M3 film advance lever on M4?

[johnastovall]

Can a M3 film advance lever be put on the M4. I still looking at a way to get to an M4 with out those plastic bits showing...

[harryzet]

yes

[Philippe D.]

Originally Posted by johnastovall

Can a M3 film advance lever be put on the M4.

Yes, you may change the level for an M3 or MP type, easily.
I have changed those from my M4-P and M6 my self.
You just need a 16mm clamp : Flexiclamp - Part #: FLB-6-A

[luigi bertolotti]

John... I can agree on the "plastic issue"... just as a principle... but to me the moving terminal of M4 lever is a fine detail... you keep it flat inside the perimeter of the top, and with a quick & gentle touch prepare it for advance & charge the shutter... in this sense, is slightly better than M3/M2's (which by its way has a nicer form): only a detail ok, but I assure you that when I used M2, sometimes happened to me that the lever made some undesired "half-movement" getting into something (clothes, belts...admit, it was only in complicated positions in mountaineering....)...why don't you try to have it made a moving terminal, M4 style, but in metal ?

[john_newell]

That design was actually the result of an extended ergonomics study by Leitz engineers back in the 1960s - it wasn't a cost saving issue.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by luigi bertolotti

John... I can agree on the "plastic issue"... just as a principle... but to me the moving terminal of M4 lever is a fine detail... you keep it flat inside the perimeter of the top, and with a quick & gentle touch prepare it for advance & charge the shutter... in this sense, is slightly better than M3/M2's (which by its way has a nicer form): only a detail ok, but I assure you that when I used M2, sometimes happened to me that the lever made some undesired "half-movement" getting into something (clothes, belts...admit, it was only in complicated positions in mountaineering....)...why don't you try to have it made a moving terminal, M4 style, but in metal ?

Now that's in interesting suggestion. Wonder if DAG could make one?

Any one ever heard of one being made?

[Photoskeptic]

John, since I sold my M4 in preference to my M3, I had always thought the M3 lever was esthetically to be prefered. However, I've had to have a re-think on that assumption because the M3 lever, if I try to insert it into my current bag the way I prefer, catches on the lever and the camera hangs up causing a delay. The M4 lever does not protrude outside the body and I now believe was a response from Leica to complaints from M3 owners at the time.