Al Brown Posted October 3 Share #1 Posted October 3 Advertisement (gone after registration) Dear experts and Leica lovers, in your opinion, what film M body was built best and why do you think so? Could be ergonomics, could be the build quality, could be the mechanism...? let us know your thoughts. 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/413179-which-analog-leica-m-body-was-built-best/?do=findComment&comment=5640845'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 3 Posted October 3 Hi Al Brown, Take a look here Which analog Leica M body was built best?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
otto.f Posted October 3 Share #2 Posted October 3 (edited) M4. Because it feels as the most compact of any M afterwards. And it is, because of the hight. Actually, the more recent M’s are not as easy to put in the inside pocket of your denim jacket. It works faster than the M3 (or MP and M-A) and the thumb rest is more comfortable with the plastic end. It’s also the lightest except for the M1 and the film M-D which you don’t want. The story goes about Kappa that he felt safe with his M4’s to use them as a defense ‘weapon’, which says something about its sturdyness which is less in the M6 because of the top plate. Edited October 3 by otto.f 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pieter12 Posted October 3 Share #3 Posted October 3 The much maligned M5. Last of the hand-built Leicas. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlos cruz Posted October 3 Share #4 Posted October 3 M5 hands down, hand built, with best ergonomics in m world. If you don’t like the looks the goof information is you’re supposed to look through it not at it most of the time 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted October 3 Share #5 Posted October 3 That's a difficult one to answer given each inherits a foible from a previous Leica that always knocks a couple of points off the top score. The shame is Leica hasn't torn up the book and started again more often because my vote for 'best' goes to the one that did tear at least a couple of pages out of it and that's the M5. I'd give second place to any of the modern three, the M-A, MP, or M6 because quibbles aside I think Leica has learned something and improved on the basic template without spoiling it. When Leica go off-piste they often make their best made and designed cameras like the M5. Take the original Leicaflex or the R8 and R9 as other examples. But purely in the best made category, meaning mechanical design and build quality, no single Leica comes close to a Nikon even though a Leica can be a far more satisfying camera to use. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin Posted October 3 Share #6 Posted October 3 well after all those years with Leica, having issues with electronics and mechanics I'd say the M4 up to M4-P. Simple device, no electronic, easy to maintain and fix. Not that expensive so you can go out and throw them in your rucksack without being stressed getting dents and scratches in the body 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fotoklaus Posted October 3 Share #7 Posted October 3 Advertisement (gone after registration) Owning several Ms I only could say that they all work flawlessly and feel smooth. The M4 was the last of the Chrome and brass era but also my M4-2 and M6 are built to the high standards back then from qualified craftsmen. So non of them is "the best". But i would rather buy a early MP from the 2000s and give it an overhaul than a new one if wanted to have a later model with no spare part issues and have the original leica built quality. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted October 3 Share #8 Posted October 3 I'd vote for the M4, but acknowledge I've never held nor tried a M5. I hated the M6 (heresy, I know). 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted October 3 Share #9 Posted October 3 M4 gets the non from me. I bought mine in 1968 when I could have bought a new M3 for the same price. I now have M2,3,4,5,6&7 - and each is a joy to use and has nice features. M5 is well engineered, but subject to shutter curtain drum failure that can't be fixed. The plastic parts didn't age well. Sherry Krauter noted problem was originally a bad early batch, but now all are subject to the problem. Mine still works fine, and I'll keep using it as long as it lasts. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Bigsby Posted October 3 Share #10 Posted October 3 (edited) I have an M4, M6 (2022), M-A and MP (I know, what am I'm doing?). I echo the sentiment about the M4's build quality. That said, of all my cameras, I reach for the black paint MP the most. Here's a pic of my M4 in the hands of my son, Kipling (taken with my MP and a 50cron on Delta 3200). 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 October 3 by Roy Bigsby 8 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/413179-which-analog-leica-m-body-was-built-best/?do=findComment&comment=5641565'>More sharing options...
hansvons Posted October 3 Share #11 Posted October 3 6 hours ago, Roy Bigsby said: (taken with my MP and a 50cron on Delta 3200). Nice shot. At what ISO did you expose the image? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hansvons Posted October 3 Share #12 Posted October 3 I find for the money the M4P the best analogue M. Cocking my copy’s shutter is exceptionally satisfying. The other M I use even more often because it has a light meter is an early M6 Classic. It’s the more practical camera but less joyful. I’ll get at some point a 2022 M6, assuming that it’s the pinnical of the M series regarding usability and ergonomics (viewfinder, rewind crank)—or not, as the M6 and M4P are already brilliant photographic tools. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted October 3 Share #13 Posted October 3 Built best ? None of M. I used for many years M4 (some of them) believing they are the "best" but I saw some flaws using them. First ennoying rig was the brass eyelets worn too quickly. Then the "fast" shutter speed varied too much even after recent CLA. ... Happily ... Now I see those flaws were corrected in M-A (maybe also in MP that I used happily "before", without fear of falling) steel eyelets fixed with two screws ( so for life long use) and fast shutter speeds more reliable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted October 3 Share #14 Posted October 3 (edited) And I can add that the coating inside viewfinder in M-A/MP was superior to M4/M5, not much but "visible" in difficult lighting, like contre-jour or spots at night. Edited October 3 by a.noctilux 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted October 3 Share #15 Posted October 3 Well just to say that the M-A/MP would be best built if they had real vulcanite of older M4/M5/M4-P. Anyway, I don't bother for the best built M, only the feeling of "best for the job" is important while using them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Bigsby Posted October 3 Share #16 Posted October 3 2 hours ago, hansvons said: Nice shot. At what ISO did you expose the image? When shooting Delta 3200, I usually set the light meter to around ISO 1000. A lot of people really hate Delta 3200 and instead choose just to push HP5. But I've had some great luck with it (e.g., this photo). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Geschlecht Posted October 4 Share #17 Posted October 4 (edited) 19 hours ago, otto.f said: M4. Because it feels as the most compact of any M afterwards. And it is, because of the hight. Actually, the more recent M’s are not as easy to put in the inside pocket of your denim jacket. It works faster than the M3 (or MP and M-A) and the thumb rest is more comfortable with the plastic end. It’s also the lightest except for the M1 and the film M-D which you don’t want. The story goes about Kappa that he felt safe with his M4’s to use them as a defense ‘weapon’, which says something about its sturdyness which is less in the M6 because of the top plate. Hello Everybody, All of the "M" Leicas are good cameras. As to weights & dimensions: From: Leica M - The advanced school of photography - Gunter Osterloh - Umschau Verlag - 1986 M4 - 138 X 77 X 36 - 600 grams M3 - 138 X 77 X 36 - 595 grams M2 - 138 X 77 X 36 - 580 grams M5 - 155 X 84 X 36 - 700 grams M4-2 - 138 X 77 X 36 - 525 grams M4-P - 138 X 77 X 36 - 545 grams Original M6 - 138 X 77 X 38 (Yes) - 560 grams Best Regards, Michael Edited October 4 by Michael Geschlecht 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
m410 Posted October 4 Share #18 Posted October 4 (edited) Al, M4 - I traded my Canon F1 Pro camera and 15mm, 35mm, 50mm, 100mm, 200mm lens set in 1974 for a Black Chrome Leica M4 with 50mm Summicron and 135mm Tele-Elmar. I still have and use all three Leica pieces along with naturally more lenses and a M10R. All lenses fit both bodies. Yes, the M4 is difficult to beat. Good luck with your search. David Edited October 4 by m410 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mute-on Posted October 4 Share #19 Posted October 4 Of my three film M bodies, the M2 feels most like it was cast from a solid gold ingot, the MP operates with the greatest convenience (rapid load and built in light meter) and the BP M4 is the prettiest, but not as solid in operation as the others (probably the plastic advance lever tip). They all have their foibles, but a perfectly functioning, newly manufactured M-A (I’m sure they exist) could he the best of the lot! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted October 4 Share #20 Posted October 4 Of course, the best built bodies are the M4 and black paint modern MP. How do I know? Because that's what I have. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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