Al Brown Posted September 5, 2023 Share #1 Posted September 5, 2023 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) I think this mostly ignored gem of a special edition (prices indicate so) deserves its own thread. Especially with the L/E/I/C/A 001-500 and its 2500 pieces of silver M4-P bodies that somehow ended up being quite higher in numbers than promised and the "Napoleonic" engravers' mistake of "1813-1983" cameras... Plus all the special editon lenses and an engraved winder that - combined together - made this special edition so cool... The last Midlands M camera before M6 and the Canadian Leica "swan song", the last goodbye... 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 5, 2023 by Al Brown 11 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/381679-leica-m4-p-1913-1983-special-edition-70-years/?do=findComment&comment=4851165'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 5, 2023 Posted September 5, 2023 Hi Al Brown, Take a look here Leica M4-P "1913-1983" special edition - 70 years. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
a.noctilux Posted September 7, 2023 Share #2 Posted September 7, 2023 On 9/5/2023 at 10:18 PM, Al Brown said: I think this mostly ignored gem of a special edition (prices indicate so) deserves its own thread. 👍 nice idea. Not mine, just showing original accessories * with Zertifikat "card" and special serial number on it strap was original (= less refined than current straps ) steel made which mare the beauty's sides. 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! * with some bonus on my own M4-P: - double side pictures of "Eisenmarkt" one side 1913, sepia tone the other side 1983 plain b&w - subscription card for Leica Fotografie (DM 44 ! one year) - standard M4-P manual, "Notice d'utilisation" in French " Passeport international Leica", mine still blank 2 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! * with some bonus on my own M4-P: - double side pictures of "Eisenmarkt" one side 1913, sepia tone the other side 1983 plain b&w - subscription card for Leica Fotografie (DM 44 ! one year) - standard M4-P manual, "Notice d'utilisation" in French " Passeport international Leica", mine still blank ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/381679-leica-m4-p-1913-1983-special-edition-70-years/?do=findComment&comment=4852229'>More sharing options...
Al Brown Posted September 7, 2023 Author Share #3 Posted September 7, 2023 5 minutes ago, a.noctilux said: 👍 nice idea. Not mine, just showing original accessories * with Zertifikat "card" and special serial number on it strap was original (= less refined than current straps ) steel made which mare the beauty's sides. 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! * with some bonus on my own M4-P: - double side pictures of "Eisenmarkt" one side 1913, sepia tone the other side 1983 plain b&w - subscription card for Leica Fotografie (DM 44 ! one year) - standard M4-P manual, "Notice d'utilisation" in French " Passeport international Leica", mine still blank These are not a bonuses, but the things it came with. You are missing two items - the round red dot Leica all capital letters sticker and a world wide dealers list ("index of agencies/index de representations"). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted September 7, 2023 Share #4 Posted September 7, 2023 (edited) 11 minutes ago, Al Brown said: These are not a bonuses, but the things it came with. You are missing two items - the round red dot Leica all capital letters sticker and a world wide dealers list ("index of agencies/index de representations"). Right those hiden in the Passeport, I never saw them (= not in use). The box is the old style (M4 for me) inside with two halfs preformed foam only, if I remember well, the body packed in plastic bag inside the foam, no sophiscated rigid box as M6 and later more and more "packaging" big box like my M-A with drawers and all. Edited September 7, 2023 by a.noctilux Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Brown Posted September 7, 2023 Author Share #5 Posted September 7, 2023 1 hour ago, a.noctilux said: The box is the old style (M4 for me) inside with two halfs preformed foam only, if I remember well, the body packed in plastic bag inside the foam, no sophiscated rigid box as M6 and later more and more "packaging" big box like my M-A with drawers and all. Indeed, as economy as a post-1975 Canadian Leica (M4-2, M4-P…) gets: styrofoam and no fine wood. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borna Posted September 7, 2023 Share #6 Posted September 7, 2023 It is a beautiful camera, to be honest. Probably with time it will become rare and expensive. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anbaric Posted September 7, 2023 Share #7 Posted September 7, 2023 Advertisement (gone after registration) On 9/5/2023 at 9:18 PM, Al Brown said: ...and the "Napoleonic" engravers' mistake of "1813-1983" cameras... I hadn't heard of that - how on earth did it pass QC?! https://image.invaluable.com/housePhotos/Leitz/08/688208/H22140-L232421729.jpg Very cool if you have one of course - there can now be no question of who invented 35mm cameras 🙂 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted September 7, 2023 Share #8 Posted September 7, 2023 I took this M4-P out of the drawer to feel the forgotten real vulcanite touch. Now I do know that this real vulcanite "touch" is another forgotten feeling. I understand better now why my preference for film M these past years went to M2/M4/M4-2/M4-P, all these with old style vulcanite, happily those of mine had never been recovered. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Brown Posted September 7, 2023 Author Share #9 Posted September 7, 2023 7 hours ago, Anbaric said: I hadn't heard of that - how on earth did it pass QC?! https://image.invaluable.com/housePhotos/Leitz/08/688208/H22140-L232421729.jpg Very cool if you have one of course - there can now be no question of who invented 35mm cameras 🙂 Here is an official Leitz answer to the gentleman who inqured about the wrong engraving back in 1983 when the camera came out. It was a L3xx special edition number. "...Thank you for the sent photo. Without a doubt the year 1813 is an engraving error. This may make the camera even more valuable for collectors. Best regards ERNST LEITZ WETZLAR GMBH" A very Leica answer... 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/381679-leica-m4-p-1913-1983-special-edition-70-years/?do=findComment&comment=4852632'>More sharing options...
Al Brown Posted September 8, 2023 Author Share #10 Posted September 8, 2023 Too also add here, according to Leica and CameraQuest, there were 28/2.8 Elmarits, 35/1.4 Summiluxes, 35/2 Summicrons, 50/1.4 Summiluxes, 50/2 Summicrons, 75/1.4 Summiluxes, 90/2.8 Tele-Elmarits and black M4-2 Winders engraved with the anniversary text to match the camera. Also, numbers over 500 in each series like the sample here. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted September 8, 2023 Share #11 Posted September 8, 2023 Fake or not, many years ago I saw Noctilux 1.0 with 1913-1983 engraving. Anyway, not important for me fake or real, it's just another Noctilux with special engraving ☺️. 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! Sorry I don't have serial number, it's not mine. Wondering though, E58 or E60 filter ? Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Sorry I don't have serial number, it's not mine. Wondering though, E58 or E60 filter ? ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/381679-leica-m4-p-1913-1983-special-edition-70-years/?do=findComment&comment=4853080'>More sharing options...
Ouroboros Posted September 8, 2023 Share #12 Posted September 8, 2023 Has to be a contender for The Least Inspiring Limited Edition M Camera. I prefer the standard black on brass M4-P. It has an air of functional but noble simplicity about it. Like an early VW Beetle. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lekitr Posted September 9, 2023 Share #13 Posted September 9, 2023 On 9/5/2023 at 4:18 PM, Al Brown said: I think this mostly ignored gem of a special edition (prices indicate so) deserves its own thread. Especially with the L/E/I/C/A 001-500 and its 2500 pieces of silver M4-P bodies that somehow ended up being quite higher in numbers than promised and the "Napoleonic" engravers' mistake of "1813-1983" cameras... Plus all the special editon lenses and an engraved winder that - combined together - made this special edition so cool... The last Midlands M camera before M6 and the Canadian Leica "swan song", the last goodbye... 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! Quite nice indeed. The chrome m4-p "plain Jane" wa produce in even smaller number, something like 460 or so. Sold mine last year to help fund my second M-A. By the way I think the M4-P is the closest you can get to a M-A. And don't forget that the M4-2 and M4-p saved Leica's ass, well at least the photography division. OK enough I digress. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colint544 Posted September 9, 2023 Share #14 Posted September 9, 2023 On 9/7/2023 at 6:28 PM, a.noctilux said: I took this M4-P out of the drawer to feel the forgotten real vulcanite touch. Now I do know that this real vulcanite "touch" is another forgotten feeling. I understand better now why my preference for film M these past years went to M2/M4/M4-2/M4-P, all these with old style vulcanite, happily those of mine had never been recovered. There's something about the dry, yet grippy, nature of real vulcanite. It just can't be beaten. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Brown Posted September 9, 2023 Author Share #15 Posted September 9, 2023 (edited) On 9/8/2023 at 6:55 PM, Ouroboros said: Has to be a contender for The Least Inspiring Limited Edition M Camera. Up there with Anton Bruckner, Jaguar, Danish Royal Wedding and Ein Stuck Leica, which Gandy aptly named “I’m stuck with this camera”. But the silver M4-P alone is awesome. Edited September 9, 2023 by Al Brown 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Brown Posted September 10, 2023 Author Share #16 Posted September 10, 2023 One of the several dedicated jubilee edition lenses I owned that are mentioned mentioned in post #10, the 28/2.8 Elmarit. There were sightings of others with the engraving, lite the Noctilux referenced above. 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! 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/381679-leica-m4-p-1913-1983-special-edition-70-years/?do=findComment&comment=4854395'>More sharing options...
Al Brown Posted September 11, 2023 Author Share #17 Posted September 11, 2023 On 9/9/2023 at 2:25 AM, lekitr said: The chrome m4-p "plain Jane" wa produce in even smaller number, something like 460 or so. Actually, that is a disputed myth. According to Dennis Laney, of the total of 4.334 silver-plated M4-P cameras made, the majority, 2.500 pieces (or some more, as we all have seen the numbering for each letter does not end at 500), were launched as a limited edition model “1913-1983”. This leaves (if there would have been just 2.500 of them allocated to the special edition) a whopping 1.834 regular series silver chrome M4-P cameras in silver chrome finish! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Brown Posted September 11, 2023 Author Share #18 Posted September 11, 2023 On 9/7/2023 at 1:55 PM, Borna said: It is a beautiful camera, to be honest. Probably with time it will become rare and expensive. Well, it is 40 years old today and still neither rare nor expensive.... I found a store in Germany where it is even on "sale" lol... 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! 1 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/381679-leica-m4-p-1913-1983-special-edition-70-years/?do=findComment&comment=4855245'>More sharing options...
edstock Posted September 11, 2023 Share #19 Posted September 11, 2023 I bought mine from a dealer who offered it pre-owned but mint-. It had also been CLA'd by DAG. It was in its original box, showing it was made in Canada. It came with the instruction book for the M4-P, an authenticity certificate showing the I xxx serial, the two postcards attached, a promo brochure, and I guess the original plastic holder for the enclosures! Since all my other M's are black, the silver finish is a nice complement. Mine in 2018 cost $1495.00 USD, so they must be going up in price. 4 hours ago, Al Brown said: Well, it is 40 years old today and still neither rare nor expensive.... I found a store in Germany where it is even on "sale" lol... 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! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Brown Posted September 12, 2023 Author Share #20 Posted September 12, 2023 8 hours ago, edstock said: Mine in 2018 cost $1495.00 USD, so they must be going up in price. everything Leica went up in price up to 100% since 2018. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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