Re: [Leica] M4-2

[Dan Cardish <dcardish@microtec.net>]

What a dilemma; a mint M4-2 which would be highly valued by collectors, but
which would be poor as a photo taking camera, or a beat up used M4-P which
will have had all the problems ironed out, but uselss as a collectable!

Dan C.


At 08:27 AM 31-07-00 -0600, John Collier wrote:
>The lack of commercial success for the M5, the decline in sales of
>rangefinder cameras in general and the rising labour cost in Germany led
>Leitz to decide to discontinue the M line. Walter Kluck, CEO at the time of
>Leitz's Canadian subsidiary where most of the M lenses were made, knew that
>Leitz Canada would be hit hard by the loss of M business. He fought for
>continuing the production of the M camera and had the manufacturing
>equipment moved from Germany to Canada where labour costs were substantially
>cheaper. Some of the M production staff also moved over to Canada. The
>camera was redesigned to reduce costs and to modernise it as well. For
>example the selftimer was eliminated, the film counter simplified and a hot
>shoe and a coupling for a winder were added. There were a lot of teething
>problems in setting up production in Canada and the early M4-2 cameras had a
>great deal of problems. They were sorted out and later M4-2 cameras were
>very reliable. How should this affect your decision to buy an M4-2? If it is
>a later production camera, or a M4-P, do not worry about it as the bugs had
>been worked out by then. If it is an early camera that has seen moderate to
>hard use, do not worry as the bugs would have been straightened out in
>warranty and maintenance repairs. If it is an early camera in mint or mint -
>condition, I would not buy it as the problems will not have been dealt with.
>One of our illustrious members had a strap eyelet come away from an early
>M4-2 camera resulting in an unfortunate rocky landing which destroyed his
>lens as well! All covered under warranty though!
>
>John Collier
>
>sources: Leica Photography 6/98, pg. 18-19; and, Popular Photography July,
>1980, starting at pg. 121
>
>
>> From: "Julian Thomas" <mimesis@btinternet.com>
>> Reply-To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
>> Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2000 12:51:52 +0100
>> To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
>> Subject: [Leica] M4-2
>> 
>> Can anyone tell me why the M4-2 is often reviled? I've just had a chance to
>> take my recentlyCLA'd M4-2 out and I love it - I much prefer to my M6. The
>> shutter release is so much more positive and need so little travel. With a
>> softie it is perfect. The M6 feels slacker for some reason. OTO at least I
>> could get a backup fairly cheaply!
>> 
>> Julian
>> 
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