Re: Help with the M6

[CapsTeeth@aol.com]

> Which lenses, in your opinion, make more sense to purchase used, and
>  save a bit of money? My dream set (one at a time) would be a 24mm, 35mm F2
>  asph, , 90mm 2.8, and 135mm.  An article, I think from the LHSA was saying
>  some wonderful things about the 135 Hectar

                   They all make sense to purchase used, but I'm more
cautious about used lenses than bodies.  Having a body overhauled by a
competent repair person is no problem, but rebuilding a lens and
re-collimating it is another story.  Make sure you get a MBG and shoot a
test-roll right away.  Also, it may be some time before you come upon a 24mm
or 35 Summicron ASPH used...but you never know.  The 135 I love (and have
seen others rave about) is the Tele-Elmar.  It is optically identical to the
latest model.  A very sharp and nice-to-hold lens.
>       Do you recommend using the 135 brightline finder for any/all of the
135
>  lenses?  They appear to be fairly easy to find, and would seem to be
easier
>  than just relying on the small framelines.. And, with that in mind, is
using
>  the longer lenses with the M just a matter of getting used to the small
>  framelines?
                     I didn't have any problem with the framelines.  In fact,
as an SLR user I rather like the perspective of the framelines, since the
magnification isn't there.
>  
>       Do you find the framelines to be pretty accurate?

                     Accurate enough...if you want or need completely precise
framing you're talking SLR.
>  
>    And last, the question of using flash with the M6. I know it was not
>  designed with flash in mind, but on rare occasions, I need to use full or
>  fill flash. Do you have any opinions or recommendations there. I have been
>  told that if a person needs flash at all, to basically forget about the
M6. 
> I
>  just do not believe that. I looked at the G2 Contax, and was impressed
with
>  its lenses and flash capabilities, but I really want an M6.

                        Any good thyristor auto-flash works great with any
IIIf-and-later Leica.  The best one I've found is the Vivitar 283.  It's kind
of large for the Leica, but it has 4 auto f-stops and a neat off-camera cord
that allows the auto sensor to stay on-camera near the lens' axis while the
flash goes on a bracket.  For daylight fill, use slow film to offset the slow
sync speed and you're ok.  Just set the ASA dial on the 283 to a 1-to-2
f-stop faster film speed and go from there.  That fools the strobe into
underexposing the flash and you get an "auto fill flash" of sorts.

Doc
>