Re: [Leica] M4 vs M6

[pelliss@isis.univ-nancy2.fr (Dominique PELLISSIER)]

>Stephen wrote : 
>
>...I urge you to compare a clean M4 to a clean M6 and make up your own mind
>--- don't depend upon anyone else's opinion.
>
>
>Well that's what I'm doing. I have both of them and not in mint conditions. 
>At the finish quality level, the M4 is better. It has beautiful engraving,
>nice chrome finish...great stuff. The M6 doesn't look so proud. At the usage
>level, both of them are equal to the point I feel their mechanics. My M4
>(which has been cla'd) is not particularly smooth (my M2 is better). The
>exposure meter in the M6 is definitely wonderful and that's why I bought it.
>At the overall quality level, they are about the same. I've had and still
>have problems with the M4 : low speed problem (corrected by CLA),
>rangefinder accuracy (corrected by CLA), self timer problems (not corrected
>by CLA), frame problems (only corrected the second time I re-sent the camera
>to Leica France), film rewind very hard (partially corrected by CLA) and
>irregular film advance (not corrected by CLA). By the way, my M4 is not a
>battered one, it looks really fine...
>I just have an second hand M6 for two weeks when I now lost a strap
>protector leaving the little part of the rivet inside the camera...It also
>has a rangefinder accuracy problem...so it will be on its way to CLA...
>My conclusion is : M4 or M6 = same crap...but I love them...
>Thib.
>
>
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I agree with you Thib.Same crap.

Now, with my "old" experience of Leica, since 1980, I've come to the conclusion
that Leica has survived only because there were guys like us, masochistic I
would say. The ratio quality/price is too low. Even Erwin wrote that 50% of
the leica lenses were defective "in the past" and today, 5 % !Too high.And
Tom Abrahamson wrote
that Cosina lenses are equal to leica lenses of the beginning of 1980.Cut
please !

I'm afraid that "it's the end of the show, when something is not what it
seems" as in an old song of the forties sung by Lola Allwright (?)

BTW what is your opinion on the Leica France service center ? And "how high
was the bill ?

Dominique