M4-P viewfinder frame sizes

[Guest moonwrack]

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I understand from an earlier query that the 50mm finder frame in the M4-P is larger that it is in the M6. Is this common to all the M4-P's made? I would quite like a second body and this feature is very useful.

[thrid]

I understand from an earlier query that the 50mm finder frame in the M4-P is larger that it is in the M6. Is this common to all the M4-P's made? I would quite like a second body and this feature is very useful.

 

It appears that towards the end of M4-P production they started to use the smaller M6 frameline mask. These cameras may actually have M6 type RF units. This coincides with the top plate also changing to an M6 style.

 

As far as I know there is no real way of knowing, except by inspecting the camera.

So, all but one M4-P I have encountered had the pre-M6 sized frameline mask, so I'm guessing bodies with the M6 mask are in the minority.

 

It's a nice camera though and prices are really good. I'm thinking about getting one myself.

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[micky]

The M4-P has the same frames as the M6 since they both got the 28mm.

The M4-2 though has only 35mm and therefore the somewhat bigger viewfinder and frames.

On the M4-P and M6 one could estimate the framing on the outside of the frames.

That gives a better idea of what comes on the neg.

Micky

[Guest moonwrack]

I have just sold an M6. The area of its 50mm viewfinder frame was considerably less than that of the M4-P

Edited July 31, 2009 by moonwrack
typographical error

[thrid]

The M4-P has the same frames as the M6 since they both got the 28mm.

The M4-2 though has only 35mm and therefore the somewhat bigger viewfinder and frames.

On the M4-P and M6 one could estimate the framing on the outside of the frames.

That gives a better idea of what comes on the neg.

Micky

 

The M4-P and M6 have the same amount of frame lines (28/35/50/75/90/135), but the area of coverage indicated by the M4-P markings is bigger.

 

As an example for the 50mm the M4-P markings appear to indicated coverage at 1meter (like an M2/M4/M5/M4-2), whereas the M6 shows coverage at .7 meters,

[luigi bertolotti]

Thrid is right: MOST M4Ps have a slightly wider 50mm frame: only the last batches of M4P (from 1984 - 1.642.551) have the same RF/VF of M6 (and the zinc top plate) : they are rather uncommon (very rare the chrome version) : 4196 items out of a total of over 22.000 M4Ps ; the latest 2223 have also the same flash sync connection (single) as M6.

So if you wish to find a M4P with the "classic" 50 mm frame, look at the s/n : if under 1.642.551 OK.

Edited July 31, 2009 by luigi bertolotti

[micky]

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Many are the myths, few are the truhts.

It´s a Leica

Is it a camera or is it a dog?

Micky

[Guest moonwrack]

Thanks, Luigi, query resolved with a convincing and authoritative statement.

[micky]

Jeepers, are we slamming our fists on the table now?

 

Worship your things as if they were gods, and your mind will tilt.

 

Micky

 

PS

Barks from Laika

Edited August 6, 2009 by micky

[Guest moonwrack]

Sorry Mickey, you are clearly upset that I forgot to thank you for your contribution, even though your facts were wrong in your first comment. Still, a bit of treehugger paperback philosophy prevents us from taking ourselves too seriously, so thanks for the amusing witticisms. "The Owl of Minerva closes its wings only at the falling of the dusk" or whatever. Ne plus ultra.

Edited August 6, 2009 by moonwrack

[micky]

No,no,no Moonwreck. I never got upset. I´ve been joking all the time, but maybe it wasn´t co clearly. I´ll try harder next time.

On the contrary, I thought that YOU got very upset and angry in your last comment alluding to authority etc. I also know from before that some people take things about the camera (not the dog this time) too seriously. I know from years of experience that it is cluttered with tons of myths and sometimes people just get a little too serious as if yyou were stepping on some conservative toes.

To me it´s not at all that importent. The cameras we were talking about, have the same set of frames and that´s it. The rest is WYSIWYG !!!

So if I insulted your Leica and made you upset and angry, I apologize.

I was only having fa bit of fun. But maybe I should turn to some other Forum where they don´t take things so hard.

Last but not least, the camera is only a camera, not a living thing. It´s not your mom & dad, your wife and family etc. It can be a great tool, but it´s still the one behind it that take the pictures, not the camera itself.

So again, I´m very sorry to have upset you and have a nice day.

 

Mes Dames, I think that´s enough for this thread. I´ll see you on some other corner of the world some day maybe.

 

"My beloved Leica and I

We go everywhere together

We got a raincoat that has four sleeves

Takes us through all kinds of weather"

(Cheers Mr E)

 

:D:D Micky

[Guest moonwrack]

Mickey: wonderful! my granddaughter (12) fell about laughing when I showed her the correspondence, although she did think that Jeepers were people who own a certain type of SUV!. I don't love my Leica, it is a most irritating beast in the matter of loading; and I have dropped it twice; you should see the state of it! But I did get confirmation of what I wanted to know; that M4-P 50mm frame lines are bigger than those in the M6 so, if I do go for a spare body, it will be the right M4-P. Believe me, bigger framelines are most useful when you get to my age. Meanwhile, I suggest we both get out and take more pictures since the squirrels are nutting early this year. As you said, this correspondence may now cease.

[micky]

I´m glad to hear that you go so well together with your granddaughter (12). Now, go out and chase them treehuggers. Show´s over.

:D:D

[Guest moonwrack]

Absolutely, the Grouse season starts here next Thursday and I shall be off to the Scottish Highlands for the next three weeks, pausing only at Edinburgh to fill my Landrover with premier cru claret (Claret in honour of the Auld Alliance, obviously) as a gift to my host. In the words of our great poet: Farewell and may yer lum reek.

PS: I shall also take my MP-4.

[john_newell]

I thought grousing was always in season here? Maybe that's just in the M8 forum...?

[john_newell]

I understand from an earlier query that the 50mm finder frame in the M4-P is larger that it is in the M6. Is this common to all the M4-P's made? I would quite like a second body and this feature is very useful.

 

One related note: the M4-P 75mm framelines are itty-bitty corners. The last series (with the M6 framelines) have the slightly bigger 75mm "framelines" used in the M6.

[micky]

The "old-farts-never-give-up-because-the don´t-undertstand-they-are-loosing-case" again.

Well...

Edited August 7, 2009 by micky

[Guest moonwrack]

That's how the old farts won in World War Two, dear boy.