Film cameras
Leica R6 User manual
User manual for Leica R6. 59 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
59 pagesEnglish3.6 MB PDF
Loading your manual…Open PDF directly
Document details
- Brand
- Leica
- Model / document
- Leica R6
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 59
- File size
- 3.6 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
Search available document text
Find a term, then jump to its page in the original PDF. Image-only pages may not be searchable; check the PDF for exact wording and diagrams.
Page 3 · Read text
We hope that you will obtainagreat deal of Leica Academy.The internationally famous
pleasure from your new LEICA and wish Leica Academy teachesphotographicknow-
you many years of successfulphotography how. It meets the needs of keen photo-
with it. May we also draw your attention to graphers for special training in demanding
the following facilities which are available areas of 35 mm photography, projection,
to you: and enlargement.
Seminars offer participants practical infor-
Technical sewice mation on the LEICA world of values and
Your authorized Leica agent's Technical on the fascination of the skilled use of
Service (see warranty card) is available for LEICA products. Course syllabuses are
servicing your camera and carrying out application-oriented and informative, and
repairs in caseof damage. provide a wealth of practical suggestions,
help, and advice.
Details and registrationforms are available
from:
Leica GmbH, Leica Academy,
Schtitzenstrasse6, 6330 Wetzlar (Germany),
Telephone+ 49(0)64 41 29 23 33
www.orphancameras.comView original page 3Page 4 · Read text
Contents Page Page
Brief description 4 Depth-of-field lever Ja Ja
Attaching the carrying strap 6 Depth-of-field scale on lens 33
Shutter-speedsetting ring 7 Socket for cable release 34
Inserting and checking the batteries 8 Independent mirror release 34
Inserting the cameralens 10 Self-timer 35
Removing the camera lens 10 Use of flash equipment 36
Adjusting the eyepiece 11 TTL exposure control 37
Quick-wind lever 12 Holding the camera correctly 4 l
Inserting the film 13 Multiple exposures 42
Setting the film speed 15 Design of LEICA R lenses 42
Rewinding and removing the exposed film 15 Automatic diaphragm 43
Exposure-metermodes 16 Lens hoods 43
Full-field integral mode 17 Filters and use of filters 44
Selectivemode 17 Existing LEICA R and LEICAFLEX
Exposure meter 18 lensesand accessories 46
Full-aperture exposure control 20 Use of LEICA M lenseson the LEICA R6 47
Working-aperture exposure control 20 Hints on the care of your LEICA R6
Effective working range of exposure meter 20 and its lenses 47
Range of exposure meter 2l Camera cases 48
Low-light warning 2l Motor Winder R and Motor Drive R 49
Working diagram of exposure meter 23 RC LEICA R electronicremote-controlunit 50
Manual override control DB2 LEICA R databack 5 1
(exposurecorrection) 24 Interchangeablelenses 52
The viewfinder as composition and Enlargers 53
control centre 26 Projectors 53
Ancillary light 28 Binoculars 53
Correction lenses 29 Spareparts for your LEICA R6 53
Eyecup 29 Focusing screens 53
Eyepiece obturator 30 Camera use in the tropics 53
Focusing with the universal screen 3 1 Technical data 55
Interchangeablefocusing screens 32 Index 58
F.*e py.oab$W, o-,
_., r.i / siView original page 4Page 7 · Read text
d
Attaching the carrying strap
Attach the carrying strap to the eyelets O.
O Slide back the safety loop at the end of
the strap (fig. a).
O Remove the metal hook from the strap
(fig. b, c).
O Insert the hookin eyeletO, with the bent
part of the hook parallel with the side of
tlre camera (fig. d, e).
O Insert the strap through the open end and
the narrowed part of hook, then turn
through 90o for a proper seating on the
D-shaped loop (fig. f, g, h).
O Slide the safety loop fully home over the
hook (fig. i, j).
www.orphancameras.comView original page 7Page 9 · Read text
Inserting and checking the batteries for about 5 s. If the batteries are in working
Exposure meter and ancillary light in the order, the LED @ in front of the test button
viewfinder display are powered by two silver lights. If during these five secondsthe LED
oxide button cells or a lithium battery. dims noticeably,the batteriesare nearly flat
Insert a coin in the slot of the battery cap and should be replacedas soon as possible.
@ to unscrew.Use a clean cloth to remove If the LED fails to light, the batteries may
any oxide on the surface of the batteries have become coated with oxide. If so.
and insert in the battery cap. Position the simply wipe them clean by pressingthe bat-
batteriesas shown in the battery cap. Screw tery-test button the camera is switched on
the cap with the batteries back into the and the LED displaysin the viewfinder are
baseplateof the camera. activated.
Always check the state of the batteries
before attempting to take any photographs,
especially when the camera has not been
used for some time. To do so, switch on the
exposuremeter and pressthe test button @
www.orphancameras.com , t ;) . r " , , , t
,'. \View original page 9Page 10 · Read text
Silver oxide button cells Note: When a MotorWinder or Motor Drive
suitable for the LEICA R6 is fitted, the camera is powered by the
batteries of the motorized film transport,Ucar EPX 76 i. e. you cannot check the camera'sbatteries.Ucar S 7 6 E To check that the motor batteriesare in factUcar 3s7
Duracell D 3s7(10L r4) supplyingpower to the exposuremeter and the viewfinder displays, press the battery-Varta V 7 6 P X
Varta V 1 3 G S test button @, at the sametime switching on the exposure meter, e. g. by pressing theVarta v 357 locking button to the selecter switch (see:EverReady S 7 6 E Switchingon the exposuremeter, page 18.National S R 4 4 .
National S R 4 4 W ' Hdlvever, {his is n9t a battery check for the motor funcfions.Ray-O-Vac , R S 7 6 c
Ray-O-Vac RW 42 Notes on battery care and use:Maxell S R 4 4 P
Maxell SR44 O Store batteriesin a cool, dry place
Maxell SR44 SW O Never use old and new batteriestogether
O Do not mix batteries of different makes
Lithium batteries O These batteriesare not rechargeable
suitable for the LEICA R6
Batteries contain toxic and environmentallyDuracell D L I A N
Varta CR r/: N damaging substances.Do not discard used batteries, but return them to your cameraUcar 2 L 7 6 shop for recycling.
Caution:
Always remove the batteries if the cameia is
unlikely to be used for sometime.
D ,:*
r i lView original page 10Page 12 · Read text
" ; t ,
Adjusting the eyepiece Press the wheel back into its normal
A sharply defined viewfinder image is position to retain the setting obtained.
essentialfor exploiting the full potential of In its normal position, the setting wheel
the LEICA R6 and the high performance turns readily, but without altering the
of LEICA R lenses.The eyepiecelens is eyepiece setting. When it is pulled out,
thereforeadjustableto your eyesight,with a you feel distinct click stops as you turn it.
rangefrom*2to -2 diopters.
To adjust the eyepiece,pull out the small
settingwheel @ on its left and turn until you
obtain the correct setting.Setthe lens out of
focus,e. g. at the shortestfocusing distance,
point the camera at the sky, look through
the viewfinder, and turn the setting wheel
until the circle that indicatesthe edgeofthe
field for the selectiveexposure-metermode
is sharply defined and in good contrast.
I)
/ ,,c"it'1View original page 12Page 13 · Read text
Quick-wind lever
The quick-wind lever @ winds the film,
turns the frame counter @, and cocks the
shutter.
With the lever pivoted out in the stand-by
position, there is room to slide your thumb
behind it and firmly support the camera.
For use with a Motor Winder or Motor
Drive, see the manual supplied with the
motor unit.
The € symbol marks the f,rlm plane.
www.orphancameras.com , I') ,,t " \ tr'View original page 13Page 15 · Read text
You may occasionally wish to take out a
partly exposed film and later insert it again.
To ensure that the film is always inserted
under the same conditions, use the quick-
wind lever to cock the shutter, then release
the shutter before inserting the film.
Snap the camera back shut to close the
camera. Releasethe shutter. Wind the film
one frame forward, release the shutter
again, then wind on one more frame. The
'l^ camera is now ready for use. The frame
couglegstdndsat 1. If counts forward to 36. 'of To iirdicate the various lengthp .,fiIm I
available, the figures 20, 24, aid 36 are
Pull up the rewind crank as far as it will go marked in red.
and insert the film cartridge in the empty
cartridgechamber,then push in the rewind
crank.The edgeof the film must be parallel
with the film guide. As you move the quick-
wind lever, the sprockets of the transport
drum must engagein the edge perforations
of the film.
Use the quick-wind lever to wind the film Important:
one frame forward. to ensure that it lies Bright light may enter through the mouth of
tensioned in the film guide and that the the cartridge and damage your film. Never
mouth of the cartridge does not out. insert a film in bright light. Sttck
www.orphancameras.com , I') tt'' "View original page 15Page 17 · Read text
Selective mode Full-field integral mode
Exposure-metermodes The exposure meter measures the light
The LEICA R6 has an exposure-meter through the lens (TTL exposure-meter
systemthat providestwo alternativemodes: system).It usesa siliconphotodiode,placed
in the base of the camera to protect it fromO Selectivemode stray light. When you use any LEICA R lensE Full-field integral mode with an automatic diaphragm,the exposure
meter works at full aperture. The symbol
displayed in the window @ next to the
selector switch and at the lower left of the
viewfinder indicatesthe mode selected.
www.orphancameras.comView original page 17Page 18 · Read text
O
Full-field integral mode Selectivemode
Most photographicsubjectscontain details This is the method of choice if the bright-
of varied brightness.The light reflection of ness range of the subject is very large.
this type of subject correspondsto a mean The large central circle in the viewfinder
grey value of 180/0.This is the calibration indicates the field covered in this mode, in
value for all exposure meters. which the exposure meter measures only
The full-field integral mode is suitable for the light reflected by the exact area of
all subjectsin normal light, when there are the subject that should determine the
no extremes of light or colour, and where exposure. The field is the same size on
the light and dark areas are fairly evenly all focusing screens and for all lenses,
distributed over the entire field. whatever their focal length, and is clearly
marked in the viewfinder.
) ' ) . t ,
L , ,,'.\View original page 18Page 19 · Read text
Switching on the exposuremeter and Switching off the exposuremeter
choosingthe exposure-metermode To switch off the exposure meter, set the
The selector switch @ has three positions: selectorswitch to selective,pressthe locking
OFF, selective,and integral, in that order. button and at the same time move the
To select the required mode, press the switch to OFF.
locking button and at the same time move Window @ displaysthe stateofthe exposure
the selector switch @ from OFF to integral. meter:
To switch from integral to selective and vice OFF : Switched off
versa.move the switch fullv home from left O : Switched on. selectivemode
to rigirt or from right to left. Mode selection fl : Switched on, integral mode
also activates the exposure meter (see:
Activating the exposure meter).
www.orphancameras.comView original page 19Page 20 · Read text
Activating the exposuremeter Setting the correct
Check that the exposure meter is switched shuttei/ aperture combination
on and set the mode required. There are For a correct exposure, check that the
three means of activating the exposure shutter is fully cockedand the shutter-speed I meter: press lightly on the shutter-release setting ring is set to the required click stop.
button @ as far as the pressurepoint; press Activate the exposure meter. Turn theIJ the locking button to the selectorswitch @; shutter-setting ring andlor the aperture-
or pressthe battery-checkbutton @. When setting ring on the lens until the round
the exposure meter is active, the LED central LED of the shutter/aperture balance
display in the viewfinder lights. If the lights. The two arrow-shaped triangular
shutter is cocked when you release the of t!r" shutter/aperture balance &e.Pr button you have used to a'cfivetethe system, thcllcatg.under-.-or overexposure and the
the LEDs continue'to light for about 12s. direction in which to turn the setting ring(s)
If the shutter is not cocked, the LEDs go for a correct exposureoas follows:
out immediately.
To indicate that the exposure meter is stop: turn clockwise ready, one or two of the LEDs of the
shutter/aperture balance light. In very > O Underexposure by half a stop:
poor light, in the threshold region of the turn clockwise
exposure meter's range, the system has to O Correct exposure
settle down for two or three secondsbefore O{ Overexposure by half a stop: turn
it can give an accuratereading. anticlockwise
stop: turn anticlockwise
D ,-1y ,
r i tView original page 20Page 21 · Read text
Full-aperture exposurecontrol Effective working range of exposuremeter
Practically every LEICA R lens has an In the LEICA R6, the sensitivity of the
automatic diaphragm. A spring opens the photodiode, the film-speed setting, the
diaphragmto full aperturefor the exposure- nominal aperture of the lens in use, and the
meter reading and closesit to the required range available on the camera's shutter-
aperture setting for the exposure. speed setting ring and on the aperture-
setting ring of the lens determine the
Working-aperture exposurecontrol effective working range of the exposure
Somelensesand accessoriesdo not have an meter (see: Working diagram of exposure
automatic diaphragm or have no linkage meter, page 23). Depending on the lens in
mechanismfor it. This applies,for example, use, it extendsfrom f / I.4 to f / 32. 'Ufto lenseswith a focal lerfuth of 400 mm or in pppf ligh,t-a small aperture does not
more and to the Focusing Bellows R. In let you achievea balance,measurethe light
thesecases,you have to obtain the exposure- at full aperture and compute the time
meter reading at working aperture exposure for the aperture you want to use
with the shutter set to B (see diagram).
Ifin poor light a slow film preventsyou from
Caution: obtaining a balance,measure the light at a
To avoidmisleadingexposure-meterreadings, faster film-speed setting and compute the
do not press the depth-of-field lever while time exposurerequired with the shutter set
taking a reading. to B; do not forget to reset the film speed.
www.orphancameras.com I' jView original page 21Page 24 · Read text
Workingdiagram of exposuremeter on the left lights. In such a case,you can This diagram uses the standard layout in readily compute the correct exposure as which cameraand lens data are on the left, follows: film speedand exposure-meterrangeon the In this example, the last reading for which right, and the exposure values (EV) lie you can obtain a balancedshutter/ aperture betweenthem. Time exposuresare indicated combinationis 1 s at f / 5.6.This corresponds diagrammaticallyby the arrow on the left. to 2s at f /8, 4s at flll, and 8s at f /16 Line A in this example showsthat in poor (dotted line C). Set the shutter to B and take light (1 cd / m2), for a fast film with an ISO an eight-secondtime exposure. rating of 400/27o, the exposurevalue is 5. For this, anf / 1.4SUMMILUX R lens needs an exposure of rls s at full' ailerture. When you have adjusted the shutter/ aperture balance in the viewfinder, the shutter- setting ring on the camera, the aperture ring on the lens,and the exposuredisplayin the viewfinder show the same combination of shutter and aperture data. Line B shows that if you stop down to f / 2.8 in the same conditions (EV5), the required exposure isr/qs. Thesevaluesare againdisplayedafter you have adjusted the shutter/ aperture balance. If you set the lens to its smallest stop of f /16, the exposuremeter cannot give you a direct reading and there is no shutter- speedsettingavailable.Further, you Oanno longer achievea balancedshutter/ aperture combination: in the viewfinder's shutter/ aperture balance only the triangular LEDView original page 24
Page 25 · Read text
Manual override control Generally,you correctthe indicatedexposure
(exposurecorrection) only after you have brought the shutter/
Exposure meters are calibratedto a standard aperture combination into balance by
grey value for an average photographic altering either the shutter speed or the
subject. If the subject is not in accordance aperture. When you set the override
with this standard,manual override correc- control, you obtain a direct adjustment.
tion of the exposure-meterreading becomes
necessary.
Manual override is more often necessary
in the full-field integral mode. In selective
mode, the subject usually contains a
representative detail with an average
grey value that the more limiti:d field of
this mode makes suitable for an accurate
measurement.
www.orphancameras.com )')View original page 25Page 26 · Read text
Positive override correction To set the override control, pressthe locking
In a very brightly lit subject, such as snow, button @ and turn the setting scale@ to ttre
sand, or water, the high reflectivity causes required value by lever @. to lock the
the exposuremeter to indicate too short an button @, press it in and turn it to the left.
exposure.To prevent underexposure,select When the override control is at 0. the lever
a slower shutter speed. For snow, for @ fits snugly into the camera body. The
example, you may have to reduce the override control can be set in steps of one-
exposurefrom Uns to l/:o s, i. e. in this case third of an exposure value, from EV + 2 to
set the override control to +2. EV- 2. AIthe extremesofthe ISO scale.the
override control works only within limits.
Negative override correctioq {hen override is active, the viewfinder
In a very dark subject thaf'reflects only a sytnbol lhat indieates the active exposure-
small amount of light, the exposure meter meter mode flashes. ", .;
indicatestoo long'an exposure.To prevent ''t
overexposure,select a faster shutter speed,
for example from llao Io rlrzss, i. e. in this
caseset the override control to -1.
4 ,
, f . ) , ') "' / s 1View original page 26Page 27 · Read text
The viewfinder as compositionand Whenflashunitsofthe SCA300and SCA500
control centre systemsare used, the I at the lower left of
The viewfinder of the LEICA R6 helps the viewfinder frame indicates'flash ready'
you compose your photographs and is the and'flash exposurefinished'(seepage36).
control centre for all important items of At its right are the symbols indicating the
information: active exposure-metermode, i. e. selective +It lets you assessfocus,picture excerpt, and (O) or integral (E). Further to the right are i
Iperspective.The larger of the two central the three symbols of the shutter/aperture
circles clearly defines the field for selective balance. The preset aperture is projected
exposure-metermode. The viewfinder area into the centre of the viewfinder frame li
is920/oof the frame size.)Vith the eyepiece -and'lln next to it is the selectedshutter speed. 4
at 0 diopters and a st6ridard 50 mm lens poqr.light,bolh displayscan be illuminated
fitted and focused' to infinitv. it has an 0.8 x (seepage28).
magnification. itr" iuig. ciicle in the centre of fhe view-
The viewfinder displays all essentialdata. finder indicates the field for the selective
When the shutter is cocked,the LEDs light exposure-meter mode. The illustration
for about 12s when the locking button to the showsthe universalfocusingscreensupplied
selectorswitch, the battery-checkbutton, or as the standard focusing screenwith every
the shutter releaseis pressedand released. LEICA R6.
To avoid confusion, only essentialdata are
displayed.
The illustration on page 27 shows all the
displaysat the same time.
'r' ^
www.orphancameras.com r,i '"A / , '
r i lView original page 27Page 29 · Read text
Ancillary light button, the ancillary light remains lit for
To allow you to see the viewfinder display about 12s and then switches off auto-
of the selected shutter speed and aperture matically.
in the dark. the LEICA R6 has ancillarv The ancillary light can also be switched on
lighting. The switch @ is at the lower teft of with the shutter set to B.
the mirror housing. The symbol O indicates To avoid inadvertent battery drain, do
that the ancillary light is switched off. To not leave the ancillary light switched on
switch it on, push the switch up to position unnecessarily.
Q . To activate the ancillary light, check that
the exposure meter is switched on and
touch the shutter release or press either
the locking button to the selectorswitch or
"the battery-check button. The light is
visible from the outside on the lens @1nd in
the illuminating window for the shutter-
speed indicator @. After you release the
www.orphancameras.comView original page 29Page 31 · Read text
II
t t ; : - - -
t r r . -
Eyepieceobtura Caution: If the obturator is not completely
The silicon photodiode of the exposure swung back, it may cover up the display in
meter is located in the base of the camera, the lower margin of the viewfinder frame.
where it is protected from stray light.
Normally, therefore, there is little likelihood
of light entering the viewfinder eyepiece
and affecting exposure-meter readings,
except when you are not using the view-
frnder for taking photographsfrom a tripod
and direct sunlight or bright artificial light
enters the eyepiece.To prevent this, turn
the knob of the obturator @ at the left of the
eyepieceinthe direction ofthe arrow.When
the obturator is in place, a white triangle
appearsin the eyepiece.
www.orphancameras.comView original page 31Page 32 · Read text
Focusingwith the universal screen A ring formed by a screen of rectangular
Standarddelivery of the LEICA R6 includes microprisms surrounds the central split
a universalfocusingscreen.This producesa wedge.When the image is out of focus, this
bright, high-contrastimage and is suitable screen seems to flicker. The outer circum-
for photography in most of the situations ference of the ring also marks the outline of
that are normally encountered. the field in the selective exposure-meter
To focus, turn the focusing ring @ on the mode.
lens. The remainder of the screen looks like a
When the image is out of focus, the edges ground-glassscreenand is ideal for focusing
and lines of the subject are discontinuous long-focuslensesand in close-rangephoto-
in the upper and lower semicircles of the graphy.
split-imagerangefrnder.
t ' i . t i ,View original page 32From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.
PDF verified 2026-10-10.