upgrading my Leica M6
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- Опубліковано 12 вер 2024
- I sent my Leica M6 out to Red Dot Repair in Oregon for a CLA and while it was there, I had some modifications done to make my favorite camera even better.
To contact Jadon of Red Dot Repair, you can email him at jadon@reddotrepair.com
You can also follow and message him on Instagram at: / red_dot_repair
Sleepwalk MD Camera Straps available now!
sleepwalkltd.c...
INSTAGRAM: / mattdayphoto
TWITTER: / mattdayphoto
It was practically mint when I got it and it’s..... yeah I’ve definitely used it “ 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I love it
Haha, this is no collector’s item or fashion accessory. It gets put to work.
Been there too
Sounds like money well spent, Matt! I did not even know that it is possible to have framelines blocked out - but that’s actually pretty genius and makes the viewfinder appear so much cleaner.
It truly does! Makes it even more enjoyable to look through.
Great video as usual. RS
The MP viewfinder upgrade was the best thing I ever did. Much better to my old eyes.
Definitely!
Care, Love and Affection - CLA - we all need it :-D Thx for sharing your experience and talking about the blocked frame lines.
Haha! I like that.
I need CLA 😭😂😂
The simplicity of framelines is something I love about my M2!
I don’t shoot a lot of rangefinders so I found this fascinating. Interesting those things can be done. I took apart a camera that didn’t work about a decade ago and realized how special camera repair people are. (I never put that camera back together)
Yesss just got my M6 TTL back today from Jadon. He upgraded my finder and did a full CLA. So stoked. Great dude, awesome communication and fast service.
Love to hear that, dude!
I literally dm’d him this past week and we agreed on the viewfinder/CLA & frame line modifications. I’m so glad I did, I have a feeling a lot of folk will be reaching out to him lol.
$150 for the viewfinder upgrade!? That's way cheaper than I was expecting
Glad my old 35 Summicron is serving you well man :). I think it's great to bring some first-hand opinions on some of these upgrades for those considering it. I definitely concur with your findings having done the MP finder upgrade and masked frame lines in particular on past M bodies. Well worth the cost if you're going to use it frequently.
The only modification i have done are some custom scratches on the viewfinder, cant
recommend it though :(
I just ordered a classic M6, Cant wait for it to arrive. I shoot with an X-PRO 3 but i have a funny feeling i will LOVE my new M6. My first LEICA EVER.
Man now you got me wanting a totally unnecessary CLA haha
Had my M4 modded and serviced by the legends at Cameraworks U.K. a couple years back: Water-repellent and fingerprint proof Schneider Viewfinder upgrade, stealth matte black duracoat (usually used on firearms) repaint, changed to MA framelines (with 90mm and 135mm blacked out), and replaced cold shoe with hot shoe.
Oh yes, it is definitely my dream camera.
That sounds like an awesome set of mods. I wasn't aware anyone was doing duracoat on cameras.
@@raksh9 It's an absolute overkill, as if Leica's aren't well constructed enough already :P
@@thornleychan For years, I thought the ultimate Leica M body would be titanium with black diamond-like PVD coating. Ive even toyed with the idea of getting a brass body stripped then given the black DLC treatment. Then Fuji did this with their X-Pro 3, almost.
Yeah, I definitely need to think about that viewfinder upgrade! The M6 viewfinder is better than most rangefinders, but occasionally the flaring issues do get in the way!
That’s awesome, I wasn’t aware frame lines could be removed. Glad you got the issue fixed and the mods done. I had a Nikon D70s years ago that I converted to shoot IR, that was pretty fun, and fun to mod too. Thanks for the content Matt, hope you and the fam are well!
My M6 needed a CLA as I was having framelines stick and not want to freely change when I swapped from a 35mm to a 50mm.
I sent it in for a CLA and MP finder upgrade to Sherry Krauter (I was living in Japan at the time). I got the camera back the week before I was to go to Hong Kong and everything seemed to be perfect. When I developed the film on my return I noticed that there was a light leak in the camera that ruined a few negative that I really would have loved otherwise. So I sent the camera back from Japan to the US to have the light leak fixed. The leak was fixed with some ugly adhesive felt on the inside of the back door and returned with an inability to focus all the way down to 0.7m. The M6 has just become the problem child and now I just stick to my M3 instead.
Disregard my question from your SL2 video. Thank again Matt for the great content!
Sounds like a nice upgrade for sure! Thank you as usual for sharing Matt!
Good to hear about the upgrade, been thinking about it occasionally
Clean frame lines is the way to go, awesome to see the upgrade is worth it.
Thanks for the information on Jadon's Red Dot Repair service. I will keep this info as a reference should I ever need repair service for my M6.
I like that thing with the removed frame lines, that would be great on my CL
Fully agree, upgrading to MP viewfinder is totally worth it
I have been thinking about M6 finder upgrade myself. Thank you for the feedback!
I need to get my M7 viewfinder upgraded! I deal with that flare issue most of the time in sunlight!
I bought an M6 TTL 0.58 two years ago to complement my M6 classic 0.72. Two strokes of luck: I got it right before the insane price jump on used M film bodies ($1700). Also, I sent it to DAG for a loose topplate (easy fix) and he informed me that this camera already had the MP finder upgrade! I thought "Oh yeah! I haven't noticed the normal flare in the new camera!"
Don’t take this the wrong way as I think your a great guy and very positive in your videos and encouragement of others to engage in photography . I was excited to see your new content after your video a few weeks ago about moving away from equipment based videos. I love my cameras and fiddling with them as much as the next guy/girl and gear videos are of course useful and informative but I can’t help but think you should take a leap of faith and commit to not talking about cameras for a period of time. Have faith in your audience who clearly love what you do and trust they will engage with your content perhaps even more enthusiastically when your discuss photography, photographers and the work your interested in. Again I mean this in the best possible intention, putting yourself out there in the way you do and sharing your passion is awesome and takes real guts, keep it up which ever way you go,
I appreciate the feedback. I think you might have misunderstood what I meant in regards to the gear videos.
I’m comfortable with talking about cameras I actually own and use all of the time, I enjoy it. But I get comments and messages saying “you should review this” or “you should review that”. All cameras and gear I don’t actually own or use. To me, that just feels like a waste because if it’s something I don’t see value in and wouldn’t buy for myself, then my opinion of that camera shouldn’t really matter. I hope that makes sense. Also, last week was a video all about changing styles in photography. If you missed it, you would probably enjoy that one.
@@mattdayphoto I’ll be sure to check the new video out, as I said love what you do and look forward to keeping up with the channel. Your photo book library seems to be growing all the time, in the background of the videos! What’s your best pick up of 2021 so far? I’m waiting on the new Robert Adams book “a parallel world”
@@inigotaylor9401 it’s not from 2021 but Americans Seen by Sage Sohier and Ciprian Honey Cathedral by Raymond Meeks are the two most recent purchases that I’ve fallen in love with.
@@mattdayphoto the second I have heard about will check them out, did you buy transparencies published by mack last year ? Amazing and freshly released Stephen shore 35mm work from the 70’s shot alongside his well known work. Beautiful printing and layout
@@inigotaylor9401 Yep, I did a video showing Transparencies. Great book.
I had an MP finder upgrade done on my previous M6 Panda it was a and day and night focusing experience for me. Enjoy!
I had no idea we could have framelines blacked out. Excellent!
And a relatively simple process once you get the camera open. That’s the tricky part. Haha.
If you're in Canada and need Leica (or any other camera brand) serviced try Computech Camera Repair, they're Mom & Pop and the tech is the best!
Thanks for sharing that!
@@mattdayphoto Thanks for giving them the love! Personally I prefer to CLA all my cameras and it's good to support small business during these times.
I usually have a M5 round my shoulder everywhere I go. I had to shoot on a regular M6 since august because there is an issue with the repair company that did a CAL on my M5 and I’ve got to say that the rangefinder in the M6 is a joke compared to other Ms, especially the M5. It’s not just that it flares when stray light hits it but it also gets washed out when I don’t look through it at the right angle, which I don’t always do. I’ve missed quite a few shots I would have gotten with my M5 or one of the digital Ms. I get that the M6 is a sexy camera but, ergonomically it’s definitely the worst film M and not much better than the fat digital ones. No offense to those who love the camera, the size is amazing but it’s not quit deserving of the hype it’s receiving.
I had the upgrade done years ago on my M6ttl, was called the M7 viewfinder upgrade at the time. Really great upgrade.
Nice upgrades. I might consider the frame-line block-outs. Thanks for heads up on Jadon and his business :-)
I upgraded my M6 too, it’s a black paint MP now 🙈😂
I modded my cast version of zorkiy 1 to have strap lugs, now it's sort of like a ghetto leica 2. I use it all the time with a Jupiter 3, it's so small, compact and solid (unlike the stamped type). This whole kit only set me back equivalent of around $50.
Have you got Instagram? I’d be keen to see some photos of it
@@Tanosmkit's frames.vintage, dm me
My M6 has the MP upgrade and it makes a huge difference. I really want to have it done in my m4-p too.
I was pleased to hear of your experience with the camera repair and modification and it piqued my interest. Apparently, Leica proficient technicians are hard to find, or rather, they are backed up for months, maybe even a year. Would certainly like to know more about this shop, can’t find any web presence and his email domain is registered with a Canadian mailing address, not in Oregon, USA.
Hey Matt😃👋! I didn’t knew it’s possible to “black out” the framelines on a stock M6 or TTL. Sounds pretty interesting. I think I would like to have the 135 and 90mm framelines removed on my M6. Additionally I’d like the MP rangefinder window and the MP advance lever. Think that’ll be nice. But I just had the damaged top plate of my M9 replaced with a M9-P top plate - which looks awesome! But now it’s time to safe some money😇💸.
I was the same with my M6. Just dealt with the flare because it wasn't that bad really, just move your eye a little and it's gone, but opted for the upgrade when I had to get a repair since it was gonna be there anyway. I definitely agree it's worth it. The patch is easier to see in low light as well. Great upgrade.
As far as other "upgrades" I painted my dot black myself with enamel paint 😅 I'm a model builder so it was easy.
It’s the little things! Well worth it.
The black paint inside the engraved “Leica M6” on the front is starting to wear off on mine, I’m still not sure if I wanna touch it up or leave it. Haha
The patch flare is not going to go away by moving your eye! If the flare occurs, the whole focusing rectangle turns red and doesn't allow any focusing at all. Only way to reboot this is by shaking the camera a bit which sets it back. But until this is done, the moment to photograph might have disappeared. Super annoying when it happens!
@@MB-or8js It sounds like you have a worse issue than the typical patch flare. The flare has been extensively documented over the years and is just from light hitting the viewfinder at a certain angle, because Leica changed something in the rangefinder optics in the M4-2 onward. You most certainly can make it go away by moving your eye. I did it for years. If you have to shake your camera, then something's probably loose. I'd have that checked out.
www.nemeng.com/leica/020b.shtml
from the article above:
"Freebie flare workarounds
Okay, so other than doing a veiwfinder retro-fit, what can you do about RF flare now?
Shield the central finder
An easy fix is to shield the central finder illumination panel (the almost square serrated, frosted glass window immediately above the lens) with your hand, this will cut down the light flooding into the RF chamber and (hopefully) kill the flare.
Reposition your eye
Another trick is to reposition your eye when looking through the finder until you find an angle where the flare is not so bad. If you have time then two-steps-to-the-side, focus, then two-steps-back also works.
Rotate the camera
Another technique, again if you have time, is to turn the camera 90°, focus, and then rotate it back. You don't have to rotate the camera the full 90°, even a slight roll of a few degrees will most often be enough.
All these techniques are easy to remember and cost nothing. For those who want a more permanent "fix", try any of the following…"
@@bhop0073 I referred to the one which is described as rotating/rolling in your reply. That's what I meant with "shaking".
@@MB-or8js Ah, cool. Makes sense. I always just recentered my eye, but if it works for you, then it works. s'all good.
Really useful upgrades/mods. Didn't you have your M6 CLA'd not to long ago though? I remember a video you posted about it.
I did in early 2019
Working with sleepwalk I take it you are a Thrice fan? Best band of all time!
Now following red dot repair
Great video, Matt! Always loved the work you do - your videos helped me dev my first roll of B&W years ago!
I’ve had trouble finding a repair service in Europe - so I started one myself. CLA, modifications, re-skins, and more. Apologies for the plug!
cameraobscurarepairs on Instagram
Def gonna get a CLA for my M6 soon. Will use Red Dot!
He’ll do a great job with it. 👊🏻
I'd love to see a "origins" Story video bout that VX1000 on the top shelf :D
I can make that happen!
@@mattdayphoto sweet, that would be super cool! maybe some of the footage you filmed with it as well? always gives me the retro feel when I look at some of my crew's old tapes.
Good about removal of the frame lines. I prefer my M3 and M4 against my M6 just because of ugly frame lines of M6.
Just sent my Rollieflex for my first ever CLA. Hope my experience is similar to yours 👍
I am about to pull the trigger on a M6 purchase
Dear Matt,
Thank you very much for providing this insight in your Leica M6 TTL upgrade.
I am thinking about upgrading my M6 TTL too. But there is a big issue. Leica stopped servicing the M6 TTL's light meter. This is the case here in Switzerland an in Germany too. So I asked my third party technician and he told me that he and all the other technicians are no more able to service the light meter because there are no more parts available. This is not the case with the M6 Classic. That means if your M6 TTL's light meter fails the camera loses its value.
Do you know more about this issue? Maybe Red Dot Repair is still able to repair the M6 TTL's light meter?
Thank you very much and kind regards,
Seb
I had the M9, M240, and M262 before I tried an M6 TTL (without the "MP finder"). It was basically unusable to me. Had to send it to DAG for MP finder.
it is good to be Matt.
Now I need to change the RF window too 😄
Very VERY interesting about the mods. Plus, now I've got another option for someone to fix my Summitar. Followed on IG!
Thank you for a great informative video. Recently was in need of just a service call with my M6TTL/eating my film. I did find someone highly recommended. Question: Have you ever had a circuit board issue with the TTL. Is this a problem with the M6TTL?
Cool! I have the same issue where part of the frame is a little darker with my canon P
Did you figure out why?
1. as always matt, thank you very much for all of your great videos!
2. just trying my luck here, does someone know anybody in Germany or EU, who`s knowledgeable about the Kiev60 cameras? Mine is in desperate need of repairs.
to all of you: stay safe and healthy and keep shooting photos!
Thank you! I don’t know if anyone who repairs the Kiev60 but hopefully someone here might know.
Could try Aperture in London. They've always been good to my Leicas
Hey Matt!
Thanks for all of your useful videos,
I’m going to buy a m6ttl
But I just read that if the meter goes,nobody can repair it,is that a concern for you?how would you handle it if that happens?
You apply the Sunny 16 Rule!
Hello, thanks for a great video and very informative on the M6TTL. May I ask if you made a video on why you switched to a 35mm summicron instead of your (as you said beloved) Voigtlander 35mm f1.4??? Thanks
Great video sir ❤️🤘
I've had the brown strap on my Nikon FM3a since it dropped and just copped the black one for my M3!! Wrist straps next? 👀
You’re a legend! Thank you so much for the support. We might have to start prototyping a wrist strap option. 🤝
I seem to remember you getting your Leica fixed a few years back from Leica. That's pretty quick for another CLA. I bought a M2 from KEH about a year and a half ago and they did several cla's to it to fix a shutter problem and the M2 is not working again sadly. I guess my question is what's the normal life of a camera for a cla?
i have old Soviet camera called Zenit Et and it just work, i have it for more then 20 years, no CLA, no nothing,... so Leica... i dont know if its worth
Is it little common to M6 TTL to have fungus inside as it is old
I would invest in a handgrip. It ruins the look of the camera, but it's super practical for everyday photography. Of course, if you want to have forearms like Arnold Schwarzenegger, you should also remove the strap.
We did you but it ?
When I read the title I assumed you bought an SLR.😂
"Particular..." that's such a gentle way to describe some of the Leica crowd... LOL!
Didn’t you send your camera to Leica just a few years ago? Did it already require another CLA?
Good price when you compare to YYE...but how experienced is he? That's the real question..a lot of the leica repair people have lots of experience so I would look into his background before sending the camera out
He has plenty of experience, he and I talked all about that before my M6 was sent out.
Who are the people who disliked this video???
People who cannot afford having a Leica. In fact I'm gonna dislike it too.
Leica haters for sure
Jealous people
I wish I could find someone who can paint my Nikon F3. The Leica M10 Safari looks killer wish my beloved F3 hp could get that treatment.
Do you recommend to upgrade from M6 TTL x0.72 to M6 2022 model?
Money well spent. Nice video
Thanks!
Didnt you send your M6 to Leica a few years ago?
Considering the camera, that's a bargain.
Leica Germany is asking 900 Euro for the Leica MP upgrade on an M6 and it will take them 14-16 weeks. Anyone has a recommendation where to get the job done in Europe? Thanks :)
I like your beard
Thank you. I'm thinking very hard about buying a 1997 M6. I have the money.... I just feel guilty about the red dot. 😕 First World problems, hey?
What was the turn around time?
How you waving the m6 kinda scares me 🤣🤣
I need to get my canonet ql17 giii cla’d so I can finally experience shooting with a rangefinder lol
The cost of that would be more than the cost of a GL17... lol.
Wasn't your M6 recently CLA'd by Leica themselves? Shouldn't they take care of the issue for free?
Nah, that was almost 2 years ago. I think most CLA warranties from any technician are good for 6 months to a year.
Where can i buy this shirt ?
Hi Matt!
Hey Suzanne!
The bit about techs definitely rings true, I get really nervous about my Pentax 67 knowing that folks who have as many years experience working with them as Eric @ pentaxs isn't going to be doing it forever. Found myself thinking more than once "should I buy a second body just in case?"
My canon P has the same problem but idk where to fix it
Give Jadon a shout! He might be able to help.
$150 for the MP upgrade?! YYE charges $280
Cool. Is it possible to make .jpg ˋs with that old vintage gear?
The M6 rangefinder patch flare should have been a recall by Leica for all M6 cameras (similar to what Leica was forced to do with the M9 and senor corrosion issue). There is no way to minimize the issue, it was a very bad decision done by Leica at the time to cut cost by using a cheaper part inside the rangefinder causing the flare. I missed a few critical shots on my M6 due to this issue in the past. Main and IMO only major fault of the M6. Early M7 cameras have the same issue, but later M7 models were silently upgraded by Leica with the MP patch.
X pro1 x ever
I got a friend of mine who want to sale his Leica M6 NONO TTL modle to me for £1.000 just for the body he has his camera for over 20 years and he never used it
If it's not some fancy RGB LED lights I'm really disappointed. 😂
Forget the built in flash, give me a camera with a built in LED 👀
I’m currently working on building my custom painted RB67. Check the process @jakegreenephoto on insta👍🏼