Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/08/21
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I would agree with Erwin that there will be no M7 at this year's Photokina. What I have been able to find out through my contacts is that there will be an improved M6 camera which will be called - surprise! - M6. It will have TTL flash metering. It will have additional electronic contacts in the flash shoe. It will probably require some new type of SCA series flash shoe adapter (maybe SCA 351) to allow the TTL flash function. This TTL flash capability more than likely is the result of an improved metering circuit, not a new meter cell. Sync speed should remain 1/50, unfortunately. Theoretically, sync speed could be increased to 1/90 as in the SL/SL2 cameras by increasing the shutter tension. But according to a well-known Leica technician, this would have detrimental results for the M shutter wind mechanism. The only other way to increase sync speed would be to redesign the shutter itself (i.e., vertical bladed shutter), change the shutter curtain material (i.e., titanium as in the early Nikon F series) or make other drastic changes to the classic Leica shutter. All of these alternatives are very unlikely. Current M6 and M6HM production has ceased this summer to allow transition to the new model for its Photokina introduction. The improved M6 will most likely be available in "classic" and HM formats. This is despite the rumor I heard from a major German Leica dealer that the M6HM was being discontinued because only 500 of them had been sold. The new camera should be hard to discern from the current M6, somewhat like the M6HM, to the casual observer. My guess would be only the additional flash shoe contacts will give it away. Disappointing? Maybe, but I think the M6 is almost the perfect (nothing is ever truly perfect, is it?) rangefinder camera and the added feature of TTL flash metering does add to its utility. I would predict that the M7 will appear at the next Photokina in 2000. This should be the electronic, vertically traveling bladed shutter camera with aperature priority AE that has been speculated upon. The M6 should stay in production as well. Most delicious rumor I've heard lately? Konica will introduce just such an "M7" type camera with an M lens mount. Now, won't that be interesting! We'll know all in a few short weeks! Bill Rosauer