Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/12/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I've been looking for an excuse to get a camera done up in the Sequoia Green. I just don't have anything right now that I want to strip and redo, though I have a Rolleiflex 3.5F that might be willing to be to sacrifice its somewhat worn factory covering soon. Go for the Green! Allen >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 >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > >_______________________________________________ >Leica Users Group. >See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > >_______________________________________________ >Leica Users Group. >See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information