Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/03/02

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Newbie needs help with chronology
From: Nathan Wajsman <nathan.wajsman@euronet.be>
Date: Wed, 03 Mar 1999 00:28:16 +0100

Stephen,

The M5 was produced from 1971 to 1975. It was followed by the M4-2 (1978-80)
and the M4-P (1981-87). The M4-2 was a variation on the M4, while the M4-P had
a major upgrade to the viewfinder, having 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 75mm, 90mm and
135mm framelines. The M6 was introduced in 1984 and is basically an M4-P with a
built-in meter. In 1997 (I think), the M6HM (high magnification) was
introduced, with a larger effective magnification than the standard M6 (0.85
vs. 0.72) for better focusing with longer lenses. The M6HM does not have the
28mm framelines.

Both the M6 and M6HM have now been replaced (in 1998) by the M6 TTL and M6HM
TTL models. The only differences are: (1) larger shutter dial which turns in
the opposite direction of the non-TTL models; (2) TTL flash metering; (3) an
enhanced meter display in the viewfinder.

For the full product line, see Leica's web site,  http://www.leica-camera.com .

Nathan

Stephen Paddock wrote:

> Coming back, I'm kind of lost on the chronology.  Just as I was leaving,
> the M5 came out, with an ugly probe for ttl metering which made using the
> collapsible Elmar impossible.  Seems in memory it was just a ttl upgrade to
> the M4.  Now in listening to you for a few days, there is a lot of
> discussion about the M6 and the new M6TTL.  Two questions: what happened to
> the M5, and what's the difference between the models of M6?  Why not an M7?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Stephen
> spaddock@dmci.net



- --
Nathan Wajsman
Overijse, Belgium

Photography page:  http://members.tripod.com/~belgiangator/index.html
Motorcycle page:  http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/downs/1704/index.html