shutter speed dials which run backwards compared to your M5 (and every other M camera except the M7)? Personally that's always ruled the TTL out for me (I'm too used to changing speeds while looking through the finder, so it'd really throw me), but many folks don't seem to mind.

philhirn · 11-30-2007

well for that price you could just as well buy in an established leica store like leicabeimeister.de.

nobbylon · 11-30-2007

Imho I would stay clear of the black one because of the bubbling top plate, I would personally never be happy with it. Worn through black, yes, bubbling black, no. There are plenty around to choose from and this sounds a bit expensive.

palec · 11-30-2007

I have positive experience with Toms Camera Laden.

Lance · 11-30-2007

I don't have experience with TCL, but I can say that the same listing for the black M6TTL was on ebay when I bought mine about two months ago. He should be ready for some negotiation on that one.
My opinion, other than that, is that his prices are a bit high compared to other DE based sellers.

nobbylon · 11-30-2007

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-...rosion-m6.html

you may find this interesting if you haven't seen it before

DxPhoto · 11-30-2007

Have you seen mine? It is black and it is CLA'd

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/phot...t=7929&cat=500

pesphoto · 11-30-2007

If I could afford it I wouldnt buy one of these off ebay. Dont trust it unless i really know the seller.

brianbek · 12-02-2007

Thanks for all the replies. I think that for now I will keep looking and not exclude the stores. They might be a bit more expensive, but you get to see the camera that you buy.

/Brian

Roger Hicks · 12-02-2007

Ask yourself a hard question.

Is an M6ttl the camera you really want, or is it the the one you think you can afford?

A lot of people buy what they 'can afford', i.e. buy without having to worry too much, and don't get the camera they want. Then, because they've bought what they 'can afford', they've a lot less money for what they really want, when it comes along...

I've generally found it better to strain a bit harder, and get what I really want.

That way I don't feel a need to 'upgrade' it, leaving me with more money in the long run.

Cheers,

R.

Pablito · 12-02-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr_phillip

I guess you're already aware that the M6TTLs have shutter speed dials which run backwards compared to your M5 (and every other M camera except the M7)? Personally that's always ruled the TTL out for me (I'm too used to changing speeds while looking through the finder, so it'd really throw me), but many folks don't seem to mind.

Indeed, and for me this issue is critical - puts the TTL near the bottom of the list whereas the m6 "classic" is near the top of my list (own two of them). Also be aware the TTL is a little bigger (taller) than the classic and that the light meter works in a slightly different way. And that the shutter speed dial, in addition to turning the other way, is a lot bigger. A matter of taste, yes.

Photon42 · 12-02-2007

Well put, Roger.

As to Tom's camera shop, he looks OK for me. I've a transaction pending with him presently. The contact has been very prompt and friendly. Can tell you more in a week

Cheers
Ivo

peter_n · 12-02-2007

There's nothing wrong with the M6TTL as a camera. It was my first rangefinder too and I still have it. I upgraded to M7 and don't use it that much any more but that goes for a couple of others too, I need to pare down. The shutter speed dial rotation doesn't bother me as much as I thought, I use a CV R4 and that shutter dial rotates in the opposite direction to the M6TTL/M7 and it isn't a problem for me (maybe it's my years of Nikon SLR use

). If you like the M6TTL I would encourage you to get it - it's a wonderful camera!

sepiareverb · 12-02-2007

I shoot both M5, M7 and till recently an M6 classic- the direction of rotation never really was a problem. I very rarely spin the dial the wrong way, but hardly ever.

brianbek · 12-02-2007

I have thought long and hard about what it is that I want. And I came down to the following: an M6 og MP.
It is a requirement that it can function without a battery - this rules out the M7.
It is a requirement that it contains a lightmeter. I am trying to improve my measurement by the eye, but I still like to have a spot meter available for the small correction.
And lastly it have to have the "standard" Leica form factor. As I stated in my first post the original size feels more right to me. The M5 is a bit clumsy, in the size that is. Other than that it produces excellent pictures and the light meter is fine.

Whether or not it is an M6 or an M6ttl does not matter so much. It will be the condition of the camera that counts.

Ofcourse an MP would be nice but I am not sure that the amount of more money I would have to pay for it would be well spent. Actually I think they would be more appreciated if they bought me a 35mm to go with my 50mm :-) But now I am getting ahead og myself...

/Brian

LeicaTom · 12-02-2007

hummm all this talk about bad camera tops has me puzzled......I have a 1987 model, traded in Germany in 1994 and it`s as fresh and nice as the day it was made, the black chrome has`nt ever given me a bad time

Tom

peter_n · 12-02-2007

Brian if you don't want to get an electronic camera then I would recommend the MP. I'm always looking to buy the latest bodies because I figure that they will give me less trouble than older gear, so if I could afford it I'd go for an MP over an M6 or an M6TTL. An MP isn't as expensive as you might think, a 0.72x MP went for $1800+ on eBay a couple of nights ago...

sepiareverb · 12-02-2007

There have sure been a lot more MP's on ebay these last few weeks eh? Good deals to be had.

Pablito · 12-02-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianbek

it have to have the "standard" Leica form factor. /Brian

then you want the M6, not the M6TTL

jbf · 12-02-2007

Wait, you mean the speed dial rotation change bothers people? Does it really matter? Its not like its going to hurt the camera if you rotate it in the wrong direction. I never understood this argument.

peter_n · 12-02-2007

It matters if you miss the shot. I lost a number of shots over it when I got my first Leica. 20+ years of Nikon ownership meant an ingrained habit so I would turn it the wrong way and screw up the shot.

Then I started doubting myself and unnecessarily checking. Not the end of the world but still it can be annoying.

Photon42 · 12-30-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Photon42

Well put, Roger.

As to Tom's camera shop, he looks OK for me. I've a transaction pending with him presently. The contact has been very prompt and friendly. Can tell you more in a week

Cheers
Ivo

... still owing the final comment, I suppose. From my recent transaction with Tom, I can say he is bearing his 100% satisfaction rate with full right. Extraordinary quick response on email requests, perfect item description.

Regards
Ivo