mipstoo Posted October 27, 2009 Share #1 Posted October 27, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi everybody, I'm new to this forum and would like to introduce myself. Started 1 year ago with digital photography and I bought my first Leica two days ago. It's a nearly mint LEICA M4 from '68 with the much seen SUMMICRON 1:2/50 mm and a SUMMARON 1:2,8/35 mm, both from '65. I have not shot any film yet so let's hope they're all working, but after first inspection, both the camera and lenses seem to work. I bought the whole package, including a Leica MR lightmeter for 550€ (approx. £500 or $820), I dont know if this is a good price. I don't see many posts about the M4, is this for a particular reason? Either way, I'm happy to join the Leica community. Cheers Mipstoo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 27, 2009 Posted October 27, 2009 Hi mipstoo, Take a look here New Leica M4 User. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
aesop Posted October 27, 2009 Share #2 Posted October 27, 2009 Hi everybody, I'm new to this forum and would like to introduce myself. Started 1 year ago with digital photography and I bought my first Leica two days ago. It's a nearly mint LEICA M4 from '68 with the much seen SUMMICRON 1:2/50 mm and a SUMMARON 1:2,8/35 mm, both from '65. I have not shot any film yet so let's hope they're all working, but after first inspection, both the camera and lenses seem to work. I bought the whole package, including a Leica MR lightmeter for 550€ (approx. £500 or $820), I dont know if this is a good price. I don't see many posts about the M4, is this for a particular reason? Either way, I'm happy to join the Leica community. Cheers Mipstoo ...welcome to the forum, Mipstoo. The M4 is a fine camera and EUR 550.00 seems a good price for the package, particularly if it is in good working order. There are many posts relating to the M4 - use the search facility. Now go out and shoot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted October 27, 2009 Share #3 Posted October 27, 2009 Eventually you will want to track down some Leica brass film cassets, ABLON trimmer, and a bench winder. However cameras past early M6 will not open and close them. Those are therefore my last cameras. IXMOO is the code for the M brass casset. Screw mount ones will not work. If you send film out, the hack working commercial labs will butcher or loose them and you will cry. So this is for the future. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted October 27, 2009 Share #4 Posted October 27, 2009 Welcome to the M4. I bought mine when they were first introduced and it is the only camera I've kept that long. Although I've owned other M cameras, the M4 is my favorite, and I'm sure you will also enjoy it once you start taking pictures. You might need a CLA or rangefinder adjustment once you test it out, but it is well worth the effort. I look at my shots from the late 1960s & early 70s and continue to be amazed at what those lenses delivered. To me, digital is great when I need results right now, but when I can take some time and really want the best...out comes the M4 or my Leica R gear. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted October 27, 2009 Share #5 Posted October 27, 2009 Welcome to the forum. Any M is a fine camera, the differences between them are relatively minor although significant at the same time. For example I didn't gel with the M3 but love using my M2. The lenses are classics and the Summaron is a particularly nice one. I reckon the lenses alone are worth what you paid assuming they're all in good condition. Enjoy! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mipstoo Posted October 27, 2009 Author Share #6 Posted October 27, 2009 Eventually you will want to track down some Leica brass film cassets, ABLON trimmer, and a bench winder. However cameras past early M6 will not open and close them. Those are therefore my last cameras. IXMOO is the code for the M brass casset. Screw mount ones will not work. If you send film out, the hack working commercial labs will butcher or loose them and you will cry. So this is for the future. Anybody cares to explain why these are necessary? Doesn't the M4 work with my regular Tri-x 400 films? Is it too hard to fit them in the body? I'm a real newbie, so please explain Regards Mipstoo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alice MacRae Posted October 27, 2009 Share #7 Posted October 27, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) They're not necessary with your new M4. Just use 135 films from your corner drugstore. He's just showing you his 137 seconds vision of you 6 months from now. Have you FlashForward (TV series)? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aesop Posted October 27, 2009 Share #8 Posted October 27, 2009 Anybody cares to explain why these are necessary? Doesn't the M4 work with my regular Tri-x 400 films? Is it too hard to fit them in the body? I'm a real newbie, so please explain Regards Mipstoo ...Mipstoo, your regular Tri-X 400 works perfectly with M4s. The item referred to in tobey bilek's post is the IXMOO, which is a reloadable film cassette from days gone by. Some people still buy film in bulk and they use reloadable cassettes. I say keep it simple. Like Alice MacRae pointed out, any 35mm film (Kodak, Ilford, Fuji, et al) sold in a standard cassette from your local photo dealer or drugstore will be just fine. There is some light reading on the IXMOO here if you wish to expand your knowledge (or just kill time). It features the usual suspects. Enjoy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mipstoo Posted October 27, 2009 Author Share #9 Posted October 27, 2009 Thanks for the warm welcome and for the information given. I'll stick to my Kodak 35mm film then Next buy on the list are a 90mm and 135mm for portraits... First save some money Don't you just love Leica Last quick question, prices between ebay lenses and those of local dealers are sometimes 50% lower and I checked, even the dealer lenses aren't mint. Do you guys buy from ebay or is that too risky? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted October 27, 2009 Share #10 Posted October 27, 2009 Thanks for the warm welcome and for the information given. I'll stick to my Kodak 35mm film then Next buy on the list are a 90mm and 135mm for portraits... First save some money Don't you just love Leica Last quick question, prices between ebay lenses and those of local dealers are sometimes 50% lower and I checked, even the dealer lenses aren't mint. Do you guys buy from ebay or is that too risky? Buying via bay you should only pay a 'trade' price IMHO, given that you are buying sight unseen apart from the photos, and no guarantee (of course some dealers sell via e bay in which case prices and terms could differ). I've bought a few bargains via e bay but I've also had some disappointments. Whatever someone considers to be 'excellent' or 'mint' condition usually isn't the case - I now prepare myself for it by considering that an 'excellent' item will in fact turn out to be 'good'. With lenses there's not much to go wrong but optical condition is everything. Older lenses especially are prone to dust, haze, fogging, fungus or just heavy cleaning marks/sratches. As you are new to Leica I would personally suggest paying a little more and buying from a dealer where you can usually try before you buy, inspect the item and have a warranty. Don't overlook the silly cheap 9cm f4 Elmar, its a lovely lens! The 135 is quite large for the M and will be that much harder to focus accurately. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonG Posted October 27, 2009 Share #11 Posted October 27, 2009 Hello, Congrats on obtaining your M4. It's nice having framelines for 35,50,90, and 135mm lens, though focusing takes a little practice with the 135. Compared to the M3 and M2, film loading is relatively easy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomasw_ Posted October 28, 2009 Share #12 Posted October 28, 2009 Eventually you will want to track down some Leica brass film cassets, ABLON trimmer, and a bench winder. However cameras past early M6 will not open and close them. Those are therefore my last cameras. IXMOO is the code for the M brass casset. Screw mount ones will not work. If you send film out, the hack working commercial labs will butcher or loose them and you will cry. So this is for the future. Congrats on the M4...and you got yourself one heck of a bargain:) Did I read the same OP as you? Unless he buys film in bulk why would he want to start with tracking these down? In particular if he sends film out for someone else to process? Much less hassle just using the normal film cassettes for now until he decides to start processing and printing his own film. There is no need for an ABLON trimmer unless he wants to use film on a Barnack; and he wrote that he bought a M4! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hyplopatissier Posted October 28, 2009 Share #13 Posted October 28, 2009 congratulations with your M4, probably the best M. nice price M4, cron 50, summaron 35 and leicameter for this outstanding set. greetings, André from Brussels Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
huubl Posted October 28, 2009 Share #14 Posted October 28, 2009 I bought the whole package, including a Leica MR lightmeter for 550€ (approx. £500 or $820), I dont know if this is a good price. Congratulations!! That's an extremely good price for the set. A nice looking M4 alone is worth that price. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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