What recommendations/experiances can you offer concerning motor drives for the amateur/ semi- pro M6 shooter?

-- Brooks (BVONARX@HOME.COM), June 20, 2001

Answers

As the owner of 2 motor drives which sit eternally at the ready in my cupboard, I would advise anyone who wants a motor-driven camera to consider something other than a Leica (and that unfortunatly IMO includes the R's as well). The Konica Hexar RF has a quieter motor *and* motorized rewind, it's all built-in to the same size body as the M6 alone (and is included in the price of the body!), and the camera auto-loads film and has AE, which altogether are features that seem to harmonize with a motor drive.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), June 20, 2001.

Well, I'm going to disagree with Jay on this one...

I just recently obtained the new version motor M for my M6 and have to say it is soooooo sweeeeeet! It fits the camera so well that it feels like it belonged there from day one. It is much smaller than its predecessor, fairly light in weight, and very quiet at the 1.5 fps setting. (BTW, I have noticed that the addition of the motor, quiets down the M's shutter click perceptibly over the standard baseplate - ?) Anyway, I can't hardly wait to pick up a second one for my other body!

(Note: As I re-read the following after I wrote it, I realized that it might have set off a flame war. That was not, and is not, my intention. My appologies in advance to all of you Hexar lovers out there. Understand that I am sharing my experience and my opinion only, and I respect your right to disagree with me.)

As for the Hexar I just recently picked up instead of the extra M motor... It has all of the niceties that Jay pointed out, plus a 1/4000 top end on the shutter, and a 1/125th flash sync to boot. However, it ain't no Leica. Not even close. In addition to being small and dim by M standards, the RF patch on mine was mis-aligned top to bottom, the focus at 10' registered as 12' on my lenses, and it couldn't hit infinity. So I followed all of the excellent instructions for re-alignment from the earlier posts on the subject, and to my surprise got everything nearly perfect! Then I changed lenses a few times, and the RF was right back where I started. What a piece of flimsy tempramental junk. Now the body is at a repair facility getting its ultra-delicate RF system professionally re- calibrated. I should have trusted my gut and just bought the second M motor instead, but noooo, I had to have all of the neato extra Hexar features. As soon as it's back from the shop, off to eBay it goes and hello second motor! The new motor on an M is truly a piece of top- quality pro equipment. Compared to it, the Hexar is a toy. Too bad.

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), June 21, 2001.

I don't know if I'd call the Hexar a toy (maybe just because nothing's gone wrong with mine), but I will agree the the RF's VF is no .58 :-)

I have one Motor-M and like it as much as Jack does - it's a solid piece of gear, and I like its ergonomics too.

So, if you want a motor add-on for a current Leica, the Motor-M is good gear. If you want a more modern motorized body, you'll probably have good luck with Hexar. I'm happy to have both, as I get to pick the set of attributes I want for any particular shooting session.

One thing to keep in mind is that the Motor-M will fit any recent Leica body, even the .85 - and I find that the motorized .85 with a 90 or 135 is a delightful combination for shooting action. With the Hexar you're limited to a single (low) VF magnification.

-- Paul Chefurka (paul_chefurka@pmc-sierra.com), June 21, 2001.

I have the new Leica-M motor and I like it very much. For reportage, it's really a bonus.

If to noisy for the situation, turn it off, and advance the film with the lever.

Try to do that with an Hexar RF... ;-)

BTW, you can do that with a R8 also.

The Leica way...

Lucien

-- Lucien (lucien_vd@yahoo.fr), June 21, 2001.

I also have the new M-motor for my M6TTL, and I love it. Last week I was in downtown Toronto taken street shots with my 21mm 2.8 asph and the motordrive attatched. It made holding the camera by my hip as if I were merely walking by my unknowing subjects easy as pie. Because of the improved way I could grip the camera it made it easy to tilt in whatever angle I needed to get the shot. I kept it on the low speed for quietness, and all I had to do was hold the release as I walked by or as they walked by. It also works very well in balancing the camera when you are using larger lenses, if you have an M6 get one you will not regret it. Cheers,

Francesco Rizzuto

-- Francesco Rizzuto (cucciolo13@home.com), August 03, 2001.

the motor makes gripping the m6 much more stable, but it adds additional weight to it (everyone says it is a light camera, but for me it feels rather heavy) and of course you have to decide whether you want to take the motor with you before you change film. you will need to get a pouch for it, as it doesn't come with a cover and therefor you could get dust into the body.

-- stefan randlkofer (geesbert@yahoo.com), November 20, 2001.

you guys have really got me burning for that motor-m! any draw backs about the shutter release pulsing back up ? and for those of you in the UK, who did u but it from and for how much. looking to buy soon, and i would like to get advice from those of you who have one - negative and positive, or should i say, 'pros' and 'cons'. anyone regretted geting one, or do some people end up using turned off, but make a great & * expensive* M-grip. Thanks in advance. Best,

-- sparkie (sparkie@mailcity.com), November 23, 2001.

Having used a Hexar RF for a year, I wouldn't call it "junk" at all. I used the RF next to an M6 in the store. They are both heavy metal bricks, and I don't see the problems other people have seen with the viewfinder.

And, in my use, the motor noise has never been a problem. I've shot pictures 6 inches in front of people and they don't know...

That said, it seems like if you have the Leica body already, you may as well buy the Leica motor.

-- Pete Su (psu_13@yahoo.com), November 23, 2001.