Leica M4-2 "Leitz Wetzlar"

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TimM

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Hello!
Just got a question about my Leica M4-2, because it has - below the usual "Leitz" - engraving a "Wetzlar" - engraving at the Top.
I bought it here, from a fellow RFF Member, and i'm quite curious about this - something special about it?
I'm just asking, because i want a camera which i can use without living in fear to "destroy" (rather replace it with scratch) an ultra rare collector item 😉

Best!
Tim
 
I think that might be my M4-2 if you bought it from Memphis. You shouldn't have to worry about the M4-2. It is a great camera and can dish it out as well as take it.
 
I believe all M4-2's were made in Canada. The significance of the camera is that it saved the RF division of Leitz as the high production cost and poor sales of the M5 nearly bankrupted the company.
 
I've seen pictures of the camera both ways. Try looking carefully at the body or leatherette covering to see if either Canada or Germany is engraved or embossed. Also keep in mind that midway through it's production, Leica removed the condenser lens in the frameline mask to economize production. The minor logo difference may coincide with this internal change, but I'm only speculating.
 
Is it a black paint, black chrome, or chrome body? Maybe pictures of the front, top, and back would help.

Where is the seller when you need him?
 
Two Pics - hope, they work!
p1010442sv2.jpg

p1010446vj1.jpg
 
TimM said:
Just got a question about my Leica M4-2, because it has - below the usual "Leitz" - engraving a "Wetzlar" - engraving at the Top...
Click to expand...

Only the first batch had this (less than 1000 cameras).

Some had "Made in Canada" engraved on the topcover (just above the hot shoe), others have come variation of "Made in Canada" on the back). Yours is one of the rarer variations.

For a time "Leitz Wetzlar" was synonymous with the Leitz trademark.
 
BillBlackwell said:
Only the first batch had this (less than 1000 cameras).

Some had "Made in Canada" engraved on the topcover (just above the hot shoe), others have come variation of "Made in Canada" on the back). Yours is one of the rarer variations.

For a time "Leitz Wetzlar" was synonymous with the Leitz trademark.
Click to expand...


Hum - anyone interested in buying/trading? 😉
Don't need a "collectors edition"... because i know myself - i won't dare to take it with me on "hard adventures" i guess...might be wrong as well..
 
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It is actually this camera which I sold to Tim. I made many photo's with it. It is a very fine camera, every works well. I always used a Leica case, therefore it is still in an excellent cosmetic condition. I bought it once from an Australian RFF member but forgot about his name.

black%20and%20chrome.JPG
 
TimM said:
Hum - anyone interested in buying/trading? 😉
Don't need a "collectors edition"... because i know myself - i won't dare to take it with me on "hard adventures" i guess...might be wrong as well..
Click to expand...

PM me if serious 😀
 
kbg32 said:
M4-2s only, as I know them, were available in chrome or black chrome. No black paint.
Click to expand...

A M4-2 in chrome is very rare. There was only about 30 made of them. It was a special order for a store in Los Angeles. There was 30 chrome 35f2 Summicrons (iv) "custom ordered" too. There has been some replicas of this camera made from surplus top plates.
The very first M4-2 had a red Leica decal on the front (similar to the M4P) and you can identify it by # number (not the safest way as the shoe which has the number engraved on it is easily interchanged). However, the take up drive connection for the M4-2 winder on the first 100 only had only 1 cut-out for the drive.
Leica Midland did engrave various M4-2's with Wetzlar and Made in Canada tops. Somewhat bewildering to the buyers than and now as Midland (now owned by Rayethon) does not keep any documentation on the various M4-2 models - or they will not answer questions about them).
 
cmogi10 said:
Keep it! use it! It's just a camera.
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After thinking one more night about it - i will do so - because i really like the camera. (greetings to ron!)
Think, it was just a very alluring idea, because i'm surely one of the younger ones here (age: 22) and a student...
Anyway - thanks to all for the help 😉 and for the many offers i got.
 
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Just get a Luigi case if you don't want to bang it up. That is one case that does not get in the way of shooting. It does get in the way of changing film, of course. I don't know of any case that allows film loading while the case is on the camera. But it is not difficult. You can see a Luigi case on my M2, in my avatar.
 
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