[Leica] Re: Lens murder

[Alexey Merz <alexey@webcom.com>]

Mike Johnston rhapsodized:
> I wonder if Leica shooters should have two cameras--
> one minty antique or special edition to coddle and to display, 

Uh, *why*? Displays are for mating season, and I've yet to 
meet a potential mate who would be impressed by a mint M4
with all original packaging. I've met more than a few who
*were* impressed by good photography (though too often,
not by *my* photography).

> and another "user" body to "use up"--which they should then 
> not worry about in the least. 

Collectors, hear this: I am doing my part to make the remaining
3,999 or so M6 0.85's more valuable. Mine is already down to 
an honest EX condition, 14 months after purchase.  There is slight
'zincing' on both top and bottom plates, on the rewind crank, on 
the bottom plate. A few specks of dust have shown up inside the 
finder. There is visible wear on the frame advance lever. The 
plastic on the lever is slightly chewed up (what would Leica 
charge me for THAT part, not that I care...). And "worst" of all, 
there are a few fine SCRATCHES in the black chrome on back of the 
top plate.

Are you breaking out in hives yet, or drooling because I am
making YOUR M6 0.85 even RARER?

Of course, it is functionally flawless, all shutter speeds remain 
+/-5% except 1/1000 which is, as it was on purchase, -20%. A 
little rectangle of electrical tape over the middle of the 
Fresnell window eliminated RF flare entirely with only a slight 
decrease in the frameline brightness. It's not an issue. The 
meter is dead accurate just as it should be. So is the RF (I 
evaluate my Kodachromes at 30X on a Wild/Leica research 
microscope and often shoot at wide apertures). The operating 
controls, notably the shutter release, have become smoother 
with use. 

I expect it will still be functionally flawless in 15, 25 years.

Alexey Merz