Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/05/21

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Subject: [Leica] Re: M6HM vs M6J , the complete (?) story !
From: Lucien <lucien@ubi.edu>
Date: Thu, 21 May 1998 13:25:36 +0100

Andrew Jordan wrote:

>Lucien:
>Would you please describe the similarities and 
>differences between the M6J and M6HM.

Andrew,

From an user point of view: 

objective:
no 75mm frame in M6J

subjective: M6J =
M3 feeling in use, and with Tom Abrahamsson's Rapidwinder,
it is almost like a chrome Leica MP.
;-)

For the rest: (long)

				M6J			M6HM			M6


Viewfinder
magnification	0,85		0,85			0,72

Effective
mesurement base	58,5		59,1			49,9

Reflected 
brightline 
frames			35,135		35,135			28,90
pairs			50			50,75			35,135
				90			90				50,75

Top plate		Brass		Zinc alloy		Zinc alloy 
Style			(M3)		(M4)			(Titanium = brass)
Finish			Silver 		Black			Black, Silver, Titanium

Front
engraving		none		Leica M6		Leica M6
							0,85

Viewfinder
silvered bottom	no			yes				"
(mirror)

Red Dot			no			yes				yes
				Silver
				screw

Top engraving	Leica-		none			"
				script
				40 jahre
				Leica M
				1954-1994
				M6J 19XX-XX	

Number engraved
on flash shoe	no			yes				"

Rapid lever
and control
levers style	M3			M6				"

small access
cap under
rapid lever		screw		plastic stopper	"

Speed dial
style			M3 like		M6				"

Body cover		leather		plastic			"

Bottom
engraving		open-auf	none			"
				close-zu	
				(M3-M2)

Lens release
catch			M3 like		M6				"				
				screw		red dot			"
&
protection
collar			chrome		black			"
				deeper		flush			"

Weight			570(?)gr	560 gr

Price with
50/2,8			8,000$		2,990$			2,885$

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Elmar 50/2,8	OLD 		M6J			NEW				
				1957-74		1994		1995(?)

Style						Old Elmar	Modern	
							like

Engraving style	old			new			new

Finish			Silver		Silver		Black or Silver

Focusing		Tab 		Tab			Ring
				+ spring	only

Non rotating
focusing mount	no			yes			yes

weight 
Silver			220 gr		200 gr.		245 gr
Black			no			no			170 gr


Voila !

My totally irrational conclusion:

I love it, IMHO it's the best Leica M ever made.
At the end of the year, it's the camera I use
the more often.
My desert island camera.

But now, there is the LHSA M6 black(?)paint !
(I start saving yesterday)
:-)

Lucien