Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/03/09

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Subject: [Leica] M6 reliability
From: Marc James Small <msmall@roanoke.infi.net>
Date: Mon, 09 Mar 1998 18:24:59 -0500

At 03:01 PM 3/9/98 -0500, Emmanuel Temp Lowi wrote:
>
>M6 rangefinders are absolutely NOT IDENTICAL with M4 units. In fact, half
>way through M4-2 production Leitz eliminated a crucial condenser lens from
>the finder unit, which gave a very contrasty rangefinder patch and
>frameline view from various angles, without requiring you to carefully
>centre your eye. This is an unbelievable weakening of the rangefinder unit.
>There are many other examples of this change in philosophy but this - in my
>opinion - is the most critical.
>You can believe what you like. The truth is not arguable - IT SIMPLY IS.

There are two separate issues here, Mr Lowi.

First, has Leica "cheapened" the M6 camera construction in a manner which
reduces the reliability.  To this, I believe the answer is 'no', and it was
your earlier posting to this effect to which I was replying.

Second, you now raise some issue about the rangefinder.  I can see no
difference between M4 and M6 rangefinders, but maybe that's me.  I am not
going to take the cameras apart to compare them.  The illustrations used by
Leitz to illustrate the M4 rangefinder seem to this benighted soul to be
identical to those used by Leica to illustrate the M6 rangefinder.

Marc


msmall@roanoke.infi.net  FAX:  +540/343-7315
Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir!