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Here we can see the "compactness" (or lack of ...) of M4 comparing to older Leicas.

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Standard, IIIg, M4

 

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12 hours ago, a.noctilux said:

compactness

If you put my M10-R beside it you’ll be surprised how high the digital M’s are to date. I could easily wear my M4 in the inside pocket of a denim jacket. That is just a bit overdone with the M10-R. 

Edited by otto.f
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compactness again ...

a while back, I compared film M with digital M of the day, before M10 ...

(not M4 related but we can assume that M4 size is same as M-A/M6)

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why not from bases ...

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  • 2 weeks later...

So.....Considering simplification of my kit...I have the M4 a ZM f2.8 35mm and the ZM f2.8 21mm w Leica viewfinder and lately, I'm dithering about keeping the 21 and just simply using the 35mm. What are your thoughts on owning a single prime and the 35mm as THE ONE (not worried about which 35mm is in your kit) lens? 

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I have been doing a lot of reading and thinking on this very subject.  It would certainly be a freeing experience.  I am thinking of traveling to Scotland with just my MP or M4 with one lens.  However, I do not know if that would be a 35 or 50 as I like both focal lengths.  If I travel with two lenses, it is always a 35/90 combo but I have traveled with only a 50 in the past.

I know I have too many M mount lenses with duplicate lenses in 35 and 50.  In. many ways, selling everything but one camera and one lens is super attractive.  Honestly, I don't know if I have the courage to do it.  I have tried to trim the system in the past and always add lenses over 3-5 years.

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On 3/26/2024 at 1:21 PM, analogue pete said:

What are your thoughts on owning a single prime and the 35mm as THE ONE (not worried about which 35mm is in your kit) lens? 

I shot in my career as a DoP 80% on a 35mm equivalent lens (24-27mm on S-35mm) and now shoot 95% of my stills on 35mm. Defaulting to one focal length will focus your work and make it coherent. The learnings are immense.

(28mm and downwards create with their wide field of view automatically interesting images with often a surreal touch. It’s somewhat cheating. 35mm on the other hand represents our eye’s field of view, albeit not the scale. That would be the 50mm.)

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13 minutes ago, hansvons said:

I shot in my career as a DoP 80% on a 35mm equivalent lens (24-27mm on S-35mm) and now shoot 95% of my stills on 35mm. Defaulting to one focal length will focus your work and make it coherent. The learnings are immense.

(28mm and downwards create with their wide field of view automatically interesting images with often a surreal touch. It’s somewhat cheating. 35mm on the other hand represents our eye’s field of view, albeit not the scale. That would be the 50mm.)

Great input. I do like the surreal nature of the 21mm which is why I have it in my kit however, the focus on work discipline for me arose from using my Pentax 67. The fewer number of images per roll has greatly influenced my composition and concentration rather than just snapping the shutter. I think that may be the reason for asking the question; that rather than swapping lenses, think more about the final image with the tool that you have rather than relying on the "effect" of the lens. (If I'm making any sense? probably early in the morning and not enough caffeine)

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On 3/28/2024 at 11:32 AM, analogue pete said:

I do like the surreal nature of the 21mm which is why I have it in my kit

Sure, but 21mm lens can do also real life,

like here, seen here

 

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MP vs M4- I just purchased a new MP about 6 weeks ago in Hong Kong and I have been using a mint 50th anniversary M4 for the last five or six years.  Now the M4 stayed in Alaska while I spent the last six months scuba diving in the Philippines and I wanted to compare the two cameras but did not want to do it relying on memory.  Most of the differences are visible and you can decide which style rewind you like, which finish, and which film advance lever.  They all work and it comes down to personal preference.

Now for years I have been hearing and reading how much brighter and better the MP finder is compared to other older Leica cameras.  All I can say when comparing it to the original M4 is I don't see a spec of difference.  Perhaps the owner's of the MP were comparing their viewfinders to M4-2, M4-P, M6, or M6TTL bodies.  We all know it was the M4-2 which first suffered the removal of the condenser lens from the viewfinder by Leica in an attempt to cut manufacturing costs.  I cannot compare the MP to the bodies I listed, only to my original M4 which is in mint condition.  For a 49 year old camera, I can see no visible difference between it and the MP except the frame lines are bigger in the M4, it does not have LED's in the viewfinder, and 50 and 90 frame lines come up solo.

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Viewfinder of M4 is one of the best, I appreciate the "brightness" feeling and use the M4 for many decades that I own Leitz many thanks.

But in lesser light (night time with spot lights for example), newer VF in MA-MP with better coating (or just newer ?) has much less reflections.

Anyway, we cannot redo the world, why I use (and appreciate of course) newer bought new Leica Ms.

The articulated wind-on lever (plastic tip ! ) and rewind system of M4 was "what I regret" the most while using newer more hyped Ms.

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On 3/26/2024 at 9:21 PM, analogue pete said:

So.....Considering simplification of my kit...I have the M4 a ZM f2.8 35mm and the ZM f2.8 21mm w Leica viewfinder and lately, I'm dithering about keeping the 21 and just simply using the 35mm. What are your thoughts on owning a single prime and the 35mm as THE ONE (not worried about which 35mm is in your kit) lens? 

It depends on your creative needs and the actual environment of the place you're going to shoot in. I occasionally bring a 21mm and a 35mm lens together out and switch back and forth, in most of the time outdoors, I think I don't need 21mm that wide to accomplish what I want. But in narrow spaces, like in metro, 21mm can do things you can't do with a 35mm. 

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9 minutes ago, Greenhilltony said:

It depends on your creative needs and the actual environment of the place you're going to shoot in. I occasionally bring a 21mm and a 35mm lens together out and switch back and forth, in most of the time outdoors, I think I don't need 21mm that wide to accomplish what I want. But in narrow spaces, like in metro, 21mm can do things you can't do with a 35mm. 

Good point re in tight locations!

 

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  • 1 year later...

i really love the Leica M4

 

the mechanics are top notch and I Like the craftmanship. Loaded with some black&white Film and ready for some action🤩

 

here is one of mine black paint M4 with my lovely 35mm 1.4 AA 

 

 

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On 5/10/2025 at 5:47 AM, FilmSpiel said:

i really love the Leica M4

 

the mechanics are top notch and I Like the craftmanship. Loaded with some black&white Film and ready for some action🤩

 

here is one of mine black paint M4 with my lovely 35mm 1.4 AA 

 

 

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Yes that is truly lovely.

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  • 2 months later...

Thought I revitalise this thread here. Picked up a freshly serviced M4-P "70 Years Leica" today at my dealer. It's in really good condition.

Regards,

Ralf

 

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It often takes time to take a picture with my M4 (50 years Anniversary model) - since I have to measure the light separtely, set aperture and shutter time, estimate the distance to the object...(but with my Super Angulon 21 mm f3.4 I lse frequently use the hyperfocal distance setting) but it´s all worth it -

The enclose picture I have named "In my kitchen", from my 2 bedroom apartment where I live - is the picture too dark?
 

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