Trying to get along with the M6, but I'm failing :(

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pushkin

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Matt
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Hi everyone,

I need some help and advice.

I have for the past few years been a digital shooter. Last summer I picked up an old film camera from a flea market (a Canon AE-1) and I've enjoyed shooting with it these past few months so much that I went and got myself a Leica M6 and a summicron 35mm lens. I'm starting to feel that I perhaps jumped the gun a bit.

I took the Leica out and about last week and I really struggled with it. I'm just not getting a feel for it. I'm finding the focusing way too difficult. I mostly do street photography. The focus patch is too small and it's frustrating me. Compared to the Canon AE-1 which has a nice big, round focus patch. So easy and smooth to use.

Is it just me? I really want this relationship to work, but it's not looking good. Does it take time?

Will a viewfinder magnifier help me perhaps?

I dunno. If anyone can recommend me other similar cameras that I can use a leica lens with, then let me know and I might just sell the M6 body and try something else :-/

many thanks
 
you can use a M4/3 with an adapter if you want to go digital and use your Leica bayonet not or LTM lens

you should not have that much trouble with the M6 ………..stick it at f8 and infinity and wind it back a bit to take the closer shots ………. but IMHO film is just a pain now, particularly the work flow, especially when you can use a M8 …….. the Epson RD1 is good

I never use my M6 these days
 
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Hi Matt,

First of all welcome to the f&c section of the forum, some would even say the best bit. If you want to shoot street with it have you considered shooting it hyper focal distance focussing, it's favored by many rangefinder street shooters. You may find it suits you better than trying to focus for every shot but just concentrating on the framing.
 
ok well from my experience with my old M3 and streety sort of shooting, i rarely focused it by looking through the viewfinder. I always just prefocused it using the range markers on the lens. Theyre there for a reason and they work fine even if you think it doesnt look right through the viewfinder. Im not sure how different in size the viewfinder is between an M6 and M3 but i also found it a little small to try and nail focus on the fly, so if its smaller on yours then you'll have a job of it. But just try prefocussing in the zone youre generally aiming at things and see how you feel with that.
 
Three words

Twin
Lens
Reflex

Now that's what I call a viewfinder.;)

I used to have a Leica, a very early one, and I didn't get on with it. Wonderful bit of engineering and history but not for me.
Welcome to the wonderful world of f & c.(y)

Andy
 
Andysnap said:
Three words

Twin
Lens
Reflex

Now that's what I call a viewfinder.;)

I used to have a Leica, a very early one, and I didn't get on with it. Wonderful bit of engineering and history but not for me.
Welcome to the wonderful world of f & c.(y)

Andy
Click to expand...
You forgot to mention "its hip to be square!"
 
Yeah, but everyone knows that.....
 
Adapting to different viewfinders and different focus mechanisms does indeed take time - but you may just not get on with it at all, despite your best efforts. I think it is important to remember that sometimes despite the reputation of the kit, it may not suit our own style or usage patterns, despite being kit with an almost legendary reputation. That's probably partly why the second hand market for high end 35mm and medium format cameras is so strong, as people chop and change and try cameras as they please.

It's for this reason that I've never picked up an M2 or M3 - I know that, whilst it would be a nice object to own, I would barely shoot with them because I'd just get on better with other cameras.
 
Most people tend to pre focus for street photography as mentioned above. Rangefinders can take a little getting used to coming from an SLR and they work for some and not others.
I personally love them both from an engineering perspective and a tool to shoot with.

I did find the M6 patch to flare quite easily in bright light. More so than the M2/M3. A few others have said this about the M6 as well - whether this is what is effecting your visibility?
I would definitely have a look into zone focussing before getting rid this quickly. They tend to hold there money so I doubt you will lose on it either way.

P.S. Welcome to the F&C bit :)
 
Andysnap said:
Three words

Twin
Lens
Reflex

Now that's what I call a viewfinder.;)

Andy
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly, Andy! Huge viewfinders, extremely quiet, and they ooze charm; they're amazing for street and candid photography, I think.
 
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