Just bought an M4-P – Confessions of a GAS binger

[Nick De Marco]

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Had a recent very bad bout of GAS over the past couple of months. Partly caused by a renewed enthusiasm for using film in general and rangefinders in particular. Partly caused, no doubt, by deeper and darker psychological and sociological flaws.

 

 

 

Whilst the symptoms of this attack have been spending far too much money and acquiring more ‘stuff’ than a single person needs, as well as spending too much time in shops or in the internet looking at camera stuff, one side effect is that I have picked up some quite decent gear in the process – and I do love using it.

 

 

 

The principal long term effects of this recent attack (which I can recall) include the following:

 

 

 

- A CV 35mm f2.5 Color-Skopar II (which I like a lot)

 

- A Canon screw fit 35mm f2 – which whilst nice and dinky is not of the best quality but looks OK on my Canon P

 

- An old and tiny tiny Elmarit 35mm f3.5 screw fit, which I am already deeply in love with

 

- A 50mm Summilux first version – which is one of the nicest lenses I have ever bought

 

- A new Voigtlander Bessa R2C – which managed to get damaged and now must repair

 

- A mint Bessa R3M collector camera with Heliar 50mm f2 (where I paid my best price – combo, mint in box £335)

 

- An old Contax and two Zeiss 50/f1.5s

 

- A Russian Contax copy and two Russian lenses

 

- A particularly silly looking FED with lens

 

- Yet another Shanghai 58 rangefinder (but hurrah this one works); and a

 

- A Shanghai medium format folder

 

 

 

…. Draws deep breath

 

 

 

The darker side then persuaded me what I really wanted was another Leica M to keep my M6 company. My m6 remains my favourite camera. Having been through quite a few DSLRs (currently very happy with the 5D Mk II) and SLRs and of course rangefinders, as well as medium format cameras which I still love using, and having bought, briefly fell in love with, then sold, an M8, the M6 has remained the one camera I would say is my complete favourite. I used to have an M4-P. My first proper M. I loved it and would often travel with the M6 and M4-P together. When I sold some Leica gear I sold the M4-P (as well as an M3) but kept the M6 and an M2. I have never had quite such a close relationship with the M2. It’s very good, and I have had good results from it, but it just doesn’t feel quite the same. I didn’t want the expense of a good condition second M6, and anyway as I have one, why have another? I’m getting far more used to non meter cameras these days and often see no meter as an advantage (ie using the CV meter you hook on top means you can take a reading at waist level). So I pressed the dreaded ‘buy it now’ button and bought this.

 

 

 

NEAR MINT Leica M4-P camera body, s.n: 1550578 on eBay (end time 12-Aug-09 09:52:43 BST)

 

 

 

Looks and sound good. Eh? If all is true then I think the price is not bad either.

 

 

 

I swear this is the last of my (significant) GAS splurges, at least of 2009 (how many times have we said that before) and so lay my soul before you so that you may cast stones at me if I ever pop up on about another cute lens – at least until 2010. No one can really justify spending such money on stuff when one camera and one lens is really all you need. And if I had spent the money I just spend paying off my mortgage I would be a more sensible man. But I guess it gives me pleasure, and I do rush out and use the cameras almost as soon as I have them. And when I look at the total I have spent I can at least say that I could have blown nearly that whole amount on one single M8.2 plus a cheaper new Leica lens to go with it.

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[ejd]

Nick -- you're a hero!

You make me, and I've no doubt many others here, feel a lot better about my own indulgences.

Sounds like quite a haul of kit. You don't go by half measures.

All the best, John

[Philippe D.]

I can understand all this very well.

I also have an M2 (with Leicavit), and an M4-P (which a sold almost twice, but still have it) (with winder M) and also an MP black paint (with Leicavit).

 

It's easier to buy gear as to sell it, have I made the experience by the time.

[Guest maddoc2003jp]

There is a nice thread about the M4-P here.