M6 TTL light meter diodes become locked

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I've been dry firing my brand new M6 TTl 0.5/28mm Summicron (5-6 films run through at present). Last night I noticed that the diode display sometimes remains in the same combination if I keep the shutter button depressed and move the camera over dark and bright features in the room. A few minutes later the diodes will work properly, i. e. change with the altered lighting. I see no warning that batteries are low. I've also noted with irritation that the shutter button seem to stick slightly when depressing it softly after the camera hasn't been touched for a day, but that it'll work more smoothly after being exercised. Lastly, I noticed that if I screw in a cable release and use part of it to move the shutter button gently around in the top, the whole assembly including the winding arm moves around by a mm or so. I suspect this is normal, though. Comments to the first two please?

-- Peter Mackay (pm@novonordisk.com), May 16, 2001

Answers

Everything is normal except for the sticky shutter release. I am not sure why but there are two switches in the shutter release of the M6 TTL controlling the metering cicuit. The first turns the meter on but if you press a little bit further the second switch locks the meter. The circuitry for the M6TTL came from the R8 and the two switches may be a harbinger of an M6E.

Cheers

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), May 16, 2001.


In everything I've seen written about the M6TTL this is the first time I've heard of the meter-lock. I'll add it to my growing list of reasons for keeping my M6 Classics until there really is an M6E.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), May 16, 2001.

Some day on could you share that list Jay, I´m interested in buying a M with a meter (M6) probably at the end of this year, and want to know as much as posible of options.

-- R Watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), May 16, 2001.

Thank you for answering. You're right - depressing the shutter to near-firing position is what locks up the LEDs. That's not good! I've also found that the rubber eyepiece leaves some kind of residue on the lens of my spectacles so that I have to wipe them frequently.

-- Peter Mackay (pm@novonordisk.com), May 17, 2001.

It has never been a problem for me. I tap the shutter release once to start the meter and I only push it again to fire the shutter. I like the TTL as the meter display is much easier to use. The centre "good" diode makes setting the exposure and judging how far you are off much quicker than the two balancing diodes of the old M6.

Cheers

PS Any unwanted TTLs cheerfully accepted :-)

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), May 17, 2001.



Peter,

What you describe about the M6 TTL happen to me with my M6 Classic (bought in 1996). I called Kinderman and they told me that it wasn't normal and to ship them the camera (still under warranty). It just needed an adjustment. Just in case, you might wanna change your battery (ies) (especially Lithium).

-- Eric Laurence (Edgar1976@hotmail.com), May 29, 2001.


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