M4P new user

[Jim Evidon]

I just ordered an M4P 70th Anniversary body (Chrome) and expect it in about one week. That model was produced starting in 1983. It is to be a film companion to my M8. I selected the M4P after spending quite a while reviewing the posts on the various M models, paying special attention to Tom Abramson's forum posts. I selected the M4P for two primary reasons.

1. It has 28 to 135 frame lines which makes it a nice companion to the M8 with the same frame lines.
2. I didn't want to spend more money for an M6 or M7.

Does anyone using an M4P have any comments or suggestions as to use, care, and feeding?

And does anyone have suggestions for B&W films? The traditional silver films are getting harder to have processed, while I suppose I could go back to self processing. Please keep in mind that I will be scanning in my Epson 4990 to my computer and completing processing with Photoshop CS3. Any comments in that regard will be appreciated.

Jim Evidon

 

[.JL.]

I like Ilford XP2, conveniently processed by any C-41 labs, and if your scanner has dust removal, it will work (as opposed to traditional mono film). The results are great as well!

 

[maddoc]

Jim,

the M4-P is an excellent choice, IMHO. 🙂 It is my favorite M camera for a couple of reasons and so far the most reliable and smooth M Leica that I have used.

I would recommend testing the camera with a roll of slide film to check the shutter speeds. If you don't want to develop BW film your own, Ilford's XP2 and Kodak's BW400CN are the films of choice.

A small light meter might be useful, too...

Cheers,

Gabor

 

[35photo]

Fuji Neopan 400 is an amazing film! Along with Fuji Acros 100

 

[Zenjitsuman]

I have one and choose to get the MR-4 meter that mounts on the hot shoe and couples to the shutter speed dial. I got an adapter that was made to adapt a silver oxide battery inside the shell of the old Mercury cell battery with a diode to drop the voltage to 1.3v to replace the Mercury cell. This is a very good setup, looks good and very accurate.

Only problem is it takes up your hot shoe, so external VF for say a 21mm lens or a flash requires removing the meter first or using a flash bracket and pc sync terminal.

 

[.JL.]

Agree with 35photo on the Fuji films (and adding Neopan 1600 to the list), especially if you do your own processing. They scan well, much better than Ilford HP5, but no dust removal.

 

[thomasw_]

Congrats on the M4-P.

I urge you to process your own BW film.

1. it is less costly

2. you have way more creative control

3. real BW films just look so rich in tone and delightful in texture as compared to c41 BW

My 2 cents.

 

[MikeL]

What Thomas said, my 2 cents as well.🙂

Congrats on the M4-P.

I urge you to process your own BW film.

1. it is less costly

2. you have way more creative control

3. real BW films just look so rich in tone and delightful in texture as compared to c41 BW

My 2 cents.

 

[literiter]

You're gonna find that M4-Ps eat too much film. Darned near as much as M2s.

 

[Maxapple88]

Fuji Neopan 400 is an amazing film! Along with Fuji Acros 100

Agreed, agreed. Neopan for the winter (pushes well to 800, sometimes even 1600) and Acros for the summer.

 

[hlockwood]

I like Ilford XP2, conveniently processed by any C-41 labs, and if your scanner has dust removal, it will work (as opposed to traditional mono film). The results are great as well!

I'll second that recommendation.

Harry