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 Â 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 Â 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 Â 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 Â Posted January 30, 2024 Advertisement (gone after registration) The M4 is one of my two favorite film bodies, the other being the M2. Â I must say you have incredibly good taste in cameras. Â 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. Â 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. Â The black MA is so understated as to be elegant to my eye but the black MP is gorgeous. Â 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. Â But in Leica world, there are lots of reasons to buy besides usage. Â 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 Â Posted January 31, 2024 Very nice. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now