Leica M6 TTL User's Manual
Contents
1. LEICA Instructions LEICA M6 TTL Not For Resale Free Download at http www joe chan com manuals LEICA SF 20 NAS NAT on PHY VW JOeC CNnan Col 7 14 15 16 17 18 Leica Akademie Leica not only manufactures high performance products for everything from observation to reproduction it offers a special service in the form of the Leica Akademie For many years this internationally famous facility has taught photographic expertise in practical seminars and training courses It meets the needs of keen photographers both beginners and advanced students for special training in demanding areas of 35 mm photography projection and enlargement Up to date well equipped seminar rooms are available at our Solms headquarters and at the nearby Gut Altenberg for these courses which are held by experienced instructors the content of which ranges from general photography to specialised fields of interest They provide a wealth of practical suggesti ons help and advice Further information and details of seminars are available from Leica Camera AG Leica Akademie Oskar Barnack Str 11 D 35606 Solms Tel 06442208421 Fax 06442 208 425 e mail la leica camera com Dear Customer Congratulations on your decision to purchase the LEICA M6 TTL You have chosen an excellent and unique rangefinder camera We wish you many years of pleasure and successful photography with your camera2. If the camera is not in use for longer periods of time or if you wish to keep a battery with you as replacement lithium cells are particularly suitable as they can be stored for several years with no loss of energy Batteries Silver oxide button cells Lithium cells Duracell D 357 10 L 14 Duracell DL 1 3N Everready EPX 76 Kodak K 58 L Kodak KS 76 Philips CR 1 3 N Maxell SR 44 Ucar 2L76 National SR 44 Varta CR 1 3 N Panasonic SR 44 Philips 357 Ray 0 vac 357 Sony SR 44 Ucar EPX 76 Varta V 76 PX Loading and replacing the batteries 1 Unscrew the battery compartment cover 1 2 Wipe any oxidation residue off the cells using a clean cloth 3 Insert the cells into the holder in the bat tery compartment cover Pay attention to the polarity 4 Now screw the cover together with the cells back into the camera 5 To remove the batteries follow the same procedure in reverse A set of fresh batteries has a life of approxi mately 8 hours with the exposure meter switched on continuously Assuming 10 second measurements in normal use one set of batteries therefore supplies sufficient energy for approx 2900 exposures i e 80 films of 36 exposures each Automatic battery check If the red LED is flickering i e its brightness fluctuates the batteries should be replaced If the cells are unable to supply the minimum operating voltage the LED display disappears Note the electrical circuit can be broken by o
3. 40 Flash exposure displays in the viewfinder in TTL and automatic mode a 40 Flash exposure displays in the viewfinder in manual flash mode pp 41 Flash exposure displays in the viewfinder in SGS SR BENG NG EA 41 System accessories for the LEICA M6 TTL 42 Interchangeable lenses ee ee ee ee 42 Di LES SRE RER OP Re 42 Eyesight correction lenses pp 42 LEGA WINDERIME Si eee Re E 43 Bags AND CASCS ia died sine eee toits 43 Tips on maintenance of M6 camera and lenses 44 Alphabetical Index eee eee 45 Mechmicaldata r rece ATE E A EEE E AI aa 46 Other LEICA products a E Ta KE a 48 RrojJectorS Aa NEK A E Ma a 48 Binoculars aa a a E a 48 ICASENICES Km a N E eee a aa a 49 Information Service a AKEN KN eee oe 49 E HS ST LST TRT aT S 49 IEG fe ANG PR E 49 19 Base plate 20 Base plate catch 21 Viewfinder eyepiece 22 Synchronisation socket for flash units with cable 23 Camera back 24 ISO ASA DIN film speed dial 25 Base plate holding pin 26 Tripod bushing A DIN 4503 1 4 Viewfinder displays LEDs Light Emitting Diode for A Shutter aperture balance B Flash operation C Bright line frame for 50 mm and 75 mm Example D Metering field for focusing C 50 mm C 75 mm 1 Fitting the carrying strap Power supply The LEICA M6 TTL requires two 1 5 volt sil ver oxide button cells or one 3 volt lithium cell for the exposure meter and to trigger connected flash units
4. We recommend that you read these instruc tions first in order to derive full benefit from the photographic possibilities offered by your new camera Nomenclature Battery compartment cover Lens release button Eyelets for carrying strap Red button for lens alignment Lever for film rewinding release Automatic frame counter Shutter release button with threaded socket for cable release Quick wind lever for film transport and shutter wind must be brought in stand by position when shooting 9 Rangefinder window 10 Shutter speed dial with clickstops for e Shutter speeds from 1 to 1 1 000s e E for 1 50 s synchronising speed for flash operation e B for long exposures e OFF for switching off the electronics 11 Accessory shoe for flash control with e Centre contact e Contacts for TTL flash control 12 Bright line frame illumination window 13 Angled rewind crank 14 Viewfinder window with mirrored strip for LED visibility in bright light 15 Fixed ring with depth of field scale 16 Focusing ring 17 Aperture ring 18 Frame preselector ee U lS A oo Contents Page Leica CAEN ee an a 1 OTC WONG RE nn rs 1 Nomenclature Sateen ete aa a a a a Na 213 Viewfinder displays pp 3 Fitting the carrying strap pp 4 POWERS UD OLY ES Re 5 Batteries a b au a er 5 Loading and replacing the batteries 5 Automatic battery check 6 Q ickWindilever RAS aaa a a nan eee eee eg 7 Shutter release bun sa a a a a
5. ISO ASA DIN 6 9 8 10 10 11 12 12 16 13 20 14 25 15 32 16 40 17 50 18 64 19 80 20 100 21 125 22 160 23 Scale 200 24 400 27 800 30 1600 33 3200 36 6400 39 Film speed ISO ASA DIN 200 24 250 25 320 26 400 27 500 28 640 29 800 30 1000 31 1250 32 1600 33 2000 34 2500 35 3200 36 4000 37 5000 38 6400 39 Film rewind and removal When the last frame has been exposed the quick wind lever can no longer be operated Before the film can be removed it must be wound back into the cartridge 1 Turn rewind lever 5 to R 2 Swing out the lever for the rewind crank 3 Turn the lever clockwise in the direction of the arrow until the film is freed from the take up spool slight resistance will be felt at this point 11 4 5 6 Now open the base plate Open the camera back Remove the film cartridge When the film is not fixed to the cartridge core for example when bulk film is used it may become separated from the core if the advance lever is operated forcefully after the last frame has been exposed In this case proceed as follows 1 2 Remove the base plate of the camera in a completely dark room Hold the camera with the base plate open and facing downwards Slowly operate the quick wind lever several times until the film protrudes far enough to be grasped and pulled out
6. Replace the camera back 9 Hook the base plate over the external mounting post on the camera body 25 10 Fold the base plate back into its normal position ensuring that the camera back is in full contact so that the base plate enve lops it 11 Lock the back using the base plate catch Transport of the film to the first frame 12 Advance the film to the next frame by means of the quick wind lever and re lease the shutter 13 Gently pull the film taut by turning the rewind crank 13 in the direction of the arrow The film is properly transported when the rewind crank turns backwards when the quick wind lever is operated again 14 Finally press the shutter release button again and cock the shutter for the third time The frame counter 6 now reads 1 and the camera is ready to shoot Setting the film speed The dial for setting the exposure meter to the film speed 24 can be used to set values from ISO 6 9 to ISO 6400 39 ASA 6 9 DIN to ASA 6400 39 DIN the ISO designation is that generally used internationally To set the film speed 1 Press the centre of the dial down and turn it until the two triangles are aligned opposite the desired film speeds DIN above ASA below 2 When released the disc will engage and spring back flush with the surrounding ring if it has been set properly 10 The following settings are possible Scale 6 9 12 12 25 15 50 18 100 21 Film speed
7. easily accessible shutter speed dial on top plate of camera also serves as main switch Click stop settings can be read from above OFF B 1 to 1 1 000s and F 1 50 s flash sync speed i e fastest shutter speed for flash operation intermediate settings not possible Setting the correct shutter aperture combination Switch on exposure meter Turn shutter speed dial and or aperture ring until the central round LED for precise exposure or the central round LED and one of the triangular LEDs for expo sure with 2EV in the viewfinder come on only one of the triangular LEDs flashing indicates over or underexposure together with the required direction of rotation of the apertu re ring and shutter speed dial Film speed ISO 6 9 to ISO 6400 39 ISO 12 12 to ISO 3200 36 for TTL mode Power supply to exposure meter Two silver oxide button cells IEC type SR44 diameter 11 6 mm height 5 4 mm or one 1 3 N lithium battery diameter 11 6 height 10 8 mm Automatic battery check If battery voltage is inadequate for accurate exposure metering the right LED flashes Battery life At an ambient temperature of 20 C and with the camera continuously switched on shutter release button pressed one set of fresh batteries lasts approx 8 hours at 10s per reading this suffices for approx 2900 exposures approx 80 films of 36 exposures each Shutter Rubberised cloth horizontal focal plane shutter Mechanically controlled speeds fro
8. sandy beaches white washed walls or a white wedding gown reflect more light toward the exposure meter tending to result in underexposure Predominantly dark subjects such as a black steam locomotive dark grey slate roofs and navy blue uniforms reflect much less light and meters tend to overexpose To achieve correct exposures in these cases the measured values must be corrected unless exposure is measured selectively by inclusion of only a portion containing a representative sampling of dark and light subject details You would for example meter on the bride s face and not on her white gown A landscape shot with a wide angle lens should be metered with the LEICA M6 TTL pointing downward to exclude the bright sky When no such metering alternative is availa ble a compensation factor of 2x or 4x can be 26 used the lens aperture can be opened by one or two f stops or the shutter speed increased White snow under a clear sky with bright sunlight often calls for an exposure increase of 4x i e instead of the specified shutter speed of 1 1000 s and f 8 use 1 250 s and f 8 or 1 1000 s and f 4 When photographing less bright subjects such as a sandy beach a compensation factor of 2 is sufficient The reverse is the case for dark subjects Note the tips below on exposure metering Switching off the exposure meter If the camera is stored in a bag or left unused for some time the shutter speed dial should be set to
9. OFF The exposure meter is then switched off Metering diagram Data on the metering range of the exposure meter can be found on the right hand side of the diagram Data on the working range of the focal plane shutter and lenses can be seen on the left The exposure values EV are shown in the middle The metering range of the exposure meter is indicated on the right hand side of the diagram in cd m2 candela per square metre The ISO film speed values Sv are shown at the top of the diagram The different exposure times in seconds Tv Time value are shown on the left hand side of the diagram 27 The working range of the LEICA M6 TTL shutter is indicated schematically by the hat ched vertical column at the far left hand side of the drawing B representing the unrestricted Upper end The aperture values Av are shown on the lower left hand side Example A shows the correlation between the film speed luminance brightness exposure and aperture First follow the vertical line from the film speed ISO 100 21 down to the intersection on the horizontal line representing the corresponding luminance In example A this is 4000 cd m i e a typical value for bright sunlight The line now runs diagonally to the vertical line indicating the aperture 11 and from there horizontally to the required exposure 1 250 s In the course of this diagonal the exposure value 15 can also be read off Example B
10. at the same time whether there is a sufficiently even distribution of dark and light details 32 c Nint Cnr Daca Tran PN rat htp lea eed at httn hananar inana nhan rnmimaniis Not For Resale Free Download at http www joe chan com manua L 33 Not For Resale Free Download at http www joe chan com manuals A easily identified detail in the frame is also necessary for focusing If this detail does not happen to be in the centre of an interesting picture area the camera again has to be moved the dark light distribution can of course be checked at the same time The two pictures above were taken in this way Left focusing and exposure metering on the boy on the right in the left hand window the camera is returned to the desired picture area considerable change in exposure value as the exposure meter now covers predominantly white details move the camera therefore to the left and point the lens down for renewed exposure metering metering field of the exposure meter is partially outside the subject area return to the original subject area shoot 34 Not For Resale Free Download at http www joe chan com manuals On the bright beach of Acapulco the exposu re value was determined by moving the camera to the right and metering outside the range of the subject area The area which was metered contained reed huts palm trees deckchairs and people i e an even distribution of light and
11. dark details If such substitute measurements are not possible exposure metering should be car ried out on the light details for example the light sand on the beach or in the desert the whitewashed walls in a Greek village or the snow on the run of a ski slope and the value then corrected accordingly Opening the aperture by two stops corrects the exposure value for purely white details as does multiplying the shutter speed by 4 e g 1 125 s instead of 1 500 s For light coloured details such as sand it is sufficient to open the aperture by one stop or double the shutter speed In sunny snowscapes the correct exposure for the areas of sunlight can be determined by metering in the shade In this case no cor rection need be made For photographs of spotlit subjects when many details of the subject are in the shadow or for predominantly dark subjects such as steam engines or black fields of lava small portions of the picture area with a good dis 35 tribution of light and dark details can usually be found which can be metered using spot metering In this picture taken at the ballet the metered area was at the far right partly outside the picture area If suitable areas are not availa ble the dark details must be metered and a correction made resulting in a smaller aper ture or faster shutter speed Stopping down by half a stop in extreme cases a whole stop is sufficient If there is considerable contra
12. f stop gt turn lens aperture ring clockwise pa Underexposure by half an f stop turn lens aperture ring clockwise e Correct exposure Overexposure by half an f stop turn lens aperture ring anticlockwise Overexposure by at least one stop turn lens aperture ring anticlockwise 4 29 Meter sensitivity The light metering range begins at 0 03 cd m The working range at ISO 100 21 extends from 2 to 20 EV exposure value i e from 4 s shutter speed dial position B at f 1 to 1 1000s at f 32 see also diagram on page 29 Very low light levels Should the light level fall below the range of the exposure meter the left triangular LED flashes Since the meter uses the working aperture the LEDs may also flash when the lens is stopped down The exposure meter remains on for approxi mately 12 seconds after finger pressure is removed from the shutter release button even if the light level is below the threshold sensitivity level If the light level improves during this time e g if the composition is changed or the aperture opened the LEDs stop flashing and come on permanently General information on exposure metering Most scenes contain an even distribution of bright and dark subject details and reflect an average of 18 of the light falling on them This value of 18 corresponds to an average grey tone to which exposure meters are calibrated Very bright subjects such as snow laden winter scenes
13. in the event of damage please contact the Leica Camera customer service or one of the LEICA repre sentations abroad for assistance see war ranty card for address list Alternatively consult your authorised Leica Camera dealer Leica Camera AG Technischer Service Oskar Barnack Str 11 D 35606 Solms Tel 06442208189 Fax 06442 208 339 e mail ts leica camera com LeicaCard Leica Camera AG Infodienst Oskar Barnack Str 11 D 35606 Solms Tel 06442 208 555 Fax 06442 208 339 e mail leicacard leica camera com 49 Not For Resale Free Download at http www joe chan com manuals LEICA CAMERA CHA IN GERMANY MADE Registered Trademark Design subject to alterations without notice Trademark of The Leica Camera Group Leica Camera AG Oskar Barnack Strake 11 D 35606 Solms Germany Telefon 0 64 42 2 08 0 Telefax 0 64 42 2 08 3 33 http www leica camera com cpr leica camera com engl 930 689 Printed in Germany IV 99 GX L Leipscher Druck Wetzlar
14. shows that in candlelight and with a film speed of ISO 400 27 1 cd m photographs should be taken with an apertu re of f 1 4 and a shutter speed of 1 15s An aperture of f 11 for example can no longer be used as the corresponding shutter speed of 4 s is not available on the shutter speed dial As the slowest shutter speed available on the dial is only 1 s exact metering is also no longer possible The correct shutter speed can therefore be obtained only by conversion or from this diagram 28 Sv Not For Resale Free Download at http www joe chan com manuals Metering diagram gt TP NK 00000 ENGGO 0 La woes WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN TT een AANANNANNANNANNNANT LL R ANNNANANNANANNANNANT LL a BOI E ARRES ea 9000090000000 0000000 000 es CNA NOO 0000 OOO OOO 00000000 aaNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN lt NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN OS gt QRatdroranaverPe2Lt LSsSer dY X VANNNNNNNNNNNNNN MARMARA NNNNNNNNNNNNNN NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 2 9000200000000000 MAAAAAAAAANAN ANARANANRANANNNN A NAAAAAAR AAAS NANAANANAAAAAAN I va SESEERES E 3 gt 29 Metering fields The metering field covers approx 23 of the viewfinder image for the lens being used However the following reference value applies to all lens focal lengths The diameter of the circular metering field is approx 2 3 of the short side of the applic able bright line frame This al
15. termed the depth of field It is dependent on the focus setting the focal length of the lens the two values together determine the reproduction scale and the aperture Stopping down i e selection of a larger f number increases depth of field whilst widening the aperture i e selection of a smaller f number decreases it The depth of field scale in conjunction with the focusing ring indicates the range of sharpness at the set focus distance For example using the LEICA SUMMILUX M f 1 4 50 mm lens focused at 5 metres the depth of field at f 4 ranges from approximately 4 to 8 metres Stopping down to f 11 at the same focusing distance however increases the range to 3 20 metres 15 Lens hoods Each LEICA M lens is supplied with a lens hood the design of which is geared to the lens Several lenses have built in telescopic lens hoods The lens hoods should always be used as they provide both shade from stray light and glare and protection against rain drops or fingerprints Use of older LEICA M lenses All LEICA M lenses can be used without restriction However the exposure metering system does not function with the following types HOLOGON f 8 15mm SUPER ANGULON M f 4 21 mm SUPER ANGULON Mf 3 4 21 mm ELMARIT M f 2 8 28 mm up to Serial No 231 4921 The following lens must be set to infinity during fitting removal SUMMICRON with close focusing f 2 50 mm 16 How to hold the camera correc
16. with a circular movement from the inside outwards We recommend micro optic cloth available from your photo dealer or optician stored in a protective container and washable at tem peratures up to 40 without fabric softener never iron Never use special cleaning cloths for glasses which are impregnated with chemicals as they can damage the lens elements Optimal front lens protection in unfavourable conditions for example sand salt water spray can be achieved with colourless UVa filters These can however as with any filter cause undesirable reflections in certain backlight situations and with high contrast We recommend the use of a lens hood since it also protects the lens from finger prints and rain 44 Note the serial numbers of your camera engraved on the accessory shoe of your LEICA M6 TTL and lenses since these are extremely important in the event of loss Alphabetical index Page Aperture setting ring 14 Bags and cases 43 Battery 5 Bright line viewfinder 18 Carrying strap 4 Customer service 49 Depth of field scale 15 Exposure meter 24 General information on exposure metering 26 Switching on 24 Sensitivity 26 Switching off 27 Tips 32 Very low light levels 26 Eyesight correction lenses 42 Film 8 Loading 9 Film speed 10 Rewinding and removing 11 Filters 42 Flash operation 38 Flash synchronisation 39 Focusing ring Frame preselector lever Handgrip M Hold
17. 7 Shutter Speed dial Ta ho 7 Loadingithe film sas seen a a a E a a a nee 8 Opening the camera ea a 8 HSE AMENER aa a A A N 9 Closing theicamera a a Ks ne 10 Transport to the first frame 10 Setting the film speed a n 10 Film rewind and removal 11 EN MEME NCIS cc 12 Removing bT ue 13 EICAINIIENS design a a E nas 13 EC CUS IN s ieie A Na aa NG 14 IG TUIS TING 2e RS NK KA Laa en 14 Depth of field scale 15 GM SMOOGS na ee 16 Use of older LEICA M lenses m n a n a 16 How to hold the camera correctly 17 Bright line viewfinder 18 Frame selector neia antennes a a ER a 20 Rangefinder a er 22 Coincidence double image focusing 22 Splitimage TOCUSING a a de nu 22 Exposure metenng o masi ie 24 Switching on the exposure meter pp 24 Setting the correct shutter speed Page aperture combination 25 Meter sensitivity nn me a 26 Eowlightlevels RE rs 26 General information on exposure metering 26 Switching off the exposure meter 26 Metering diagram pp 27 29 Meterinmgitiel die a a T T E 30 Tips for exposure metering pp 32 DISCO Mas l A dd KK 38 Compatible flashguns 39 Fitting and connecting the flash unit 39 TMs ham ode ne 40 Settings for TTL flash mode
18. If necessary gently hit the camera against the palm of your hand BRErz ega TE CI T Td r y Er T 4 we WAN Se Sun AL 2 NGA LE zo S Fitting the lens to the camera 12 Hold the lens by the fixed ring 15 Align the red lens alignment button 4 with the lens release button 2 on the camera body Fit the lens in this position ensuring that it is perpendicular to the front of the camera Turn the lens slightly to the right to latch it audibly and perceptibly into place Removing the lens 1 Hold the lens by the fixed ring 15 2 Depress the lens release button 2 on the camera body 3 Turn the lens anticlockwise until the lens alignment button 4 lines up with the lens release button 4 Remove the lens keeping it perpendicular to the camera body Note When the camera is loaded with film change the lens in the shade of your body as direct sunlight may otherwise penetrate the shutter En w RIR Q Sib ms PALIN 50 ieme u 2 aimi H Design of the LEICA M lenses The LEICA M lenses are equipped with a fixed ring with depth of field scale 15 a rotatable focusing ring 16 and an aperture setting ring 17 13 Not For Resale Free Download at http www joe chan com manuals NIN LE 12 15 2 B 5100 3 30 Ea Ml Focusing ring The focusing ring 16 shows the distance set and in conjunction with the scale 15 the depth o
19. anuals Ex Rm a L LED for flas 7 2 wa CA Teak h operation Bright line Bright line frame frame LED s for shutter aperture balance 35 mm 135 mm Metering field for focusing 19 Not For Resale Free Download at http www joe chan com manuals Frame preselector The frame preselector lever 18 extends the possibilities of the LEICA M6 TTL viewfinder Using this integrated universal viewfinder you can view frames which do not correspond to the lens which is actually fitted Thus you can test whether the composition would be better served by a different focal length When the lever is pointing outwards i e away from the lens the frames for the 35 and 135 mm focal lengths are displayed When the lever is in its vertical central posi tion the frames for the 50 and 75 mm focal lengths are shown When the lever is pointing inwards i e towards the lens the LEICA M6 TTL view finder with 0 72x magnification displays the frames for the 28 and 90 mm focal lengths AA ate and the 0 85x magnification viewfinder only R shows the bright line frame for the 90 mm focal length FAIRE 18h N Ch EET Rr eS Mbit 20 28 mm 50 mm 75 mm em fy L ES 1 1 5p not for LEICA M6 TTL 0 85 21 Rangefinder Thanks to its high effective base line value the rangefinder of the two LEICA M6 TTL models permits very precise control This is particularly advantageous wh
20. d sliding surfaces on your LEICA M6 TTL have been lubricated Please remember this when the camera is not in use for longer periods of time To prevent the grease from becoming tacky the camera shutter should be cocked and released several times at each shutter speed Do this around every three months without film loaded We also recommend that you operate all the other controls e g frame preselector lever and film speed dial The lens helix and the aperture setting rings should also be moved from time to time A lens acts as a burning glass when bright sunlight shines on the front of the camera The camera should therefore never be put down without first being protected against strong sunlight Damage to the camera shutter can be prevented by using the lens cover and keeping the camera in the shade or in a case To remove stains and finger marks wipe the camera and lens with a clean lint free cloth Rougher dirt in less accessible corners of the camera body can be removed with a small brush Do not use liquid cleaning agents to clean the camera body Dust and lint in the interior of the camera e g on the film guide can best be cleaned using a dry soft haired brush which has been degreased several times in ether Normally a soft haired brush is sufficient for the removal of dust from the outer lens ele ments In case of more stubborn dirt a very clean soft cloth completely free of foreign matter can be used Wipe carefully
21. e Free Download at http www joe chan com manuals LEICA CAMERA MADE IN GERMANY Use of flash In addition to the photocell for ambient light the LEICA M6 TTL is equipped with a second photocell for flash arrow This silicon photocell located on the right below the shutter enables the camera to measure the light emitted by the flash through the lens at the working aperture Through the lens metering on the LEICA M6 TTL is centre weighted and integral The camera can only control the flash light itself if flash units are used which are com patible with SCA 3000 and have an SCA 3501 adapter or if the LEICA SF20 flash unit order No 14414 is mounted on the camera This flash was specially designed for the LEICA M6 TTL Important In order to trigger and control the flash units connected by means of the accessory shoe or the coaxial contact x the LEICA M6 TTL must be loaded with batteries and the expo sure meter must be switched on by lightly pressing the shutter release button 38 Not For Resale Free Download at http www joe chan com manuals a LEICA SF 20 Compatible flash units Thanks to its compact dimensions and its dedicated design the LEICA SF20 is particu larly suitable for use with the LEICA M6 TTL It is very simple to use as it is equipped with an integrated adapter foot with additional control and signal contacts for automatic transfer of a range of data and settings In additio
22. e On the other hand it is well protected to prevent it from being switched on or the settings changed accidentally In addition its direction of rotation like that of the aperture ring on the lenses corresponds to the exposure meter displays in the viewfinder if the left hand triangular LED is flashing for example turning the wheel in the direction of the arrow i e to the right will lead to the slower shutter speed required The shutter speed dial 10 of the LEICA M6 TTL is used to select the shutter speeds from 1 1000s to 1s and also the synchronising speed for flash operation 1 50 s and B for long exposures Not For Resale Free Download at http www joe chan com manuals When the dial is set to B the shutter remains open until the shutter release button is released The OFF position is located between B and the end of the scale When the dial is turned to this position the exposure meter is switched off The speed selector dial engages positively at all engraved speeds Intermediate speeds cannot be selected For details on correct exposure see the Exposure metering section on page 24 Loading the film Always start by making sure that there is no film in the camera by turning the rewind crank 13 gently in the direction of the arrow Any resistance indicates that a film is already loaded see rewinding instructions on page 11 Begin by actuating the wind lever and pressing the relea
23. en wide angle lenses which provide a relatively large depth of field are used The larger magnification of the 0 85 fold viewfinder with its longer base line leads to even higher accuracy Effective base line Mechanical base line x Viewfinder magnification distance between the optical axes of the viewfinder and the rangefinder window LEICA M6 TTL with 0 72x Approx viewfinder 69 25 mm x 0 72 49 9mm LEICA M6 TTL with 0 85x Approx viewfinder 69 25 mm x 0 85 58 9 mm The rangefinder field is the bright rectangle in the centre of the viewfinder field If you cover up the large viewfinder window 14 only the bright line frames and the rangefinder field remain visible The bright sharply defined rangefinder field permits the use of either coincidence or split image rangefinder focu sing Coincidence double image focusing In most cases and particularly for pictures of people the coincidence or double image method is preferable because it requires no straight lines in the subject Simply cover the most important part of the subject with the rangefinder field turn the focusing ring of the lens until the double image merges to one and recompose if necessary to make the exposure Split image focusing For pictures of buildings or other subjects containing straight vertical lines position the rangefinder field such that it is intersected by a line Now turn the focusing ring of the lens until one cont
24. ewfinder frame Photocell Silicon photodiode behind condenser lens top left for ambient light and bottom right behind bayonet fitting of camera Spectral range Modified by filters in front of photocell to match typical spectral range of human eye Sensitivity of exposure range 0 03 cd m2 to 125 000 cd m at f 1 Low light warning By means of flashing triangular LED on the left in the viewfinder Working range At ISO 100 21 exposure values from 2 to 20 EV i e 4 s at f 1 B setting to 1 1000 s at f 32 Switching on the exposure meter By light pressure on shutter release when shutter is cocked Following the expo sure or with the shutter speed set to B or OFF the expo sure meter is switched off after approx 12 s Exposure meter display By light balance in the viewfinder with three red LEDs the two triangular LEDs indicate the direction of rotation of aperture ring and shutter speed dial required for the shutter aperture balance in the event of under or overexposure of at least 1 EV one of the two trian gular LEDs flashes in the event of under or overexposure of up to approx 1 2 EV one of the two triangular LEDs as wells as the round LED in the centre flash when shutter and aper ture match the exposure meter i e when selected exposure is correct only the round LED in the centre comes on 46 Aperture settings By ring on front of lens clickstops at full and half stop settings Shutter settings Large
25. f field range For details on focusing see the Rangefinder section on page 22 Aperture ring 17 The aperture values are standardised world wide They are selected such that the amount of light reaching the film is always halved when the lens is stopped down between two successive apertures stops One stop corresponds to one value on the shutter speed dial 10 Like the shutter speed dial the aperture ring engages perceptibly at each full stop and for most lenses also at half stops With a little practice you will also be able to set the apertures in the dark Like the shutter speed dial the aperture ring moves in the same direction as the exposure meter displays in the viewfinder When the left triangular LED comes on for example turning the dial in the direction of the arrow i e to the right causes the slower shutter speed required to be set For further details on setting the correct exposure see the Exposure metering section on page 24 14 Not For Resale Free Download at http www joe chan com manuals 1 35 10 25 edi feet u ae E CERC UE ANS 50 e x 24 ent SS D ne amen Depth of field scale The plane which is rendered sharpest is the plane parallel to the film upon which the lens is focused The optimum sharpness decreases progressively in front of and behind this plane such that a certain range exists within which the image is to the eye rendered sharply This range is
26. fluencing exposure of the film e g filters and aperture changes are automatically taken into account In addition the LEICA M6 TTL transfers the film speed set on the camera to the flash unit Flash units equipped with the corresponding displays can thus automatically adjust their range settings The film speed setting cannot be influenced by means of the flash unit Settings for the TTL flash mode After switching on the flash unit and setting it to TTL proceed as follows 1 Turn the shutter speed dial of the LEICA M6 TTL to the flash synchronising speed 1 50 s or select a slower shutter speed or B for special effects 2 Set the desired aperture or that required for the subject to camera distance 3 Prior to any flash exposure switch on the exposure meter by lightly pressing the shutter release button If the release button is pressed down completely and the exposure meter remains switched off the flash unit may not be fired Note since the aperture selected on the LEICA M6 TTL is not transferred to the flash it must be set manually on the flash unit to enable the range to be read off on the latter if the flash has such a display 40 Flash exposure displays in the viewfinder in TTL and automatic flash mode with the flash unit SF20 or flash units equipped with the SCA 3501 adapter In the viewfinder of the LEICA M6 TTL an LED in the shape of a flash 3 indicates the different modes e is not di
27. h units refer to the instruction sheet of your flash unit 41 System accessories for the LEICA MG TTL Interchangeable lenses The LEICA M system is ideal for fast and candid photography The range of lenses comprises focal lengths from 21 to 135 mm and widest apertures of f 1 Filters In black and white photography filters are used for controlled rendition of tonal values for example in order to achieve a natural reproduction of different colours in grey tones or in order to improve the appearance of the sky or clouds on the picture In colour photography filters can be used to adjust colour rendition to the wishes of the user or to the spectral sensitivity of the film employed range of different filters equipped with standard filter thread sizes are available for the current LEICA M lenses including a uni versal polarising filter When the exposure is metered through the lens any reduction in the quantity of light by the filter is automatically taken into account However films have different sensitivities in the individual spectral ranges consequently denser more extreme filters may cause deviations from the correct exposure For example orange filters generally require one stop more exposure red on average two stops more A universally valid correction factor is not possible as the red sensitivity of black and white films varies considerably Eyesight correction lenses For optimal matching of the
28. ing the camera Interchangeable lenses Lens hoods M lenses Design Use of older lenses Metering diagram Metering fields Quick wind lever Rangefinder Shutter aperture combination Shutter release button Shutter speed dial Technical data Tips on maintenance of camera and lenses TTL flash mode Winder M 45 Technical data Camera type 35 mm rangefinder camera for the 24 x 36 mm format mechanical shutter and selective through the lens exposure metering of the ambient light or centre weighted integral metering of the flash light with compatible flash units Lens mount LEICA M bayonet Lenses 14 LEICA M lenses with focal lengths from 21 to 135 mm Bright line viewfinder The subject is not viewed through the camera lens Viewfinder magnification 0 72 x or 0 85 x for all lenses Viewfinder eyepiece Adjusted for 0 5 dioptres provision for screw in correction lenses Viewfinder display Six five in the 0 85x viewfinder bright line frames for the various focal lengths rangefinding field 3 LEDs for shutter aperture balance 1 LED for flash operation Framing By projection of pairs of bright line frames into viewfinder 28 and 90 mm single 90 mm frame in the 0 85 x viewfinder or 35 and 135 mm or 50 and 75 mm automatic selection of correct frame for lens in use Frame preselector A three position lever adjacent to the lens bayonet permits projection of two pairs of bright line fra mes single 90 mm frame in 0 85 viewfinde
29. inuous line is formed In practical use it may be advantageous to combine both methods 22 ot For Free Dov ad at htt p ww V JO ye chan n mant Double image out of focus Broken line out of focus Coincident image in focus Continuous line in focus 23 Exposure metering The LEICA M6 TTL meters for exposure under ambient light through the lens at the working aperture The reading is selective by light reflected from a bright metering field onto a photo diode arrow This diode is located behind a collecting lens to the left of and above the shutter The metering field diameter 12 mm i e approx 13 of the negatives size is situated in the centre of the first shutter curtain Li H AU al NUO WWW L joe chan com manuals The unevenness of the white is not a result of poor manufacturing tolerances but is due to the fact that a thick complete coating cannot be applied to the rubberised cloth shutter curtain without the shutter performance being impaired The irregular structure of the metering spot in no way affects the meter reading The lens f stop and shutter speed for correct exposure are indicated by the appearance of the light balance lt lt in the viewfinder the exposure is correct when only the round LED in the middle comes on Switching on the exposure meter The exposure meter is switched on by light pressure on the shutter release button 7 providing that the shutte
30. m 1 s to 1 1000 s in full values B for time exposures of any duration and F 1 50 s for flash operation Extremely low noise operation Flash sockets Standard accessory shoe with centre contact and additional contacts for TTL flash control by the camera of compatible flash units SCA 3000 standard or with SCA 3501 adapter standard socket X for flashbulbs and electronic flash on the back of the camera the two contacts can be used simultaneously Shutter release Shutter release button with standard thread for cable release gentle pressure on the button activates the exposure meter light balance in the viewfinder Film transport Angled quick wind lever with movable hand le 120 movement transports film and cocks shutter interval winding possible ready position also suitable for left eye viewing Motorised film transport with add on LEICA WIN DER M Frame counter With magnifying display in top plate of camera counts forward from 2 to 38 resets automatically on removal of base plate Rewind lever Lever for rewind release on the front of the camera sloped hinge out rewind crank on the left hand side of the camera top plate Camera body Enclosed die cast aluminium camera detach able base plate Top plate 0 8 mm die cast zinc frame selector adjacent to lens mount Eyelets on side of camera body for carrying strap tripod thread A DIN 4503 mechanical contact for LEICA WINDER M LEICA M6 TTL in black or silver ch
31. n it features a number of additional functions of interest However the photographer can also fit any other proprietary flash unit provided they are equipped with standard sockets and also on camera flash units with standardised adapter foot These flash units are fired via the centre contact x 11 We recommend the use of modern thyristor controlled electronic flash units Fitting and connecting the flash unit When mounting a flash unit on the hotshoe of the LEICA M6 TTL ensure that the adapter foot of the flash unit is fully inserted and firmly secured by means of the tightening nut if available This is especially important in the case of flash units with additional control and signal contacts as movements of the flash unit within the adapter foot may lead to the contact being broken and consequently to malfunctions The coaxial contact x 22 for connecting flash units with cable connection is located below the accessory shoe at the back of the camera Note the camera and flash unit must both be switched off before the flash is fitted 39 TTL flash mode This mode is available with the LEICA SF20 and any other SCA 3000 flash unit equipped with the SCA adapter 3501 As soon as the requisite quantity of light has been emitted the camera electronics of the LEICA M6 TTL transmit a stop signal to the flash unit which immediately interrupts light output This flash mode offers the advantage that all factors in
32. r without the lens needing to be changed Parallax compensation Automatic compensation of hori zontal and vertical viewfinder lens parallax coupled to focu sing drive the bright line viewfinder frame automatically fra mes the subject to match the image in the lens Identical image in viewfinder and on film The bright line frame corresponds to a framed 35 x 23 mm close up slide for each focal length At infinity the film frame covers slightly more than the bright line frame Wide base rangefinder Bright field split image and double image rangefinder in centre of viewfinder image Effective base line 49 9 mm in the 0 72x viewfinder mechanical base line 69 25 mm x 0 72 x viewfinder magnifi cation or 58 9 mm in 0 85x viewfinder mechanical base line 69 25 mm x 0 85x viewfinder magnification Partly silvered viewfinder window To improve visibility of the LEDs against a bright subject background the lower and upper edge of the viewfinder window is silvered Exposure metering method Selective through the lens metering at working aperture centre weighted integral TTL metering of the flash light at working aperture when compa tible flash units are used Exposure metering principle Measurement of light reflec ted by 12 mm diameter white circular dot in centre of first shutter curtain area approx 13 of negative size Orientation of exposure metering field in the viewfinder Field diameter about 2 3 length of shorter side of vi
33. r is cocked and the shutter speed dial is not set to B or OFF When one of the two triangular LEDs or the central round LED comes on the exposure meter is ready for operation 24 If finger pressure is released without the shutter being depressed the exposure meter remains switched on for approx 14 s and the corresponding LED s remain on When the shutter is activated the meter switches off and the LEDs in the viewfinder go out When the shutter is not cocked or the shutter speed dial is set to B or OFF the exposure meter remains switched off Note at very low levels of luminance i e at the threshold of the light metering range the LEDs may take approx 0 5 s to come on If the luminance levels fall below the working range of the exposure meter the left hand triangular LED flashes Setting shutter speed lens aperture com binations for correct exposure For correct exposure metering the shutter must be cocked and the shutter speed dial must be set at a marked speed Then 1 Switch on the exposure meter 2 Turn the shutter speed dial and or the aperture ring on the lens in the direction indicated by the flashing LED until only the round LED comes on In addition to the direction of rotation of both shutter speed dial and lens aperture ring required for correct exposure the three LEDs of the light balance also indicate over under and correct exposure as follows Underexposure by at least one
34. rome finish LEICA M6 TTL 0 85 in black chrome Dimensions and weight without lens including batte ries 138 mm height x 79 5 mm width x 38 mm depth 600 g 47 Other LEICA products Projectors For your LEICA M6 slides there is a com prehensive range of versatile easy to use projectors with a large choice of options for your LEICA M6 slides The PRADOVIT P 2002 and the PRADOVIT P 150 PRADOVIT P 300 and PRADOVIT P 600 offer total user convenience and a versatile range of optional modules Superb optical performance in combination with traditional Leica precision mechanics are the common denominator of all LEICA projectors and projection lenses Binoculars and spotting scopes Superb optics are the most outstanding single feature of all TRINOVID binoculars and TELEVID spotting scopes They are made of the same high grade optical glass as the world famous LEICA lenses Their excellent optical performance exceptional resolution and superb brightness ensure a vivid three dimensional image even in poor light 48 Leica Service Internet http www leica camera com Information service Should you have any technical questions regarding the use of Leica products please contact the Leica information service in writ ing or by phone Leica Camera AG Infodienst Oskar Barnack Str 11 D 35606 Solms Tel 06442208111 Fax 06442 208 339 e mail info leica camera com Customer Service For service and repairs or
35. se button Hold the camera in your left hand with the base plate pointing upwards Opening the camera 1 Raise the latch 20 on the base plate 19 2 Turn the latch to the left 3 Remove the base plate 4 Fold the back 23 out towards the rear Note with the camera back open three gold plated electrical contacts 29 are visible on the back and in the camera housing These contacts are corrosion free and relatively insensitive to dirt and dust Special care of these contacts is not necessary When loading a new film however ensure nevertheless that the contacts are kept clean and dry Inserting the film 5 Hold the film cartridge in the right hand and insert it about half way into the empty chamber 6 Take the film leader and pull it into the take up chamber spool 28 as shown in the dia gram 27 of the camera housing 7 Using your fingers push the cartridge and the film leader carefully into the camera Note the end of the film must be tapered as is the case with made up films Under ordi nary conditions it does not matter if the film end projects through the three post assemb ly In extremely cold dry weather however the end may break off and the drawing should then be followed exactly Important Do not check correct loading when the camera is open The base plate is designed such that it guides the film into the correct position when attached to the camera Closing the camera 8
36. so applies to lenses with viewfinder attachments such as the LEICA ELMARIT M f 2 8 135mm 30 LEICA M6 TTL LEICA M6 TTL Viewfinder magnification 0 85 Viewfinder magnification 0 72 24 21 24 21 79 mm mm LO lO GE E E E SE SE SE NE 31 Not For Resale Free Download at http www joe chan com manuals Tips for exposure metering Landscapes close ups or portraits in the living room at the airport or at parties the majority of subjects contain many bright and dark details Therefore in general exposure metering is not a problem When the camera is tilted a little or turned to the left or right the exposure value remains unchan ged with selective metering However if a landscape scene containing many white clouds is photographed using a wide angle lens or if the exposure meter is influenced by very bright lamps in a Bavarian beer tent for example the camera should be turned towards an area containing no particular bright or dark details To meter the exposure in the beer tent the lens was pointed slightly downwards and to the left towards the lower left hand corner of the picture to prevent the light source directly above the head of the person forming the subject from influencing the exposure reading In most cases the photographer looks through the viewfinder whilst moving the camera in order to find the right framing even for snapshots The photographer can determine
37. splayed even though the flash is switched on The shutter speed set on the camera is faster than 1 50 s e flashes slowly at 2 Hz before the shutter is released The flash unit is not yet operational e flashes before the exposure The flash is operational e continues to flash after the exposure Flash exposure was correct flash remains operational e flashes rapidly after the exposure at 4 Hz Flash exposure was correct but flash is recycling e does not flash following the exposure Underexposure for example due to an aperture too small for the subject Flash exposure displays in the viewfinder in manual flash mode e fis not displayed even though the flash is switched on The shutter speed set on the camera is faster than 1 50 s e flashes slowly at 2 Hz before the shutter is released The flash unit is not yet operational e flashes before the exposure The flash is operational Flash exposure displays in the viewfinder in stroboscope flash mode e fis not displayed even though the flash is switched on The shutter speed set on the camera is too fast for the number of flashes set on the flash unit e flashes slowly at 2 Hz before the shutter is released The flash unit is not yet operational e flashes before the exposure The flash is operational Note for details on flash operation particu larly with other non TTL compatible flash units and information on the different modes of the flas
38. st between light and dark parts of the image the exposure latitude of the films ceases to be sufficient to register the full tonal range of the subject in both the light and the shade The photo grapher must decide where he wishes to retain the greatest detail For example a person can appear as a black silhouette under exposed in front of a correctly exposed landscape or correctly exposed in front of a burnt out background overexposed A reading from light and shadow and the resulting average exposure usually leads to unsatisfactory results because delicate differences in brightness are lost in both the light and the dark areas 36 Not For Resale Free Download at http www joe chan com manuals The landscape shot was taken following metering in the lower right hand part of the picture shadow of the tree on the grass and the horse For fast moving subjects there is often no time for exposure metering In such cases exposure metering is performed in advance In this example the top left hand corner was metered as the tape bordering the racetrack provided light and dark details underexposure often enhances the character of a picture and can be used as a good compositional aid In this landscape shot the fir trees and mountain rid ges on the left of the picture without the sky were metered for the exposure and the value was then reduced by two stops Deliberate over or 37 Not For Resal
39. thin the bright line frame The frames are coupled to the focusing mechanism such that parallax errors the distance between lens and viewfinder axes are automatically compensated for as the lens is focused and the bright line frame is the same as the film image in the entire range from 0 7 m to There are two LEICA M6 TTL models with different versions of this viewfinder which differ in their magnification When lenses with focal lengths of 28 from serial No 2411001 onwards 35 50 75 90 and 135 mm are used on the LEICA M6 TTL with 0 72x viewfinder magnification the cor responding bright line frame is automatically reflected into the viewfinder in the combina tions 28 90 mm 35 135 mm and 50 75 mm When the LEICA M6 TTL is used with 0 85x viewfinder magnification a corresponding five frames are reflected into the viewfinder for the focal lengths from 35 mm upwards The centre of the viewfinder contains a somewhat brighter rectangle this is the LEICA rangefinder All lenses with focal lengths from 21 to 135 mm couple to the rangefinder when attached to the LEICA M6 TTL With the exposure meter switched on the lower edge of the viewfinder also displays the LEDs of the exposure meter or the LED flash symbol For details on distance and exposure mete ring and flash operation refer to the corre sponding section on pages 22 24 and 38 18 Not For Resale Free Download at http www joe chan com m
40. tly In order to achieve sharp well focused pho tographs the camera must be held as stea dily and comfortably as possible Hold the LEICA M6 TTL in a suitable safe three point holding position as follows hold the camera with your right hand with your index finger on the release button and your thumb pushed behind the quick wind lever in its operating standby position In addition support the lens from below with your left hand with which you can refocus quickly at any time and press the camera against your forehead For vertical pictures turn the LEICA M6 TTL to the left and keep your hands in the same position as for horizontal shots You can however also rotate the camera to the right In this case it may be advantageous to release the shutter using your thumb Note We recommend the practical handgrip M accessory to enable you to hold the LEICA M6 TTL and to carry it securely whilst keeping your hands free order No 14 405 17 Bright line viewfinder The bright line viewfinder of the LEICA M6 TTL comprises not only a high quality large bright and high contrast viewfinder showing every detail which will appear on the final picture but also a highly accurate lens coup led rangefinder The size of the frame corresponds to an image field of 23 x 35 mm slide format at the closest focusing distance for each lens At longer distances the image will contain a somewhat larger subject field than that shown wi
41. viewfinder to the eye correction lenses in the following strengths are available dioptres spherical 0 5 1 5 2 3 42 LEICA WINDER M Either the LEICA WINDER M M4 P or the LEICA WINDER M4 2 from serial No 10350 can be fitted to the LEICA M6 TTL for automatic film transport and shutter cocking for single exposures and series of up to three frames per second The winder is mounted on the camera in place of the base plate and is suitable for all shutter speeds from 1 to 1 1000s including B When the winder is switched off or if the batteries are dead the film can still be wound on manually as normal Remote release is possible via the cable release connection 43 Bags and cases An ever ready leather case with removable front is available for the LEICA M6 TTL fitted with a lens of a focal length of 21 to 50 mm except for M f 1 50 mm In addition we offer a bag made of soft nappa leather equipped with a wrist strap for carrying the specially flat and handy combination of LEICA M6 TTL and ELMARIT M f 2 8 50 mm collapsible In addition the classic combination bag is available for a camera plus up to three lenses and the hold all bag accommodates a camera with up to five lenses For LEICA M equipment the small elegant and weatherproof Outdoor bag is also avai lable see Handbook of the LEICA system pages 4 4 and 4 6 Tips on maintenance of your LEICA M6 TTL and lenses All mechanically operated bearing an
42. xidation of the battery surfaces this will also cause the LEDs to go out In this case remove the batteries and clean the battery terminals camera contacts and battery compartment cover with a clean cloth Important e Always replace batteries in full sets Do not mix batteries of different make or type e Keep battery contacts clean e Do not incinerate recharge open dismantle or heat the batteries e Remove exhausted batteries as soon as possible Do not dispose of used batteries in normal garbage as they contain environ mentally harmful substances e In order to ensure proper battery recycling take the batteries to a recycling point e f the camera is not to be used for longer periods remove the batteries e Store batteries in a cool and dry place D KALANG 16 Quick wind lever The quick wind lever 8 is used to advance the film to cock the shutter and to automati cally advance the frame counter For rapid sequences the user can put the lever into a ready position Shutter release button The shutter release button 7 should be pressed softly not jerkily until it clicks and the shutter is opened The shutter release has a threaded socket to accept standard cable releases Shutter speed dial The size and location of the shutter speed dial of the LEICA M6 TTL are ergonomically perfect on the one hand the dial is extre mely easy to use and can also be operated with the camera held to the ey
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