Brass/zinc?

[ped]

OK so I am familiar with the commonly used line in regard to the M4-P:

''The earlier M4-P's still had brass top-plates, where the later ones have the same zinc top-plates of the M6. You can tell the difference by looking at the windows on the front- if they are recessed like the earlier M's, this should be a brass top; if they are flush like the M6, this will be a zinc top plate.''

Now, here is my M4-P (s/n 1549321):

So I'm presuming this is Zinc as it's the same as the M6... but can anyone show me the OPPOSITE design, so I can see exactly what the above statement means, or looks like, in camera form?

Cheers
ped

 

[-doomed-]

Yours looks like an earlier brass top. Mine is a zinc top and the windows are totally flush with the top plate without any recess whatsoever though I don't have a shot of it the difference is pretty obvious.

 

[Pablito]

The ones with the brass top take much better pictures.

 

[ped]

The ones with the brass top take much better pictures.

Oh indeed, but can anyone find a photo of one of these zinc topped ones? My camera shows quite a bit of wear around the edges bit it looks to be silver in colour below rather than brass.

 

[chrishayton]

That is a brass plate. Look at an M6, now imagine it with m4-p written on it, thats what a zinc m4-p looks like, pretty much identical cameras without the meter

Yours is 100% a brass top, they look like that with wear, if you REALLY wear it you will get down to brass but you dont see it often

 

[ped]

Aha I see, ok many thanks for the help.

 

[Nikon Bob]

Oh indeed, but can anyone find a photo of one of these zinc topped ones? My camera shows quite a bit of wear around the edges bit it looks to be silver in colour below rather than brass.

Your M4-P is a brass top version as everyone else has said. What you are seeing is the black chrome finish wearing down and it appears silver when wearing off. With enough wear the brass should show through eventually.

Bob

 

[Tom A]

The "silver" color you see when the brass top plate M4P wears is the nickel coating over the brass. Yours is an early M4P.
Dont have any of the flush windowed M4P's left. Just two of the early brass ones. One was worn down to brass - later repainted in a "crackle" finish to cover up the damaged top.
The M4P is still one of the great "user" M's - built well, steel gear train (to take the Leica Winder). It does everything a M6 does - but without flashing lights in the finder. Lasts forever too.

 

[Calzone]

Please identify the meter that is mounted on the hot shoe.
I like your M4-P and I can see an advantage to having the external meter. I'm thinking that for street shooting being able to take an exposure reading without looking through a VF'er can be an advantage.

Thanks in advance.

Cal

 

[ped]

Thanks for the info and help.

Cal, the meter is the Leica MR-4. It links in with the shutter speed dial and is a nice solution but I have a Voigtlander VCII meter arriving tomorrow which should be more accurate and generally useful, the MR looks lovely but is quite large and takes outdated batteries.

Cheers
ped

 

[hepcat]

I know this is an old thread, but for anyone contemplating the difference between the brass top plate and the zinc top plate, here's an image of my zinc top plate M4-P from the April 15, 1983 batch S/N 16218XX



L1004597 by chief1120, on Flickr

 

[shadowfox]

The M4P is still one of the great "user" M's - built well, steel gear train (to take the Leica Winder). It does everything a M6 does - but without flashing lights in the finder. Lasts forever too.

Leave it to Tom A. to summarize the M4-P so succinctly. 🙂

 

[philipus]

Perhaps a slightly but not entirely off topic question. The vulcanite on the M4-P, is it the same as on the M3 and M4? The images in the thread (of two very attractive cameras) give the impression that the vulcanite is glossier or more shiny.

Cheers
Philip

 

[Erik van Straten]

The vulcanite on the M4-P, is it the same as on the M3 and M4? The images in the thread give the impression that the vulcanite is glossier or more shiny.

It is no longer made from gutta percha, like the vulcanite of the M1, M2, M3, M4 and M5 cameras but from a more modern plastic. It has however the same pattern pressed in it. Side by side you can clearly see the difference.

Erik.

 

[philipus]

Thank you Erik.
Cheers
p

 

[ray*j*gun]

I'm sorry I ever sold my M4-P it was a gem and I was DUMB!!!