ppkarppi Posted September 14, 2021 Share #81 Posted September 14, 2021 Advertisement (gone after registration) I would choose M5. I really love this camera. - uncluttered 50mm frame line with metering circle - fast and easy film loading - large and fast rewind crank - good ergonomics due to bigger size - shutter speeds visible in the finder - true spot metering - last Leica produced at Wetzlar, to a very high standards Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 14, 2021 Posted September 14, 2021 Hi ppkarppi, Take a look here Of all the film M cameras you own.... I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
ppkarppi Posted September 14, 2021 Share #82 Posted September 14, 2021 At first I picked M5, but after giving it some more thought I came to a conclusion it's impossible to say. Each are so great. I've been lucky to been able to try M2, M3, M4-2, M5 and M6 classic. I have early serial number M4-2 and it's a great camera also, it feels really great to operate - very solid and it has a great viewfinder. As it's one of those early M4-2s that was ever manufactured it has the exact same viewfinder as the M4 has. I would have no problems using just this one camera, it really is so good. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ouroboros Posted September 14, 2021 Share #83 Posted September 14, 2021 I bought my MP new in 2006. It always seems to tag along with me when I go away or out for a walk and it's reached the status of an Old Friend to me now. Never had any serious thoughts of buying an older film M, I'd rather put the money into expanding my M lens options, which happens very infrequently. I wouldn't rule out buying a new MA at some point, I just don't 'need' one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wizard Posted September 14, 2021 Share #84 Posted September 14, 2021 vor einer Stunde schrieb ppkarppi: last Leica produced at Wetzlar, to a very high standards What about the current MP and MA models? They are said to be made in Wetzlar, too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianman Posted September 14, 2021 Share #85 Posted September 14, 2021 (edited) 45 minutes ago, wizard said: What about the current MP and MA models? They are said to be made in Wetzlar, too. I thought they were made in Portugal. edit: Here's the source: http://www.fdtimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/80FDTimes-LEICA-PortugalFactoryTour.pdf and on page 17... Quote Leica Portugal continues the tradition of crafting analog Leica cameras: M7, M-P and M-A. Edited September 14, 2021 by ianman 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wizard Posted September 14, 2021 Share #86 Posted September 14, 2021 vor 58 Minuten schrieb ianman: I thought they were made in Portugal. From what I know Leica produces (and has produced for quite some time) components for the analogue M models in their factory in Portugal, but the final assembly takes place in Wetzlar (previously in Solms), justifying the "Wetzlar" script on the top of the body. I have not checked, but believe the bodies say "Made in Germany", too. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianman Posted September 14, 2021 Share #87 Posted September 14, 2021 Advertisement (gone after registration) Well yes, that's written in the text of the article. What "final assembly" means is anyones guess but the photo at the bottom right of that same page shows an M-A which seems to be at a quite advanced stage of assembly. But these cameras are not "made in Wetzlar/Germany" by any stretch of the imagination. 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ouroboros Posted September 14, 2021 Share #88 Posted September 14, 2021 3 hours ago, wizard said: What about the current MP and MA models? They are said to be made in Wetzlar, too. The battery blanking plug is inserted in M-A's and taken out again for MP's in Wetzlar. Then they stamp Made in Germany on the body and blame the Portuguese for everything else. It's got something to do with reducing the carbon footprint. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ppkarppi Posted September 15, 2021 Share #89 Posted September 15, 2021 On 9/14/2021 at 11:13 AM, ppkarppi said: At first I picked M5, but after giving it some more thought I came to a conclusion it's impossible to say. Each are so great. I've been lucky to been able to try M2, M3, M4-2, M5 and M6 classic. I have early serial number M4-2 and it's a great camera also, it feels really great to operate - very solid and it has a great viewfinder. As it's one of those early M4-2s that was ever manufactured it has the exact same viewfinder as the M4 has. I would have no problems using just this one camera, it really is so good. I am aware that the M4-2 is an underdog, but let me tell you, based on my personal experience with this camera - it is a great camera, feels very well built - very solid, has been a very reliable workhorse, and I would pick it over M6 classic that I also have. My M4-2 was probably the number 200 ever manufactured based on the serial number, and as said it has M4 viewfinder that has a condenser and it does not suffer the rangefinder patch flare problem of later M's. My M6 (M6HM with .85 magnification) has a big rangefinder patch flare problem, the framelines are also sometimes very hard to see and I don't want to use it much because of that. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 3 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/320623-of-all-the-film-m-cameras-you-own/?do=findComment&comment=4275811'>More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted September 15, 2021 Share #90 Posted September 15, 2021 2 hours ago, ppkarppi said: I am aware that the M4-2 is an underdog, but let me tell you, based on my personal experience with this camera - it is a great camera, feels very well built - very solid, has been a very reliable workhorse, and I would pick it over M6 classic that I also have. My M4-2 was probably the number 200 ever manufactured based on the serial number, and as said it has M4 viewfinder that has a condenser and it does not suffer the rangefinder patch flare problem of later M's. My M6 (M6HM with .85 magnification) has a big rangefinder patch flare problem, the framelines are also sometimes very hard to see and I don't want to use it much because of that. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! same in French @ppkarppi Do you have one of those M4-2 with red dot ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ppkarppi Posted September 15, 2021 Share #91 Posted September 15, 2021 (edited) 21 minutes ago, a.noctilux said: same in French @ppkarppi Do you have one of those M4-2 with red dot ? No, it does not have the red dot, but it has "Leitz Wetzlar" and "Made in Canada" written on top _and_ it also has black lugs, so it seems to be very unique M4-2. Exactly the same as the M4-2 with the red dot except this one is missing the red dot. Here's a picture of my M4-2 that I just took with my iPhone: Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Edited September 15, 2021 by ppkarppi 3 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/320623-of-all-the-film-m-cameras-you-own/?do=findComment&comment=4275873'>More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted September 15, 2021 Share #92 Posted September 15, 2021 (edited) Interesting. Serial number not in the listing of Wiki 's M4-2 where I can see this article of Made in Portugal Edited September 15, 2021 by a.noctilux Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ppkarppi Posted September 15, 2021 Share #93 Posted September 15, 2021 5 minutes ago, a.noctilux said: Interesting. Serial number not in the listing of Wiki 's M4-2 Serial number of my M4-2 is 1468200. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted September 15, 2021 Share #94 Posted September 15, 2021 Anyway, I used (still have one) some M4-2 for long time mainly for the winder that I needed (or thinking as such). They are very well made with touch of traditional smoothness yet robust feeling in use. The one I keep, a backup M almost new, never needing returning to be adjusted/repaired, just checked now with a magnifier, the wax sealing 'C' is always there. Incredible M4-2 a bit younger than yours with #1 502 221 😉. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ppkarppi Posted September 15, 2021 Share #95 Posted September 15, 2021 (edited) Yeah! And btw, have you seen the M4-2 instruction manual? The official Leica M4-2 instruction manual states that “Illustrations of the M4-2 in this booklet are taken from a prototype model. The Leitz circular logo on the front of the M4-2 body housing does not appear on production models”. Edit: here's a capture of that (page 2 of the manual): Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Edited September 15, 2021 by ppkarppi Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/320623-of-all-the-film-m-cameras-you-own/?do=findComment&comment=4275898'>More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted September 15, 2021 Share #96 Posted September 15, 2021 M4-2 manual, I think having it somewhere, I have not seen the thing for decades. Have you seen in this thread some M4-2 lovers ? ... and some thinkings of M4-2, here 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ppkarppi Posted September 15, 2021 Share #97 Posted September 15, 2021 (edited) 5 minutes ago, a.noctilux said: Have you seen in this thread some M4-2 lovers ? Nope, I have not, thanks for sharing, I'll check these out! Edited September 15, 2021 by ppkarppi Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david strachan Posted September 24, 2021 Share #98 Posted September 24, 2021 Hello Artin I was sorry to read another of your posts regarding selling all your Leica lenses...i assume you sold these cameras at the same time. So what do you have now Artin...Leica cameras and lenses? All best... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edstock Posted October 2, 2021 Share #99 Posted October 2, 2021 I have three, M4-P silver, M6 black and a M7 black. All three are alive and well, with no thought of selling. Leica digital is my CL. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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