M6 backdoor issue

It sounds like you have a problem, though I agree w/your man in Athens that it’s probably not an emergency. 1 advantage of the Leica bottom-loading design is that it maxmizes the stiffness of the body & minimizes the chance for light leaks (this is particularly true of the old thread mount bodies which didn’t even have backdoors). At worst in the near term, I think you would have a film-flatness issue, but I’m not a Leica mechanic by any means, so I’m just speculating. Based on my M6 TTL, there should be a little play in the door in all directions, but not 1mm. I have noticed that only my M6 TTL has any play in the backdoor (unlike my M3, M4, & M7), so maybe it’s something peculiar to the M6 series (& perhaps the M4-P).

Yes, mine M6 is a TTL too and the rest M cameras have a fairly different construction design at this area.
M7 and MP backdoors are considerably tighter fitted in position, while the M6 “classic” is the same.

Thanks Christopher.

Hi Jonnek,

Having a play with my M6TTL, in which there is currently a film, the back door moves a little from side to side (probably less than 1mm). I can press it in a fraction of a mm on the top corners – in fact all the way along the top – and in the middle of the bottom but not in the bottom corners.

Have you had the camera serviced recently? It’s worth doing, you know…

Cheers, P.

Paul,

To tell the truth the play to my M6 it must be something less than a 1 mm play.

But it feels considerably large.

In the bottom I cannot feel any play at all.

Regarding a service I must admit that I have never done one. The camera seems to be in a perfect order and except this backdoor issue there isn’t anything else like a problem.
I bought the camera (TTL 0.58X) 3 months ago as a replacement for an M6 classic because I was tired of the boundary frames of the 28mm in the 0.72x viewfinder. I am working with this fellow, shooting about 25-30 rolls per week. I am not a collector and I don’t care about cosmetics and appearance of the camera. I only worry for it to function properly and so far it seems it does.

The reason that made me worry with the backdoor issue is that it get worse by using the camera. I noticed a small play when I pushed the left top corner 2 months ago and now this is bigger and also transfered to the right corner also.

Here in Greece there isn’t an official Leica repair center and if I want to CLA or anything else my camera, I have to send it to Germany and wait without it for a long period, something that right now is unacceptable.

Well, I don’t know..

Thank you Paul.

I don’t think you have a problem mate. As long as it keeps working just keep using it, and remember the issue when you next have some work done on it.

Cheers, P.

I didn’t realize my M6s do that until I read this question. I guess both my M6 and M6ttl both do it. I guess you’re good. All the best.

The play in the back of the M6 door panel is quite normal according to Don Goldberg at DAG – as i asked him the same question a few years back when he upgraded my M6 viewfinder to the MP version along with other mods. My MP and M4’s don’t have the same play. For better assurance why not email him ? His website is here http://www.dagcamera.com/

i just found his reply

“the play in the backdoor is quite normal & will NOT cause any focus shift since the spring loaded pressure plate has more than enough spring movement. Leica realized that they had alot of play in their M6 models with the backdoor so they installed a thin strip of foam tape, however, the tape soon decomposed & turned to black tar and they no longer use the tape. Even though the play in the backdoor seems like it’s a problem it really isn’t,”

Thank you all guys, I think that I am relaxed with the issue.

Since my negs are okay regarding unwelcome light insertion and focus, everything else is simply extended imagination.