colonel Posted January 30, 2024 Share #1 Posted January 30, 2024 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) 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! Lets face it, I am always excited by my new purchases Buying an M4 was the result of a kind of progression. I am really shooting mainly two types of cameras now, my Q3 which does everything, and unmetered film Leicas. It might seem like a big contrast, but I enjoy both. I have spent a long time with a M2, but the M4 has always interested me. It has a hugely useful upgrade from the M2, namely the quick film load, with no take out spool. It also has a quick rewind knob which doesn't strip your finger and a self-timer. It sets the look for all subsequent Leicas. It was also the last Leica that was hand made, with all brass gear parts. The later M4-2 had many cost savings, including steel gears and some plastic parts. This is why M4s tend to last forever and are extremely smooth to use. A relatively low 60k being produced, together with their endearing attraction to users, means there are not many on the used market. They command higher prices then the M4-2 and M4-P, just being pipped by the fashion favourite, the M6, which had over 175k produced. To finish off the numbers, about 82k M2s and about 250k M3s were produced. When I received it from the post man, wrapped in bubble wrap in a brown cardboard box, instantly out, lens on and a perfect first roll. Amazing. My serial number is from the first batch ever produced, in 1967. Okay, I didn't quite use it immediately, I cleaned it thoroughly with lens wipes first. Doesn't half a load of blackness comes out of the leatherette. It was in such good condition, apart from some marks on the top plate (ironically the bottom plate was scratch free) , out of its 57 year life, perhaps it has been sitting around for the majority ? I have paired it with a brand new Zeiss 50mm f1.5 ZM. I have this tradition of always buying a new lens with a new camera. It is a lens I have wanted to try for sometime, but something held me back, perhaps the talk about the focus shift. Anyway it is a sensational lens. I will do a write up on it separately soon. All photos here are with Kodak Portra 400. The M4 has certainly delayed my M-A, perhaps for ever .... lets see Edited January 30, 2024 by colonel 13 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Lets face it, I am always excited by my new purchases Buying an M4 was the result of a kind of progression. I am really shooting mainly two types of cameras now, my Q3 which does everything, and unmetered film Leicas. It might seem like a big contrast, but I enjoy both. I have spent a long time with a M2, but the M4 has always interested me. It has a hugely useful upgrade from the M2, namely the quick film load, with no take out spool. It also has a quick rewind knob which doesn't strip your finger and a self-timer. It sets the look for all subsequent Leicas. It was also the last Leica that was hand made, with all brass gear parts. The later M4-2 had many cost savings, including steel gears and some plastic parts. This is why M4s tend to last forever and are extremely smooth to use. A relatively low 60k being produced, together with their endearing attraction to users, means there are not many on the used market. They command higher prices then the M4-2 and M4-P, just being pipped by the fashion favourite, the M6, which had over 175k produced. To finish off the numbers, about 82k M2s and about 250k M3s were produced. When I received it from the post man, wrapped in bubble wrap in a brown cardboard box, instantly out, lens on and a perfect first roll. Amazing. My serial number is from the first batch ever produced, in 1967. Okay, I didn't quite use it immediately, I cleaned it thoroughly with lens wipes first. Doesn't half a load of blackness comes out of the leatherette. It was in such good condition, apart from some marks on the top plate (ironically the bottom plate was scratch free) , out of its 57 year life, perhaps it has been sitting around for the majority ? I have paired it with a brand new Zeiss 50mm f1.5 ZM. I have this tradition of always buying a new lens with a new camera. It is a lens I have wanted to try for sometime, but something held me back, perhaps the talk about the focus shift. Anyway it is a sensational lens. I will do a write up on it separately soon. All photos here are with Kodak Portra 400. The M4 has certainly delayed my M-A, perhaps for ever .... lets see ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/388029-my-new-m4-goldilocks/?do=findComment&comment=5014303'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 30, 2024 Posted January 30, 2024 Hi colonel, Take a look here My new M4, Goldilocks ?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Sandokan Posted January 30, 2024 Share #2 Posted January 30, 2024 Congratulations - its a lovely looking camera and worth a lot in case you didnt know, as collectors love the first batch of M4. Good photos too. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcgarner Posted January 30, 2024 Share #3 Posted January 30, 2024 Marvelous. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hansvons Posted January 30, 2024 Share #4 Posted January 30, 2024 @colonel great post!! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted January 30, 2024 Share #5 Posted January 30, 2024 Congrats on what I consider Leica's quintessential film camera. I had mine for 43 years before it met with an accident. ENJOY IT! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted January 30, 2024 Share #6 Posted January 30, 2024 Another super fan of the M4 here. Mine has a ding on the to plate (not by me), which I like, as an honourable scar. I have a new MP, but sill see the M4 as THE perfect M. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktmrider2 Posted January 30, 2024 Share #7 Posted January 30, 2024 Advertisement (gone after registration) The M4 is one of my two favorite film bodies, the other being the M2. I must say you have incredibly good taste in cameras. I am using a mint black chrome 50th anniversary model and trying to figure out if the little engraving on the front of the camera really increases its price. My guess is that in Leica world, yes. I am debating picking up either an MP or MA at the end of the month in Hong Kong. The black MA is so understated as to be elegant to my eye but the black MP is gorgeous. I really don't care about the meter and if I am honest I don't use my M4 enough to justify a new body. But in Leica world, there are lots of reasons to buy besides usage. And thinking about a chrome M4 or M2 for half the price. Enjoy your camera. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danner Posted January 31, 2024 Share #8 Posted January 31, 2024 Very nice. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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