[Leica] (Recap) DR Summicron on the M6

[MGMcGough@aol.com]

  >  Mary Grace wrote:
  >  
  >  Will someone please tell me what the concensus and conclusion was in
  >  why some DRs will work on some M6s & not on others. Is it because of
  >  the 2 variations or in the shrouding of the early & later M6s.

  >  Mary Grace (de Milo)
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      Doug Richardson replied:
         
   > Mary Grace:
 
  >  I've lost the postings on this subject, so can't help you directly. I
  >  needed this info myself earlier this month when I was offered an M6
  >  which was was made at Wetzlar in 1987, but was unable to track it
  >  down.
  >  
  >  However according to the "Early M6 vs Late M6" page on Stephen Gandy's
  >  websight, in early M6s "The interior light baffle shroud behind the
  >  lens mount is round except on the top where the RF coupling mechanism
  >  is. The shroud has cut outs on four corners, corresponding to the four
  >  corners of the negative, apparently to allow the mounting of deeply
  >  recessed lenses. These cut outs may allow lens mounting that the
  >  earlier M6 bodies would not. Apparently this is why 50/2 Dual Range
  >  Summicrons will not mount properly on early M6 bodies."
  >  
  >  This struck me as odd - looking at my Summicron DR, I could see
  >  nothing protruding behind the rangefinder cam which could possibly
  >  interfere with the internal shroud, though I suppose there was the
  >  possibility that vignetting could occur as the lens moved forward when
  >  used at short distances.
  >  
  >  I spoke with a guy from Leica here in England, and he uses a DR on
  >  what he described as a "very early" M6 with no problems, but did say
  >  he's never used it in its near-focussing mode.
  >  
  >  I tried fitting my my DR lens to the M6 before purchase, and it fitted
  >  OK, and turns smoothly through both focussing ranges. However the
  >  camera (which has the cut-away shroud corners) needs a service to fix
  >  a meter fault, so I haven't run a film through it yet.
  >  
  >  Regards,
  >  
  >  Doug Richardson