Re: [Leica] Marc Small's statement that M6 is best built M camera

[Martin Howard <mvhoward@mac.com>]

Marc James Small wrote:

> One primary example of change was the shift from bronze gears in the M2
> through M4 and the steel gears used since the M4-2.  Bronze gears lap 
> into
> themselves fairly readily, and thus we have the buttery smooth advance 
> of
> an M3.  Steel gears take millions of advances to do the same.  But the
> bronze gear will be worn out by the time the steel gear is just getting
> lapped into smoothness, and the steel gear will outlast the bronze by a
> factor of 10 or more.  Sure, my M6's advance is rougher than my M3's 
> -- but
> my M6 is only 17 years old, so it hasn't had a chance to be broken in 
> yet.

While this is all very good and interesting, it raises the issue of 
relevance.  You've had your M6 for 17 years.  Let's assume that you put 
200 rolls of film through it in a year, which means that after 3,400 
rolls of film (122,400 frame advances) it is still not "broken in".

Personally, I'd be much more concerned with whether my M6 felt smooth, 
efficient, and broken in *during* those 122,400 frames than whether it 
would last another 1,000,000 afterwards.  I'd even be willing to pay 
$400 in repair costs for new brass gears, say, every 10 years if I 
could have that buttery smooth feeling of an M3 in my M6.

I venture a guess that most Leica rangefinder owners do not shoot 200 
rolls of film a year, many perhaps not even shooting 3,400 rolls of 
film in their lifetime.  The point then becomes, *why* it is necessary 
to have gears that last 1,000,000 frame advances at the price of the 
smoothness and articulation of that action, when few people are going 
to use it that much?  Why not offer steel gears as an option for those 
who really need it?

This goes back to the issue that was raised a few weeks ago -- creeping 
featurism.  I should think that for the vast majority of Leica 
rangefinder users, the steel gears is a moot point.  Sure, engineering 
excellence, but at the expense of quality of use.  And isn't that what 
Leicas are supposed to be all about?

M.

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