Solid! People don't notice it as much. Simple, straight forward, compact, but not that light.

Lenses are too expensive! I will need to donate my kidney to get them. No timer? no multi-exposure lever?, rewinding film is a b***h. Rewind crank is too small.

First rangefinder camera I got. I Expected it to be smooth in operation as people so raved. Truth is, my previous Nikon F3 is smoother and more precise in feel IMHO(I know I could be sentenced to torture, followed by slow death for saying this in Leica land). I have to say though, I too see that famous Leica look in pictures taken with M6. For that(lenses), this camera is definitely worth it. And it is really uncanny how people don't care or notice it as much when you take pictures of them with this camera.

Customer Service

n/a

Similar Products Used:

none

Quality, mechanic's, durability and comfort/ease of use. Lenses, (35f2, 50f2, 90f2.8), are easily the superior 35mm optic's I have owned. The feel of the control's and the shutter operation are just incredible, the system get's used more than any in my inventory. It is such a pleasure to use, and the results are so satisfying, that I find myself encouraged to use it more frequently than others. My old M-4 has given faultless service for many years, and this one seems to be it's equal. Leica service for routine inspections has been perfect, the camera is well cared for while it's in their hands. The appearance and finish are superb, and the interface between body and accessories flawless. Nice weight, I prefer some heft for stability, chrome body and lense's provide that feature. Leica reputation is alive and well in this camera.

Minor point, the plastic lens cap's are too easily loosened, accidental light touch of edge of lens cap will dislodge them. After market cap's remain in position better. Other than that insignificant point, NO complaint's.

I have been a fairly dedicated hobby photographer since the mid 60's, and have owned several 35mm systems. While the majority of them served me well, none have approached the level of confidence and enjoyment the Leicas have given me. I am retired now, and have the time to spend on my favorite hobby. My collection,(all used frequently), includes Hasselblad, Rolliecord, Nikon N80 and Olympus XA. They all serve their own purpose very well, either for image quality, format size, autofocus and ease of operation, or size of camera. While I do enjoy them one and all, by far the Leica's are my favorites, mostly for image quality and satisfaction of use. I have read lot's of review's that have both positive and negative conclusion's, relative to all the camera's I own, but I have not experienced anything other than good to relate about mine. I consider the unfavorable reports, (particularly about the Leica), to be somewhat of a probably hasty decision, rather than a well thought out analysis based on considerable use, and familiarity. As for my input, I rate the Leica's as superior, and while relatively expensive at the time of purchase, well worth the cost in terms of longevity and satisfaction of ownership and use. I keep the inventory insured, but even if not, the Leica's would be the ones first replaced in the event of loss. I find that careful use combined with good servicing, will keep any high quality camera in reliable condition for many years. In the case of the Leica's, they are truly a lifetime investment, and I recommend the system to anyone that is able to justify the cost, (remembering that an M series reasonably maintained will easily last a lifetime, and then some). That truly makes it cost effective, when compared to the highly automated, plastic and electronic unit's of today's culture. While I really enjoy my N80, I expect it to be the first camera in my inventory to "go south", and I will be happy if I get a few years of service from it. Guess that defines the term "disposable", but I have every confidence that my Leica's will be hear long after I'm through taking pictures, and I hope the ones I pass them on to will appreciate them, and care for them accordingly. Guess that defines the terms "value", and "cost effectiveness". If you are serious about photography, save up and budget for the Leica system, I promise you won't be disappointed. If after using it you should decide it's just not your cup of tea, they are SO easy to sell, and retain their value better than any other's that I know of. In closing, I have to wonder if those that rate the system so negatively are giving them the care and gentle use, that such an investment deserves. ANY camera can be rendered unreliable, if subjected to rough or improper use. Best Wishes, and good shooting to you.

Customer Service

Has been exemplary for any routine inspections and servicing performed, (all items go in every five years), have never needed repairs of any kind. I have complete confidence that Leica service has the same standards as the manufacturing facilities. Never has one been returned with any marks or dings, (like screwdriver scratches), I can't say that about all other service facilities.

Similar Products Used:

Hasselblad, Rolliecord, Nikon, Olympus OM1N's and XA.

LENSES, LENSES, and did I say LENSES!! Ability to shoot at slow shutter speeds.

Maybe price, if your the kind of person that thinks a Saturn is as good as Mercedes.

I've never posted here before, but have been fed up with the people denigrating the camera that gave you 35mm photography. For all you Contax G users, try shooting in near darkness (say F1.4 at 1/4 second), while your ineffectual A/F is searching for something to focus on, I'll have shot 1/2 a roll of film!!!

Customer Service

Excellent

Similar Products Used:

G2, G1, Hexar (both fixed and interchangeabel lensed versions).

High quality finish, smooth operation, excellent 35-mm optics

Heavy like a brick, framing / focusing is challenging at long focal lengths, film loading takes time and is really painful, no possibility for multiple exposure, primitive flash.

I missed many photographic opportunities using the Leica. It took me forever to change a film roll in the middle of a time critical event (wedding ceremony for example) and I had no means to know if the roll was properly loaded. The required manual setting of the control and the lack of AF make it painfully slow to react. Of course one can preset the M6 to maximum DOF to react more rapidly but then it is just like a P&S. In addition, the lack of zoom lens means it takes time to find a suitable position for proper framing. The near silent operation is nice but then my Elan 7 does the same. The f2 / 50 mm lens is about as sharp and contrasty as the Canon EF f1.4 / 50 mm and is just slightly better than the very fine f2.8 /35 mm optics of my $80 P&S (Olympus Stylus Epic). In various occasions I handheld the camera at a slow shutter speed; while the result was acceptable, it was not as sharp as the one taken at higher speeds. Because framing / focusing is challenging at long focal lengths, I use mainly the 35 mm and 50 mm lenses and missed many the telephoto opportunities. Don't buy the flash. It is expensive but produces the same result as a general brand flash.

Similar Products Used:

Contax G2, Elan 7, Olympus Infinity Stylus Epic.

Rock solid
Best/easiest rangefinder to focus of all

Slow flash sync (minor)
Slow filmhandling

By far the nicest rangefinder to focus and a superb overall build. The camera is dated though and you could expect slicker/faster handling for your money, because your paying a LOT. I always lusted for an M6 but woke up and realised the Leica glass isn't significantly better than the much more favourably priced and equally superior Zeiss glass for G2; we are still talking 35mm here... ...should I want more out of my negs/slides I reach for my Mamiya7. Still, I would very much like to have the APOtelyt 135/3.4 for my G2 with sugar on top please :-). Value for money is "low" for what you get in specs. Contax G2 boosts much much more bang for your buck and don't you try and tell me it is not well built and you get 2 for the price of an M6. And it is also stealthy I can assure you after a long time of hauling it around the globe.
Summary: SUPERIOR build of a slightly dated product. I'd rather get another Mamiya M7II than an M6. Or two Gees...

Customer Service

n/a

Similar Products Used:

"similar"
Contax G2 (own)
Konica Hexar RF (tried)
Mamiya7 and 7II (own)

Built like a tank, size, rangefinder, lenses, very discreet,etc etc

none

If I had to choose a camera because my life depended on it the Leica would be grabbed first. It works if the battery doesn't! You see exactly what you are getting in the viewfinder - there is no mirror slap. The quality of the lenses is amazing. I took a portrait of my daughter in an indoor pool and could not believe the resulting 20"x16" print. It was razor sharp. I shot it at 1/15th sec at f2 hand held! The shutter fires at the precise time and therefore you get the picture you see. The rangefinder is very accurate and you can view the effect of changing lenses prior to doing so. Your eye can roam the entire viewfinder (sharp) and see what is moving into or out of the frame. The shutter is silent and precise. The Leica is for photographers who want to take quality pictures, lots of pictures anywhere, anytime and with a minimum of fuss. The camera is small and unobtrusive - people seem to think you are only taking a "snap" of them. This a huge advantage for candid photography. Leica's reputation is well deserved!

Customer Service

never needed

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F5, Contax 645, Pentax 645N etc

1. Quiet
2. Operable without power source

1. Viewfinder partially blocked by lens hood
2. Heavy
3. Obsolete (it's a M3 with photo cells)

The reviews from different sources showed that the Canon 28-70 L / 2.8 and 50 / 1.4 lenses are optically superior than Leica lenses. I can confirm this as an owner of the Canon and Leica systems. My M6 TTL broke twice within one year of service. Unlike what the previous reviewer suggests, the first 35mm camera was the Homeos that appeared in 1913. The first Leica hit the market in 1925.

Customer Service

Satisfactory

Similar Products Used:

Canon, Nikon, Bronica

Compact, reliable, unobtrusive, quiet, fast once you get the hang of it

Terrible for fill flash, no macro capability, film rewind is slow

The M6 is a great camera for folks who want to shoot with a minimum of fuss. The initial expense is high, but not outrageous for a pro camera, and you never have to buy the latest model, since Leica hasn't changed it apprreciably in decades.

I think Leica photos have a special quality vs. Nikon optics, and it's not just a matter of sharpness -- you have to see it to understand. (Who cares about sharpness other than lab guys, anyway? The point is to make good photos, and often good photos aren't sharp.)

The thing about Leicas is, you either get it or you don't. It's like religion.

Customer Service

So-so: They somehow lost all my Passport cards. On the other hand, after 5 years of M6 shooting, I've never needed anything fixed.

Similar Products Used:

Contax G1, Fuji MF rngefinders, every Nikon F (1 - 5), FM2

Small, compact, unobtrusive, and very quite.

Slow in terms of metering, focusing, loading and expensive.

I think that what people have to understand is that there is no single camera that can do everything and that will be appropriate for every type of photographic situation. This is true for every camera out there, not just the Leica. The Leica is a superbly engineered piece of photographic equipment, ideal for use in low light situations, where you cannot use flash. It is also unequaled for use in traditional candid street photography where you are trying to be unobtrusive and want to avoid the shutter/mirror noise made by the typical SLR. In these situations the Leica cannot be matched by current SLRs, simply because there is no SLR currently on the market that is smaller, more quite and inconspicuous. There are "Leicaphiles" out there that will argue that the optical quality of the Leica lenses is also superior to comporable, professional level SLR lenses. In that regard, I disagree. I believe that both Nikon and Canon produce professional lenses of equal, if not superior optical quality to the Leica lenses. I have a Nikon 85mm F1.4 lens that as far as I'm concerned, is optically as good as its counterpart Leica lenses, the 90mm Summicron APO, F2 or even the much venerated Simmulix 75m 1.4. I have compared photographs that I have taken with all 3 of these lenses, under the same lighting conditions and using the same film and found the photographs taken with the 85mm 1.4 Nikkor to have better "bokeh" and generally superior to those taken with the Leica lenses. I admit it was a non-scientific, subjective determination on my part, but then so are most evaluations of photographs. (I have no experience with the other lens manufacturers and cannot speak for them.) Having said that, I will say that the Leica has unique qualities, however, to really take advantage of them takes considerable time, practice and many rolls of film. You have to become familiar with the camera and become fully acquainted with it. Once this occurs, it is a true pleasure to carry and use.
On the other hand, the LEICA is simply not suited for fast moving subjects or situations where flash will likely be a necessary component to the photographic event. Despite efforts to make the M6 flash compatible, the camera was just not designed for flash use, in fact most people with any degree of experience with the Leica consider it almost a sacrilege to put a flash on a Leica much less use it. The camera was never really designed for that, it was designed, i.e., its lenses were designed for low light shooting at wide apertures wit little or no opticasl degredation. In addition, the Leica will not focus itself and you have to practice getting exposure readings. It will never be loaded as quickly as most current model SLRs, but again, that goes with the territory and anyone contemplating the purchase of Leica should be aware of these characteristics beforehand and be prepared to accept these and work around them. It really isn't fair to draw comparisons to SLRs, simply because, by definition it isn't, its a rangefinder. That's what must be understood. It will not serve as a general purpose camera, suited for every situation, but then neither will an SLR. All cameras have inherent limitations that will make them unsuitable for certain photographic situations. If you are aware of these limitations, then it may be easier to take the time to enjoy the pleasure of simply using a Leica and taking advantage of its many qualities. Buy it, as long as you have no misconceptions about what it will do.

Customer Service

Never needed

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F5, F100

The strength of a Leica is the magic the camera brings out of the shooter. We all know it is the Rolls of 35mm. The feel, the weight, the clean blades glistening through the tinted blue glass. This camera is holding the tradition of fine quality craftsmanship which is fading day by day. All the other reviews pretty much sum up the strengths of this camera. No matter what anyone says, Leica glass has a soul that I have not found on any other camera. Chromes shot on Leica glass is where this baby comes through with addiction. And besides, what gives you that little flutter when you see a tourist down a Paris boulevard--a Nikon N90 he is carrying...or a Leica M2 ?

The only weakness this camera has is creating frustration and even anger with some shooters over the price or difficulty in using. Why in the world would some photographers even compare this camera to money? What is money? Do you want money or your art and soul to be set free? How can you compare your inner most artistic passion to money? These folks obviously are thinking in the wrong direction. Sure, this camera slows you down but it also makes you think. Is that a weakness? Beginning shooters should understand that a camera weakness is only affected by how the photographer reacts and so far after 75 or so years, this "antique" as some would call it has survived. So you think your 85mm 1.4 Nikon is sharper than a summicron? When I was covering Tiananmen Square back in 1989 I developed color negative film in the AP bureau in Beijing. I would shoot my 85mm 1.4 Nikon and also use the Leica M4 with 35mm summicron. When I pulled both rolls from the wash, the contrast on the summicron cut right through the soap film with razer sharp contrast while the Nikon was fuzzy. Every time. You ever get the feeling that these complainers are not happy people? Like they have a grudge? Leica is not so much about technical but about the cult of being involved with traditional photography and using the finest craftsmanship an artist can use. Just like a fine violen. Through the years I have bought and sold Leicas depending on how many editors I pissed off but I never really felt right without having a Leica to stroke while I watch TV. How can I explain it? You can't. But the pros know and the lovers of Leica know. It's magic!

Ok, so this is the Leica deal. It is a love affair with mechanical art. The beauty, the tradition of all the great shooters from the past and present. All those ghosts are packed in every click of the shutter. You pick it up and something happens. You suddenly feel like shooting. Maybe going off somehwere from the city rat ract. This camera has soul. You can talk details and specs to death but no other camera can match the magic of this gift from our German friends. Stop quibbling about the price. Buy a used M3 or M2 and a summaron 2.8 for $800-900.00 and just enjoy this gem. Let it bring all the art inside of you. It does not matter if it is the new TTL or non TTL. It is the creativity inside you that this camera seems to help bring out because the camera cries out to be used. Stop petting them and using them as paperweights in the ready for Ebay. Use the magic and enjoy your passion.

Customer Service

I have not tried using customer service because I have never had a Leica break. In 25 years...not one single time! Not even whacked out shutter speeds. But the Leica folks back in NJ seemed very friendly when I tested some big glass at the Olympics in Atlanta. I am sure the rest of the company follows.

Similar Products Used:

Being a photojournalist for 26 years, I have used every Leica M body as well as most Leica R in over 100 countries. From the temples of Rangoon to the South Pole. During my 8 years Posting in Asia with AP, 3 years in Belgium with UPI the Leica cameras have always been in my camera bag right next to the Nikons. They were in Poland during the Solidarity riots and with me on prison stories in Argentina. Every part of the world. As far as other gear used, I have been shooting Nikons since age 13 (I am 44) Nikon is a great camera. I have also used Cannons with my newspaper for 3 years. Cannon is a good product as well. But nothing has ever approached the joy of shooting with the Leica system (M or R). If you ever find yourself getting a bit burned out with the profession, the Leicas always seem to steer your desire back on track.