M6 vs M3

[Godfrey]

Had an M3, wasn't crazy about the loading and viewfinder.

Don't know why you'd do all the trading, etc., rather than just waiting until you had the money saved to just buy the lens you want.

BTW, several of the Voigtländer lenses are just as nice as their same focal lengths from Leica, and Zeiss for that matter, just different in style and rendering. At the level of quality for all three makes, it's more a matter of what you like best rather than better or worse.

[loquax ludens]

I couldn't vote. I have an M3 and an M6 classic, and I like them both. I haven't had the M6 for very long, so I really can't say yet which I prefer.

[R.MacDonald]

My first M was an M3. I loved it and still do. That being said, I wear glasses and the frame lines for a 50mm lens can be a pain...I voted M6 for the built in meter, and frame lines.

[ChipShorter]

It really depends on what you value in a body.. Different people will value things more than other people. For me personally..

I recently got me an M6 classic after owning an M3 for a while. The big M3 viewfinder was nice, but in my personal opinion the M6 is an upgrade.
The viewfinder allows realistic use of lenses from 28 (21 if you guesstimate) to 90 (135). I personally don't mind the clutter of multiple framelines. (I also don't wear glasses.. that may have a bearing on this part of my evaluation)
The meter is great and saves me pocket space.
The build feels real solid to me.
And the film loading.
The film loading is a revelation.
For me, that alone is worth the cost of admission.

[kshapero]

Originally Posted by jgran

The M6 .85 and M3 are not optimal for 35mm lenses. If you plan on using that focal length, you'll want to trade the M6 .85 for the M3.
But hold off, buy the lens and get the M3 later. Because more gear is always better.

I use my 35mm lens on my M3 all the time. I just ignore the 50mm framelines and use the whole frame. No problem.

[Vics]

[quote=brokencivilian;1907769]With the money from the trade I was hoping to get a low end voigtlander lens so I have no need to worry about dings and such. quote]
I abstained too, because you seem to think the lens doesn't play much of a role in photography, and you're wrong. As for gear, it's ALL about the glass. Sell one body and use all the money to buy the finest lens that your money will buy.

[kshapero]

Originally Posted by R.MacDonald

My first M was an M3. I loved it and still do. That being said, I wear glasses and the frame lines for a 50mm lens can be a pain...I voted M6 for the built in meter, and frame lines.

What?? the 50mm frameline is easy as pie to use (i wear trifocal glasses). Heck I even use a 35mm lens as well.

[kshapero]

Originally Posted by ChipShorter

It really depends on what you value in a body.. Different people will value things more than other people. For me personally..

I recently got me an M6 classic after owning an M3 for a while. The big M3 viewfinder was nice, but in my personal opinion the M6 is an upgrade.
The viewfinder allows realistic use of lenses from 28 (21 if you guesstimate) to 90 (135). I personally don't mind the clutter of multiple framelines. (I also don't wear glasses.. that may have a bearing on this part of my evaluation)
The meter is great and saves me pocket space.
The build feels real solid to me.
And the film loading.
The film loading is a revelation.
For me, that alone is worth the cost of admission.

Since I have an iPhone with me all the time (I use an app for metering), the need for a built in (read lots of red lights) meter is not needed. I find the film loading on the 3 and 6 though different from each other no big deal. I use a 21mm lens a lot so having an external VF is a plus. All in all, I am an M3 whore, pure and simple.

[loquax ludens]

Originally Posted by R.MacDonald

... I wear glasses and the frame lines for a 50mm lens can be a pain...I voted M6 for the built in meter, and frame lines.

Originally Posted by kshapero

I use my 35mm lens on my M3 all the time. I just ignore the 50mm framelines and use the whole frame. No problem.

I also wear glasses, and I have no problem with the 50mm frame lines on my M3. I haven't tried a 35mm lens yet.

Perhaps it has to do with eye relief? My glasses are pretty close to my eye, so my eye is not much further away than it would be if I didn't wear glasses. Other people's glasses may put their eye at a greater distance from the viewfinder.

[leicapixie]

Keep the 2 M6.
i own a M3. Yes it was the pinnacle of construction. It has the best feel. It is OLD. The viewfinder can be erased by a bump! The balsa glue is very dry and fragile. i do prefer using my M3 to my M6. Yet the M6 offers metering, easier use of a wide angle.i use the goggles on a35mm Summaron. The goggles as many others who have them, suffer from moving parts in viewfinder! You get to use it anyway. The Rngfdr square not always OK in horizontal.Two images.
Save for another lens. I am sentimentally attached to my M3. You can be more pragmatic.

[bhop73]

Originally Posted by kshapero

I have an M3 and mostly use a meter(my iPhone app). I just don't use a built in meter, which I find distracting.

Originally Posted by kshapero

Since I have an iPhone with me all the time (I use an app for metering), the need for a built in (read lots of red lights) meter is not needed...

I use an external meter with my IIIf. It annoys me because of the extra steps I have to take to read the lighting, and sometimes I still have some frames that are over/under exposed from trying to sunny 16.

Internal meter is just way faster, plus the M6's meter (only two small red arrows, not lots of red lights) is pretty darn accurate once you get used to it. I rarely have a non-useable frame with the M6, as far as lighting goes anyway..

Of course, this is all personal preference. I'm sure if I use my IIIf enough, i'd get used to not having an internal meter and have less wasted frames.

[hendriphile]

Originally Posted by kshapero

I use my 35mm lens on my M3 all the time. I just ignore the 50mm framelines and use the whole frame. No problem.

This is indeed the solution... unless you're cursed with having to wear eyeglasses. Then the use of the goggled 35mm is engendered.

[Erik van Straten]

The M3 is the best of the best.

Erik.

[hendriphile]

Originally Posted by leicapixie

The goggles as many others who have them, suffer from moving parts in viewfinder!

This is news to me. Does the goggled 35mm lens in fact have "more moving parts" in the camera body's viewfinder/rangefinder assembly as compared with the non-goggled counterpart?

[sazerac]

When I decided I wanted to get a Leica, I tried out a friend's M6 and another friend's M3. I liked them both so much that I got an MP with .85 VF. I shoot mostly 50 & 90 and prefer changing lenses than carrying two bodies.

[ghostwriter69]

Originally Posted by kshapero

I use my 35mm lens on my M3 all the time. I just ignore the 50mm framelines and use the whole frame. No problem.

Just curious, how practical is this? Do you use it only for distant or close up shots?

I love my M3 + 50 & 90, but sometimes wish to go a little wider. I've always thought it might be a pain to have to use another viewfinder.

[sc_rufctr]

M3 all the way. The M6 is good but it was built at a price point were
as the M3 was a no compromise design and build.

The only issue I have with the M3 is the lack of 35mm frame lines.

So I bought an M4-P to compliment it.

[kshapero]

Originally Posted by ghostwriter69

Just curious, how practical is this? Do you use it only for distant or close up shots?

I love my M3 + 50 & 90, but sometimes wish to go a little wider. I've always thought it might be a pain to have to use another viewfinder.

Lately I am so in love with my Super Angulon 21/3.4 with VF that I haven't been using the 35mm. But when I did I used it for all kinds of shots.

[NaChase]

I have both and I much prefer the higher magnification of the M3 and its less flare prone rangefinder. I shoot my 35 Biogon on it all the time too, no problem.

[BobYIL]

Originally Posted by leicapixie

Keep the 2 M6.
i own a M3. Yes it was the pinnacle of construction. It has the best feel. It is OLD. The viewfinder can be erased by a bump! The balsa glue is very dry and fragile. i do prefer using my M3 to my M6. Yet the M6 offers metering, easier use of a wide angle.

Still having three M2s, four M3s and two M4s, some being in use since the '60s. Four of these bodies have factory L signs on, i.e. not serviced yet, not needing service. BTW, used to have two M6s, both bought new, one is an .85 classical and the other one a .72 (which I sold in May), they too did not need any service for I was not using them at all (with the latter just four rolls because they flare) also they are not as smooth as an M3, some 30 years of their senior.

The M6 is an excellent camera however for those who can do with a hand meter (or sunny16) the classical Ms when found in good condition could be better and less expensive alternatives.

Just a few cents from an old hand..

[MISH]

Originally Posted by hendriphile

This is news to me. Does the goggled 35mm lens in fact have "more moving parts" in the camera body's viewfinder/rangefinder assembly as compared with the non-goggled counterpart?

putting a goggled lens on a camera does not change anything about how the camera works other than it is set to bring up the 50mm frame lines rather than the 35 (as I have stated in many other posts I love my goggled 35 and I could not be happier than having it on my M4-P)

as for the OP methinks that if you can afford two M6s saving for a voigtlander lens will take no time at all

[d_c]

I'd probably keep the M6 Classic and sell the other one to buy some Leica glass.

[useless generation]

Both, I have a M3 with a 50mm always attached and a M6TTL with a 35mm, a perfect Pair! But if i could only choose one i would probably choose the M6.

[RFluhver]

To me this is a no-brainer. I'd go for the M6 (I have 2!) as that is the newer camera and certainly offers more versatility. I'm not going to get into this discussion about the M3 being better, more classic, blah..blah...Most of that is just a combo of myth and irrationality.

That last being said, I was in Fujiya this lunch and there I saw a black repainted M3 for just 103k yen. Cheap I thought. The paint-job wasn't too shabby either. But I don't really need another M body. (I got a Mamiya 7ii 50mm lens, instead).

[thegman]

If you like 50mm and 90mm focal lengths, the M3 is great. I also feel that the M3 is the better looking and feeling camera, but that's purely personal, you may feel the opposite.

If you shoot a lot, you may find loading a pain compared to the M6, but it's not that bad really.

Have a feel of an M3, if it does not grab you, might not be for you. For me, I liked it the instant I held one, very much my favourite Leica, compared to my previous MP and M6.