Hi -

So here's a question. My wife just got me a brand new silver M6TTL 0.72 at the official price with the Passport warranty and - $200 rebate.

Yes, my wife bought that for me, crazy as it seems.

I am competent amateur (Canon Elan and Nikon S1), and am looking for recommendations: do I keep the M6 or return it and get an M7 instead?

Note: I intend to sell my Canon and Nikon for a new Nikon FM3a.

Cheers!

Will

-- Will Woodford (woodford@sgi.com), April 17, 2002

Answers

Oops. The title should read "Should I exchange it?"

-- Will Woodford (woodford@sgi.com), April 17, 2002.

No. Keep the camera, shoot with it, and enjoy it. A recent post indicates one of the best new features of the M7 is a real on/off switch. Whoopie.

-- drew (swordfisher@hotmail.com), April 17, 2002.

Your statement that you're getting a Nikon FM3a implies that you are comfortable with using a fully manual camera, which the M6TTL 0.72 also is, as opposed to the M7, which is not. So my vote would be to keep the M6TTL. The M6TTL appears to be the last manual Leica, the end of an era and a philosophy.

What kind of lens(es) do you have for the M6? This will also generate tons of advice from this great forum, I can assure you!

Best wishes,

-- Vikram (VSingh493@aol.com), April 17, 2002.

"don't look a gift horse in the mouth" (I know ones says this in german and think it may be used in english). This is especially true with a troughbreed horse like a Leica M6. I would recommend keeping the M6, and making sure your wife knows your love it (and don't mention that you were thinking of exchanging it)... also say it was a great decision and drop hints so you can get a 34 Lux ASPH =)

I see no reason to upgrade other then the fact that you feel like you might be missing something... and i like the on/of switch on the M6 TTL anyways, it keeps the number of "buttons" and switches down... which is one of the great things about Leica's.

-- Matthew Geddert (geddert@yahoo.com), April 17, 2002.

She Love you Willy.Your wife bought it for you. Keep the M6. The FM3a Very nice. Regards,Richard

-- Richard Brown (rubyvalentine@earthlink.net), April 17, 2002.

Keep it!!!!! Your wife bought it for you - not only is the M6 one of the world's great cameras, you have one of the world's great wives. Do NOT insult her by exchanging it. As the author of the "on/off switch" comment, I say keep the M6.

-- Paul Chefurka (paul@chefurka.com), April 17, 2002.

Will,

I am printing your note (largest type possible) for posting on our refrigerator.

Best,

Jerry

-- Jerome R. Pfile, Jr. (JerryPfile@msn.com), April 17, 2002.

My wife bought me a lovely Sekonic meter a couple of years ago.

Some of us are very lucky to have such significant others.

-- Tom (therbert@miami.edu), April 17, 2002.

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to keep it.

As for lenses, I don't have one yet. I rented an M6 with a 50mm Cron for a few days last year, shooting Kodachrome, Ilford Delta and Kodak color print film. Results were wonderful, so I'm going to start out with a 50mm Cron.

Other focal lengths on my wish list are 24, 35 and 90. I think the 135 frame seems a little tricky for focusing and composing, but who knows. There are some very cheap 135 Hektors out there. Also, I might determine that the 24 and 35 are too close and wind up going for a 21.

In any case, I'll most likely get the wide angle lens after securing the "triumvirate" first.

I'll leave longer focal length duties to my SLR.

Cheers!

Will

-- Will Woodford (woodford@sgi.com), April 17, 2002.

I would definitely return the M6TTL, either for an exchange on an M7 or a full refund, then go out and buy a mint M6TTL (as there are scads of them being sold now for much less than your wife paid) or wait a few weeks/months as dealers offer closeout price reductions on remaining new M6TTLs.

BTW, the FM3a has an electronic shutter with stepless AE *and* fully mechanical batteryless operation *at all speeds*--not to mention TTL flash with 1/250 sync (and the flash fires without batteries). The best of all things M6 and M7, and then some.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), April 17, 2002.

Wil, maybe you should ask your wife if she would like to use the camera upon occation and, if so, if she would prefer an M6ttl or M7. Then she could be a part of the decision-making process. Ah...true love!

Cheers, Pat.

-- Pat Dunsworth (pdunsworth@aryarch.com), April 17, 2002.

YOUR wife rocks!!!!! Keep the M6TTL and enjoy. Happy Day----------> Scott

-- Scott Evans (scottevans@attbi.com), April 17, 2002.

Will,

You better keep the gift, you know how women are. Consider yourself lucky! Don't you dare ask her why she didn't buy a lens too.

Now you have the excuse to gear up! It sounds like you're already on the track.

Other posts would suggest a new 35 1.4 asph. I would suggest a used 50 2.0 cheap to keep on her good side for your cheap hector (good attitude, I envy you both).

-- Allison Reese (a_b_reese3@hotmail.com), April 17, 2002.

Someday, I want a wife like yours. Keep the camera... trading it for an M7 will shave 10 years off your marriage or buy you the equivalent of 10 years of animosity. Either way its no good for the bloodpressure and gallstones>

Salút

-- John (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), April 17, 2002.

Will -

Most of the others above have a *very* good viewpoint: (a) She loves you; (b) she bought it for you; and (c) if you return it, she'll probably thing twice before she buys you a Noctilux or the 90 Asph. Remember the three most important phrases in any marriage, viz., "Yes, Dear," "I love you, Dear, " and most important, "Thank You, Dear!"

Enjoy your Leica!!

-- George C. Berger (gberger@his.com), April 17, 2002.

I agree you are a lucky man to have such a thoughtful wife. I have two M6TTLs and don't have a desire to buy an M7. There is something about a fully mechanical camera that appeals to me. The M7 leaves me pretty cold. It has an electronic shutter and aperture priority. These are very modest advances in my opinion that detract from the pleasure of using a mechanical tool. Leica automated in a very modest way but to me it would have made more sense either to stay with the M6 or really automate by having matrix metering and a faster speed for the TTL flash. That is my point of view. So If I were you I would keep and enjoy the M6. I am not convinced the M7 will be a success. After the initial sales, I expect a decline in sales and in price.

-- David Enzel (dhenzel@vei.net), April 17, 2002.

Start by practicing in front of the bathroom mirror. Say this without stammering - "Honey, you know I love you and the M6 is just great. Do you think we should get a less complicated camera like the M7 so we can ask people in the street to take our picture during our holiday to Mazatlan next month?

You're a lucky man Will.

-- Fred Sun (redsky3@yahoo.com), April 17, 2002.

The person in the street will still need to focus.

-- David Enzel (dhenzel@vei.net), April 17, 2002.

Will: I would keep the M6 TTL so as not to upset the apple cart. Maybe she would like to use it. Ask her what choice(s) of lens she thinks would work with it. My wife loves my M's because of their size and doesn't complain much when I purchase a lens. The 50 is a good starter choice, but look at what you use with your other gear and maybe lean in that direction for a first lens. Many others use the 35 for a standard lens. Possible start with a 35 and a 90 and see if you need the 50 to fill in. Enjoy the gear and keep your wife.

FWIW

-- Mark A. Johnson (logical1@catholic.org), April 17, 2002.

I think that getting the M7 may be a better idea for the long-term investment. Why?> Because if you are used to using AE cameras, and you want to use the AE's and leica together, you'll wan to pick up the AE's more often, considering you like using the Aperture priority. At least with the M7, you have a choice, and you can always pick up a M6 later second hand for less $$ if you like as a second body.

-- Kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), April 17, 2002.

Maybe I should get my fiance to have a chat with your wife. TOPIC: "Taking care of your significant other and showing the required appreciation through tender loving (tecnical) care".

OR....

.....Maybe the transition from fiance to wife might do it!

What do you think James?

-- Kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), April 17, 2002.

But then if you do exchange it, it might all fall apart....."What?!!!! You don't appreciate my gift...now you want something better?!!!!"

Just be cautious...when you have such a good thing happening, you don't want to rock the boat too much!

-- kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), April 17, 2002.

True love, Will. 'swonderful!! :-)

Don't second guess it.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), April 18, 2002.

You wouldn't want to exchange your wife? Seriously, I hope you both enjoy this fantastic camera.

-- David Killick (dalex@inet.net.nz), April 18, 2002.

Even if they were the same price, I'd rather have an m6ttl for its proven reliability and no delay when you turn it on. Vikram's post is a bit off, however - the fm3a has aperture priority like the m7...

-- Steve Jones (stephenjjones@btopenworld.com), April 18, 2002.

Absolutely keep it!

Jay - are you married!?!

;)

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), April 18, 2002.

Yes, and if my wife buys me something and I don't think it was a wise choice or what I wanted I return it. After all it was money I earned that she spent.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), April 18, 2002.

I consulted with my wife. No question in her mind ... keep the camera ... don't even think about trading it!!!!!!!!!

-- Tom (therbert@miami.edu), April 18, 2002.

Don't underestimate what your wife notices or how she feels. She may sit quietly in the background watching you, but you can be assurred that she sees what you do and senses what you think.

I was focused on my Nikons for years. My wife had never bought any of my equipment because she was lost and felt inadequate to get me something I needed, although I know whe wished she could do so. Little did I realize that my Nikons had, in her mind, become part of my character, part of what she was married to.

One day I got rid of all my Nikon gear for my Leica R. Her first forelorn comment was "...your beloved Nikons are gone?" It was like she herself had lost a family pet or a good friend. It totally surprised me, and I will never again take for granted that my personal passions don't affect her in some way.

Your wife has shown her affinity for your passion by making what she hopes will be a significant contribution to your interest. DO NOT underestimate the significance of that gesture. In your shoes I would hold that camera in special significance for a very long time.

-- Ken (kennyshipman@aol.com), April 18, 2002.

Willy, You are stupid of having a thought of exchanging the gift from your wife. Anyway, a M6 is worth keeping and using. M7 ? too battery dependent. Regards, Tom

-- tom tong (tom.tong@ckh.com.hk), April 19, 2002.