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Black "user" M4


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Hello,

 

Found this one today and I have a few questions:

 

1. Where should I look for a new ASA dial?

 

2. Has anyone tried the self-adhesive vulcanite piece for the back door that is offered on varoius places on the internet? Does it look like the original vulcanite?

 

3. Is it easy to remove/replace the back viewfinder window? This one has a scratch on it.

 

Thanks in advance.

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Hello Gunnar,

 

This looks like a Wetzlar Black Chrome version - rather rare. Most Black Chrome M4’s were made in Canada, not too many in Wetzlar.

 

Your questions:

 

1) Your guess is probably as good as mine - eBay, Solms etc. Often the whole back door shows up on eBay. Any M door up to the M3 will be identical. M4-2, M4-P and M5 doors were different but, will fit.

 

2) I have, they look pretty close. Since your M4 is not in the best condition, 100% exact match is probably not that important. The two suppliers are Aki-Asahi Camera Coverings and CameraLeather.com Custom camera leather and leatherette .

I have dealt with both and can recommend either highly.

 

3) The viewfinder ocular can be removed using a ‘flexiclamp’ wrench. There are of course more barbaric ways to do this but, I won’t go there….The Flexiclamps used to be available on eBay from a seller in China. He sells a whole set of the wrenches, for the various parts that need to be removed when dismantling an M camera. Or, you can try Micro Tools: https://www.micro-tools.com/store/item_detail.aspx?ItemCode=LF-KIT-C

 

Good luck - I enjoy resurrecting battered Leicas myself; the final joy comes from a perfectly functioning camera!

 

All the best,

 

Jan

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Gunnar, try DAG for spare parts. Also, my viewfinder ocular on my M2 unscrews with gentle, even pressure - try wearing a leather glove or something to give yourself some grip. Rather than just replace the back door covering, why not go to Cameraleather.com and replace the whole skin?

 

Regards.

 

Bill

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If, as doubice says, an M4-2 or 4-P back door will fit then the following link is to one for sale by a reputable UK dealer which is described as near mint:

 

http://www.peterwalnes.com/component/page,shop.product_details/flypage,shop.flypage/product_id,2283/category_id,20/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,1/

 

Back in the early 80s I owned a black M4 similar to the one you have and I always regret selling it. A lovely camera which I still have transparencies from.

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Just a quick question aside, I'm using a chrome M4: Does the ISO/ASA dial really "make" anything? Or is it just for reminding which film speed one put in?

 

The ASA/DIN dial on all non-metered M bodies is just a reminder - has no other function.

 

I actually wanted to mention to the OP - Gunnar: Why not do away with the dial alltogether and just install a solid leatherette piece on the back door? Those can be obtained from both suppliers I mentioned in my original post.

 

Best,

 

Jan

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If, as doubice says, an M4-2 or 4-P back door will fit then the following link is to one for sale by a reputable UK dealer which is described as near mint:

 

used photographic equipment used leica used cameras used nikon

 

Back in the early 80s I owned a black M4 similar to the one you have and I always regret selling it. A lovely camera which I still have transparencies from.

 

Don't do that.

 

The ASA dial have a total other look than on the

 

M4

check this picture:

 

http://www.leicashop.com/bilder/shop_gross/13926_1_a.jpg

 

 

If you don't care i have a backdoor for you which i bought to my M4 .. :)

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