Contrary to the point and shooters reviews in this column, the M6 is lightweight. It is high quality in construction, and a product of 80 years of design for hard use. Leica lenses are superb. Some find the camera hard to load - if they used it more, they will find it quite fast and easy.

Price? Get over it. Service? You will likely never need it. Weight? BS.

As a working professional I find the Leica M6 with a 35mm Summicron a valuable adjunct to my tool kit. I have used at one time or another about all sizes and makes of cameras, and good quality examples fill their appropriate niches. The M6 is a lightweight, high-quality and reliable camera, built for unobtrusive work. It is ideal for candids, and to carry while traveling for those shots often missed by photographers toting their weighty slr kits. While I do not in general use my M6 for nature work (where I most often use a 645 Contax or an Ebony 23s for top quality and movements), it is quite useful for the quick shot. And that's where it shines -- as a beautifully crafted and useful tool for convenience in "grabbing" the moment. I suggest that those who carp about the M6 shouldn't have one because I detect from their reviews that they are largely inexperienced in the craft and science of photography, and have been spoiled by bells and whistles offered on cameras for the past 15 years or so. They likely will never have an intuitive feel for exposure and depth of field, because they have never studied it and worked with 1000s of frames of hard-earned results needed to learn the craft. Jason's review on the M6 is totally unrealistic and unfair. If he is the professional he claims to be, he should know that a camera is a merely a tool. No single camera can fulfill every role. Choose the right tool for the job and move on. If you find the Leica doesn't suit your shooting style, that's your problem. Yes, the M6 is expensive, but so are a number of other tools in the trade. Yes, the Leica takes a little getting used to (for those inexperienced with mechanical cameras of yore). But you get what you pay for, and practice makes perfect for those who have the patience to give it a chance. As far as the Leica collectors who fondle their gear but rarely use it - I am happy they are out there, ensuring that Leica will still produce their products (in limited runs to handmade quality that makes them expensive), and that it will be available for a more reasonable price for true users on the used market.

Customer Service

NO NEED EVEN WITH HARD USE.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F, F2, F3. Contax RTSIII. Contax G2 (history). Rolleiflex TLR. Hasselblad (now there's a clunker, though beautifully made). Contax and Pentax 645. View cameras - 4x5 and 6x9.

Focusing accuracy, durability, ergonomics, forces one to "think" before pressing the shutter. Basic photography with a body and lenses that will last and last.

Slow to operate IF comparing against AF SLR..apples to oranges..you can't. The high investment cost cannot be considered a weakness. Look at 'blads, Rolleis. Ouch.

First I have to say that I use, EOS 3, 1N RS, RT, ELAN II, Nikon FE for 35 mm and Pentax 67 for 120. I purchased my M6 TTL 0.58 based on Leica's reputation for quality of both body and lenses. As a purely mechanical camera, you do everything. I found that focusing took a little while to get use to but having had an old Canon Coronet II I was used to the rangefinder split image. Film loading took a few rolls but that was all, now can do it quickly, indoors or out. I have found the in-camera meter very acturate under most circumstances ( as with all in-camera meters. I carry my Gossen Digital for those difficult shots, metering incident light. I do the same with all my other cameras. Getting use to adjusting aperature and shutter took a while, it isn't fast, but then it wasn't designed to be. It is about as fast as my Pentax 67s. Yet surprisingly I find myself "missing" very few shots of non-static subjects. I am not comparing the M to my other 35 mms, the closest would be my old Nikon FE and it is still an SLR. I enjoy walking around with it hanging around my neck and shooting without a lot of fuss, either me or the subject(s) candid. I put my EO S 1N RS, or 3 with my 70-200 f2.8L and I draw plenty of looks. I bought the M to use for the puposes it was designed for, not to compete with AF SLRs, certainly not my Pentax 67s. Each has its own place and use. But when the situation requires it, I much prefer my M or Pentax 67s. I enjoy putting my eye to th VF and seeing not only what's in the frame but outside. I enjoy the click of the shutter and the tactil feeling compared to the Canons. I enjoy my M so much that I just ordered a second (used) M this time with the 0.85 magnification.

Customer Service

Not yet.

Similar Products Used:

Already listed.

Build quality Lens quality Compact

-Intrusion of larger lenses into viewfinder -Knowledge that just owning one makes me a target for inverted snobbery and ridicule from a vocal minority. -Price- well- two to three grand for a plastic soon-to-be-obsolete digital body with a fraction of the image quality make a good used M6 an absolute bargain IMHO.

I did not buy this camera under the 'spell' of the so called Leica mystique, I did not buy it because I wanted some 'male jewellery'(99% of people have no clue what it is and neither, incidentally, do they care-I got far more attention using an old Nikon F4). I bought it because it's small, compact, simple, and produces demonstrably better results, on both print and chrome, than any of my prime Nikkors, or the Contax G that I recently sold. My family have no interest in photography, and the difference is obvious to all of them on ISO 100 print film. I don't find the camera 'intuitive' as some claim, but it's easy enough to use-yes, even the film loading (takes a few secs longer than others but I'm not generally being shot at when I change rolls). In summary, last a lifetime build, superb lenses, Costs a lot, but you never need to replace any of it. First rate! By the way Jason, used to have a Mamiya 7 - huge, ghastly clunky thing with plasticky feel-very cumbersome and awkward to use, I never need poster size enlargements so could never really detect a difference in quality with the Leica. So I sold it.

Customer Service

not needed

Similar Products Used:

Contax G2 Mamiya 7

Leicas have great resale value. Although the M6TTL may ttake a hit now that the M7 has arrived.

Huge bucks for 35mm

I guess my previous review ruffled a few feathers, especially Woollie "the expert". Hey Wool, ever hear of the Mamiya 6 or 7 (6X7), how about the Bronica RF 645, neither one not much larger that the 35mm Leica. I guess it's just that I enlarge most of my photos for sales purposes {I'm not a photo journalist or a people photo person, whatever the hell that is). For my professional purposes the medium format blows away anything that 35mm has to offer, regardless of manufacturer. In photography, size does matter, as in size of the negative! Most of my travels for photo ops require that I hump my stuff miles via the hiking method in order to get shots of everything from volcanoes to rain forests to arctic locations etc.. Lightness of equipment is just as important for me as to those of you who shoot those ever so useful 'people pics'.

Metal. Mass. Substance. Mechanical brilliance. Lens performance beyond compare.

Leica M cameras have their weaknesses, but the weaknesses pale in comparison to their strengths.

I've reviewed this camera here before, but now I've had it for nearly a year and can say with confidence that this camera is the finest thing I have ever owned. It is truly exquisite. Get one. Sell your soul if necessary. It will change your life and outlook on photography. It does cost some $$, but it will last forever and you'll want to have it with you every day.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon FM2. Similar?

Just read all the other reviews.

None.

Well, what a balanced and expert real-life user review from Jason. Many thanks for such an insighful user review of a camera that you have obviously never used. Next time I am shooting some street shots and wish to remain inconspicuous, I''ll follow Jason''s advice and whip out my hardly noticeable 6X7 and snap away, or better still get the field camera out. Just in case anyone has been put off the M6 by the previous reviewers total lack of user epxerience, try one and see for yourself. The optical quality and usability of the camera are what make it the superb camera it is. It has it''s purpose, and nothing touches it when used for that purpose, i.e. fast, inconspicuous shooting with superb quality images.

Similar Products Used:

Most rangefinders.

Too much money for 35mm results!!!

If you are going to spend this kind of money, why the hell limit yourself to 35mm. Is there so much money out there that people have lost all sense of reasoning. Leica is very nice. Cute even. But folks, if you are going to spend nearly 2000 bucks on a body and 1500 on a 35 f/2 or 1700 on a 28mm 2.8 or, and I love this, 1800 on a 50 1.4 you are absolutely silly to go with 35 mm. 645 and 6x7 blows the 35mm format away from 5x7 on up!!!!! You want sharp images in 35mm? Try the Pentax 43mm 1.9 FA at $450. on a ZX-5N or PZ-1P. Or a 28-70 2.8 ''L'' Canon on an EOS A2!! How about that 85 1.4 Nikon on an F100!! I can go on and on. Leica is great for those who NEED the "Leica" name hanging around their neck. You want outstanding results at Leica prices, go medium format.

Makes you think. Better composition. More accurate focus then an SLR especially for that close shot wide open. * That 50mm Summicron. Prize it from my cold clammy hands when I kick the bucket. * Construction and weight. If I give it to one of my 7 or 10 year old boys they take great shots with it. This has to be the ideal camera to teach a kid how to shoot!. It sounds crazy I know, but true, and they get such a kick out of it. What the hell, it''s something to be enjoyed too right?

After selling the kids on e bay to raise the cash and complimenting my mother in law on her aftershave, it was still a close call for divorce when I bought one! I''m looking for a possible second wife as I contemplate the price of a new 35mm f2 aspherical....(only kidding dear). * Battery life whe you leave the meter on. Carry a spare anyway.

Changes your pace. Manual focus makes you think. It''s not just about manual versus auto, it''s about aperture and depth of field and the look that the wonderful lenses give you. I have timed shots better with this camera. (He just blinked and therefore I take the shot) type of stuff. You see it all better in this viewfinder and without distraction. I love color, but this camera does so well with films like the Kodak C41 black and white offerings. The color focus of the lenses provides great results with this medium and the transition of skin tones is magical. I have not put color film in this camera for the past year. Nothing comes close for black and white study.

Customer Service

Not used, but I had an important question of the US service department when I was considering extended warranty and they never bothered to call back. I really hate that. Get off your duff and think cu

Similar Products Used:

Minox 35mm GT and ML, Minolta pro cameras, Olympus OM2/4

high quality, optics, very quite, really beautiful, small, very good in low light/low noise environments

shamefully expensive, not enough viewfinder information, off-center tripod mount, no proper on-off switch, rather heavy

ridiculary expensive, perfectly crafted, first class design, very quiet, excellent lenses since i started photography 13 years old, i wanted to have this camera. it took me 17 years. when i finally bought it, i was in shock. i thought this to be my worst mistake ever. when you''re not used to this camera, you think it is heavy, slippery, slow, indirect, unprecise, dull. the first few films were terrible. i am using a lot of manual cameras, even without built-in lightmeters, so manual photgraphy is no problem for me. but in the beginning you tend to cover up all the neccessary windows with your fingers, especially in portrait, you miss the focus quite often, you forget the lens cap, you have to take the eye away from the finder to check speed or aperture and so on. in short: it is not such a pleasure to use it in the beginning. and you always remember, that you just paid 5000 pounds for that! after a while you sart to like it. you learn how to hold it, you become very quick in focussing, you just know which settings you have set, you remember the lenscap, you sart to appreciate the unique qualities that only a rangefinder can give you. you can take pictures handheld with amazingly slow speeds, you focus in low light pretty acurately, you take pictures in places where you wouldn''t have before, as the camera is so quiet. it is not perfect. i still would like to have some viewfinder information, a on-off switch that blocked the shutter would be very helpful, a marking of the metering spot would also help, the black finish is easily scratched (for me not a big problem), a central tripod threat would be good. a word about the film loading: i really enjoy it. i can''t understand how people could have problems with it. how inept can you be? never had a problem from first day on. it makes the camera even more special.

Customer Service

never needed

Similar Products Used:

many different slr, 35 and mf, olympus xa, kodak retina,

Lens quality. It''s d*** quiet.

Focus patch flare out. Film loading.

Sigh..., either you "get it" and buy the M6, or you don''t "get it" and buy something else. Nuff said. Other reviewers have elucidated the camera''s fine points (and faults) much more than I can or will in this review, so suffice to say that I couldn''t appreciate 35 mm photography''s potential until I got this camera. It got me back to the "roots" of photography and composition and I wasn''t alienated or distracted by electronics on my "do all" SLR (F100)I was "unplugged". So, if just getting an M6 can do this for me think what it can do for you. Buy one now and save your soul.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

G1, F 100 T3