[Leica] Re:M4 variants

[len-1 at comcast.net (Leonard Taupier)]

Jeffrey,

The Blackbeauty is very handsome.

Len


On Dec 24, 2006, at 9:20 PM, Jeffery Smith wrote:

> I just pulled my M4-2 out to load it with TRI-X. When I pushed the  
> back door
> shut with my thumb, all of the vulcanite to the left of the film speed
> indicator fell in my lap. That's fine. I had decided to get new camera
> leather on it or my other early M's. I have decided on this color:
> http://www.cameraleather.com/colors/blackbeauty.htm
> Or this color
> http://www.cameraleather.com/colors/sequoia_green.htm
>
> I'm leaning toward the blackbeauty as my M4-2 is black chrome.
>
> Jeffery Smith
> New Orleans, LA
> http://www.400tx.com
> http://400tx.blogspot.com/
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: lug-bounces+jsmith342=cox.net@leica-users.org
> [mailto:lug-bounces+jsmith342=cox.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of  
> Ric
> Carter
> Sent: Sunday, December 24, 2006 6:57 PM
> To: Leica Users Group
> Subject: Re: [Leica] Re:M4 variants
>
>
> The M4 is my downfall into being something like a collector.
>
> I got into Leica late, replacing my Olympus equipment (OM3, OM4t, and
> lenses accumulated on low budget buying over 15+ years) which had
> been stolen. Job changes and "maturing" attitudes and body let me
> decide to strip my pack down to something easier to manage. I shopped
> used and got an M6, 21, 28, cron 50, and cron 90 with the insurance
> money.
>
> When Sonny decided to lighten his load, Kitty urged me to get his M7.
> It still made working sense. I really do prefer working with and
> automatic. So I'm up to two bodies.
>
> Then soon after, local craigslist popped up a bargain: chrome M4,
> Tele-Elmar 135, Chrome Summicron 50, MR Meter, a fistful of filters,
> and a Minolta 16 submini for $500. It all worked fine, if a little
> stiff.  How could I say no?
>
> I bought it. Ran a couple of rolls through the M4 before the shutter
> died (metal lead on one curtain broke loose). Well, it's not worth
> much that way, so off it goes to DAG. As long as it's on the way,
> might as well polish up the 'cron 50 as well. Now I've spent about as
> much as I would have if it weren't a bargain.
>
> So now I have an M4 with 50 that I really don't "need." The 50 isn't
> really more useful than the newer black chrome 'cron I usually use.
> It doesn't focus as close and the infinity lock can aggravate on
> distant focus. The M4 has the rewind crank and more modern loading. I
> guess this make it the perfect snob user M Leica--old world
> construction and smoothness with new world convenience. Of course
> that doesn't put a meter in it, so it becomes a third stringer when
> it comes to work.
>
> Here's the problem: both of them are so DAMN fine to see and handle,
> I couldn't possibly get rid of them. I trot them out regularly for
> shooting, but they aren't the first thing I grab on the way out the
> door. I guess that makes them collector equipment.
>
> I'd be happy to get any rationalizations on why these pieces are
> necessary for day-to-day work, or ideas on things that they can do
> better than my other stuff.
>
> The other goodies in the basement (a gift from a friend) are a IIIf
> (RD) with a Summitar 50, Nikkor 35/3.5, and Nikkor 135/3.5. I
> currently trying to get through a local CLA/shutter repair on the  
> IIIf.
>
> Ten years ago, I would have told you that I would never own a Leica.
> Now look what's happened! Beware, children, beware!!
>
> Ric Carter
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/Passing-Fancies
>
>
>
>
> On Dec 24, 2006, at 12:53 PM, J. Newell wrote:
>
>>> M4, M4-2, M4-P. I haven't been able to get any Leica book that
>>> says that one
>>> was superior to another, but have heard anecdotal information that
>>> (1) the
>>> M4 was best built of all Leica M bodies [I think the current MP
>>> gets that
>>> award], and (2) either the M4-2 or the M4-P is not up to M2, M3,
>>> or M4
>>> quality. The M4 seems to be the most coveted of the three, but
>>> that might be
>>> because it is a better "collector".
>>
>> The M4 is most coveted because it was the last of the classic M
>> bodies assembled by the post-war workers in Wetzlar (although there
>> are some Canadian M4s as well).  Many Leica users and Leicaphiles
>> view everything that followed as lesser quality.
>>
>> The M4-2 was a somewhat economized version, production of which was
>> moved to Canada.  There were early teething troubles, but note that
>> this has been the case with almost every Leica M body.  After the
>> earliest production, the finder was modified sightly to reduce
>> costs but the result was that the finder is more subject to flare
>> than the M4/M2 finder.  The M4-2 was the first that would take a
>> motor without factory modification, but the steel gear in the
>> geartrain makes it feel less smooth.  The M4-2, like the M4-P,
>> eliminated the self-timer of the M4 and earlier bodies.  For a
>> variety of reasons, most of which I think are emotional rather than
>> objective, the M4-2 has long been a poor cousin in the M range, and
>> prices usually reflect that status.  I have gotten the sense that
>> there is a small number of M4-2s that were produced after they got
>> the bugs ironed out but before the finder was simplified.  If that
>> were true, that would be a great user body at a great price,  
>> relative!
>>   to oth
>> er meterless M bodies.
>>
>> The M4-P introduced 28mm and 75mm framelines.  It is generally
>> regarded as better made than the M4-2.  Whether that is really true
>> or true only because it didn't have the early problems that the
>> M4-2 had, I don't know.  Very late M4-Ps had zinc alloy top covers,
>> like the M6, with flush windows.  It is essentially an M6 without a
>> meter.
>>
>> IMO M6s are a better user than any of these and recent pricing is
>> very good on M6s, but YMMV.
>>
>> Season's cheer
>> John Newell
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>
>
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