M3 / M4 question - Top Cover related

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Pirate

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Can an M3 top cover be put onto an M4?

I was going to have my M4 serviced by the Leica factory when I get back to Germany and this thought occurred to me. I really love the M3 top, and yes I'm going to buy an M3 later, but for now, and because it would just be neat, ..... would it work?
 
you'd have to change out the rewind knob as well, and I don't know if it would work after that, but that's at least one hurdle. Also would need to know where the film counter goes.
 
I thought I'd read of others here having them changed out so I thought it was possible. Maybe?

I'm going to email Youxin too, I'm sure he would know, but I wanted to hear what you guys thought also.
 
Just what is it about the M3 top cover that you find so much better? There's no functional difference anyway.
 
Being that we are all photographers, I'm sure you see this too: It's all about the lines. The line running just under the little focus window is alluring in a way that later models are not- later models have the line much lower. The Window Frames are on the outside of the face- later models are flat or recess the Window Frames. Those two basic features of the M3 are the most attractive features I find. I would love to keep the M4 rewind crank but I know this cannot be, and that's ok, I can live with that.
 
what about the metal part that goes down to about half of the lens bayonet on both sides on the M3? is that really compatible with the M4 body? or is it not a part of the top plate?
 
I could swear that I just recently read about someone that had an M3 top put on their Mx and I wondered about that same part. Man, there's too much that I've read in the last two weeks to go back and find it, but I was trying to picture that extension on there too.
 
Yes, it can be made. The whole rewind pole has to be replaced as the two are different, as noted by previous posters.
BTW, why do you like the M3 top cover more? I find it to be too "art deco" with those frames around the VF/RF windows, the M2-M4 being more "bauhaus"...
 
I guess I'm more in-tune to the "art deco" look on these M-bodies. I really do like it more, but I love my M4 for everything it is too.
 
The frameline window of the M2, M4, etc has the "prisms" in it to help illuminate the lines and direct the angle of light coming in. The viewfinder/Rangefinder mechanism is fundamentally different from the M3 VF/RF.

SO: if you get the clear window of the M3 onto an M4 style VF/RF, you might pick up more Flare.

Ask someone that has done this- but there is a design reason for the prisms in the frameline windows, and a reason why the M3 does not need them.
 
I'm not that familiar with the actual internal workings of the RF and prisms. I'll have to study that a bit more, I'd love to really understand it, but I know it's not too difficult.
 
payasam said:
Just what is it about the M3 top cover that you find so much better? There's no functional difference anyway.
Click to expand...
I always thought that trying to rewind an M3 in a hurry is really difficult. Used to have a knack were I did it by running the edge of my hand and extended finger across the rewind knob. If I was shooting a lot I'd end up with my finger being raw.
 
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