Re: [Leica] M6 Shutter accuracy?

[Walter S Delesandri <walt@jove.acs.unt.edu>]

Ted, Ted,
I've corresponded with Wayne....now >IF< his measurements were 
correct, (his methodology seems reasonable, if a bit unorthodox)
It's DAMN sure a photographic problem....shoot a Velvia slide 
with even subjects tones at f8 -- then shoot one 
at two thirds a stop over....there's a bunch of difference...
YES it's going to affect his photographic result, in some cases, 
at those speeds....fortunately, a minor tweak of the (probably) 
second curtain travel time (a 'non-invasive' adjustment, BTW)
will fix it....
It's my unscientific observation based on this group, my own 
post-1975 leicas, and friends' cameras that a LARGE number of them 
leave the factory ill-adjusted, and no, I don't find this acceptable 
in a $2000 camera purchase....yes, they're easily 'fixed', yes, 
they're great cameras for years afterwards, but for $2000 I expect 
a salesman in a suit, coffee, possibly a cigar (I don't smoke 
cigars), and a degree of ass-kissing like one gets with a 
$50,000 car.  I.E., they should come to my damn house and 
PICK UP the camera, with a loaner in hand.  

I don't expect this on an EOS or a Toyota, but the high end audio 
companies, car companies, etc, understand this necessity to 
uphold their inflated market.....I just hope that my leicas
will be "supported" by Leica's successor.....unfortunately, I'll 
probably to live to see it, based on their current QC.

If I can adjust the speeds with my 40 year old worn-out Bowens 
machine, and the RFDR with a radio tower in the distance, to 
tolerances FAR tighter than Leica, on camera after camera, 
how in the hell can anyone continue to defend them?.....Hell yes, 
the cameras "take pictures" just fine.....the RFDR is "close enough"
at commonly used apertures, and "most" of the scenes we shoot 
won't show devastating effects from 2/3 stop shutter "wedging"....
but why not use a beater HI-MATIC?....you won't see the "difference"
anyway.

Now I know that most of the list and non-list leica owners are 
affluent brats who fondle their cameras in leather arm chairs 
in their den, then dust them and put them back in the safe.  I 
know that they nitpick every body and lens with a goddamn loupe, 
looking for "flaws"....I've dealt with them for years (thank 
GOD that's in the past)....but don't these people DESERVE the 
best for their dollar? even if it'd be better spent on PROZAC?
Or charity?.....it's THEIR $2000++.....THEY thought they were 
buying the best....if not for the 'right' reasons....

When MOST of the Pentax K1000s put MOST of the Ms to shame 
out of the box, with regards to finish assembly and speeds,
perhaps these anal-retentives have a point.....and if 
they're not happy, and don't buy and trade Leica constantly,
where am I going to get my next mint/misadjusted/but fingerprint-
free M6? :) :) :) :)

Best as always,
time for my pill,
Walt

On
Sat,
17
Apr 1999, Ted Grant wrote:

> Wayne wrote:
> 
> <<<<>Hi, I'm very new to this group. I hope this is an appropriate question
> >for this list? I recently bought a new M6, today actually. I was
> >checking the shutter speed at 1/1000 and found starting speed was
> >around 1100uSec and the ending speed was around 700uSec. That means
> >there is about 2/3's of a stop difference across the film.>>>>>
> 
> Wayne mon ami,  (just in case,  my friend,)
> 
> But how were the pictures you took?  I don't see anything here about how
> pleased or not with the quality of the lens or the feel of the camera.:)
> Did you really buy this M6 to take pictures or play techie stuff with and
> totally unnerve the LUG with the posted timing question?
> 
> Quite frankly don't waste your time with this tiddly winks technical stuff
> that really dosn't have any relevance to wonderful Leica pictures. However,
> if you are into the dinky toy stuff of numbers, I imagine you could be onto
> an amazing new complaint situation leading hundreds of Leica camera owners
> rushing to  having their cameras tested for equal timing opportunity. :)
> 
> Which of course I don't believe HCB or Capa or the other greats ever
> thought of nor considered in their every day picture taking. How about you?
> 
> Given the politically correct life style of the day, I must add that, "just
> maybe you have discovered why many of us Leica users have been cheated of
> greatness because the Leica shutter curtain didn't travel in a manner not
> quite correct inrelation to the highly technical manner in which you
> tested! :)
> 
> Damn I'm really going to quite! :)
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Ted Grant
> This is Our Work. The Legacy of Sir William Osler.
> http://www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant
> 
>