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How does this M4 VF look to you?


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Hey all,

What do we think of this VF?

Its on a leica m4 in black SN 1384078.

Its going for USD1.1k.

What do you think?

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There is a hole in the curtain thats been repaired, apparently it now works properly/the repair was effective.

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Can’t tell anything about the rangefinder from the photos. The cover glass on the front panel looks grimy and may just need a clean. 

Check the rangefinder patch looking through the viewfinder. If it has tiny hairs or streaks running through it all over, it is the frameline mask delaminating. This requires replacement with an M4-P or later mask, and is not cheap. 

If you can’t inspect the camera in person, you are taking a big risk,  IMHO. 

Good luck!

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On 10/9/2019 at 3:19 AM, Gregm61 said:

Looks like a nightmare of a body to me that I'd pass on in favor of a common chrome M4 in perfect order.

Hi Greg.

Why do you say nightmare. Im not so experienced but all i can see is the messed up curtain which would need replacing. Do you think the VF looks so bad??

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That curtain is U-g-l-y and enough by itself to keep me away. Hate to think what else is going on inside that I cannot see. 

Curtain replacement with a general service to get it cleaned and ready to use for the next 20 years, that’s probably a $500 or more service not knowing what the added cost of cleaning the viewing system might add. I just paid DAG over $300 for a full reconditioning of one of my M4’s with shutter curtains in perfect condition. 

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On 10/9/2019 at 3:19 AM, Gregm61 said:

Looks like a nightmare of a body to me that I'd pass on in favor of a common chrome M4 in perfect order.

+1

This body is not worth 1100$. I cannot imagine that the shutter cloth cannot be replaced as a whole, this seems the work of a hobbyist mechanic. You can easily find a nice one for 850€. Although at ebay the current wave is asking ridiculously high prices for especially M4’s, 2300€ is no exception. They also sell mediocre M4’s but with the box and the manual and that seems to legitimate prices above 2000. For me it’s ok because I own one and if this goes on for a few months I can compensate my purchase of an M7 lately

http://mkoptics.net/a/product_info.php?cPath=24_32&products_id=8221

Edited by otto.f
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3 hours ago, Jodad said:

even for a thousand bucks?

arent the black ones normally much more?

Are these your photo's?

Can you link the advert, website, etc. Looking at the 3 photos.

1. Overall conditon looks sound for a late model M4. The viewfinder window look dirty, oily *one cannot make a clear summation of condition.

2. Eye viewfinder *again focus on the paperwork, you can make a faint outline of the framelines but you cannot see the patch.

3. That shutter curtain burn repair looks clumsy therefore ugly.

 

I would go with the recommendations of Mute-on, ianman & Gregm61.

Factor in a CLA, a replacement of the shutter curtain.

The 1.1K USD asking price may not be so good after all.

 

Yes black chrome command a premium over chrome and the black paint a premium over the black chrome.

https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Leitz/

https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Leitz/M4-black-chrome.html

https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Leitz/M4-chrome.html

https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Leitz/M4-black-paint.html

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Thanks all. I don't know that its still available. If it is, ill go take a look and inspect everything properly. 

The photos aren't mine, the seller sent me them and its not a published advert.

If i take a look ill let you guys know, no doubt ill have more questions.

 

 

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