[Leica] M4 - M4P - M4-2

[pklein at 2alpha.net (Peter Klein)]

Another factor in favor of the original M4 is that it the RF doesn't flare
when there is an oblique light source hitting the viewfinder at certain
angles.  The early M4-2 cameras also *may* not flare (there are differing
opinions on this), but the early M4-2's are sometimes mechanically
problematic.

The flare problem may or may not bother you, depending on the conditions
under which you shoot, whether you wear glasses or not, and how deeply set
your eyes are (glasses and deep-set eyes make it less likely that you'll
be able to get around the flare by shifting your eye position slightly).
It doesn't bother Ted Grant at all; it drove Daniel Ridings and me crazy.

Leica (and Sherry) now offer an RF modification that mostly cures the RF
flare problem.  It costs around $300 last time I looked.  Sherry did this
on my M6TTL, and I'm very pleased.  But it is an extra expense to be aware
of.

On the other hand, the M4 is older, so it may require more repairs, and
has lived more of its useful life than an M4-P or M6.  A properly CLA'ed
M4 has a smoother wind because the winding mechanism's gears are brass,
whereas the later cameras have steel gears.

--Peter