A "Working-man" Leica

[shadowfox]

Hi all,

I finally got my kind of Leica, a Leica that fits me, a common working-class guy 🙂
It is an M4-P, which according to my research is basically the M6 without the meter that is made in Canada.

The non-meter part suits me just fine, the made-in-Canada part is even more so 🙂

The lens is an Elmar-M 50/2.8 collapsible. Which in my mind one of the coolest looking lens around.

Sorry, it's not an a'la carte MP 🙂
... which I definitely don't need.

I explained in this thread what this Leica signifies to me, it's not a whim or impulse buy.

My impression: A Leica is a Leica (both body and lens). It is one cut above any other RF cameras I've ever used. I have always suspicious that people who like OM cameras would probably like a Leica (or vice versa). Now my suspicion is justified. I like holding the camera, composing with the unbelievably clear rangefinder, and the shutter sound. And the results, wow!

But... at the same time, I'm glad I paid what I paid for this camera. IMHO, this camera (or any other Leica's for that matter) is a good bit better, but not $2000 better than the rest.

Here are some samples from the first test roll (sorry for those who has flickr filtered from your office computers, I tried to use the RFF attachment, but it won't let me re-attach the same picture twice)

and the camera:

Not quite pristine, but hey, I love it.

 

[mich8261]

Will,

That's a great looking camera. The picture of the pigeons is also great; what's the building in the background? Looks cool.

 

[darkkavenger]

My congratulations, it appears to be a lovely camera and you seem to make great photos from it, which is the most important 🙂

 

[Tuolumne]

"Who is rich? He who is happy with his lot, as it is said: 'When you eat of the labor of your hands, you are praiseworthy and all is well with you' (Psalms 128:2). 'You are praiseworthy'—in this world; 'and all is well with you'—in the world to come."

Pirke Avot (Ethics/Sayings of the Fathers)

 

[Samsam]

your m4-p looks really good, especially with the elmar.
i think i'll never find a camera that better suits me than a leica, you just feel happy when you hold it in your hands.
I only have one regret: i would have preferred that Leica puts the same viewfinder you find on Zeiss ikon bodies.

 

[ocean7]

Congrats and welcome to the club - I joined a few weeks ago with my very first M, such a lovely thing - and yes your camera looks very nice with the Elmar. Enjoy and happy shooting!

 

[xayraa33]

nice photos, the M4-P and its older brother the M4-2 are great cameras.
I never felt the need for any Leica model that is more modern than these fine two.

 

[maddoc]

Some nice photos and congrats to your M4-P ! It's a fine camera, all mechanical and with a bright viewfinder. I had mine serviced recently and hopefully it will work for another 20 years or so. 🙂

 

[martin-f5]

nice photos and beautyfull camera,
but tell me, how du you meter the light?

 

[maddoc]

In my case, I either estimate (sunny f16 rule) or use a small hand-held meter (Gossen Digisix). Except my MP all my cameras are meter-less (IIIf, Rolleiflex 3.5E, Hasselblad 500C/M and M4-P) and with the the Super-Angulon 21 I can't use the MP's meter either.

 

[Ororaro]

I love my M4-P! Meterless is for real men that don't shave their armpits! (Dunno, just felt like saying that! 🙂)

 

[maddoc]

I love my M4-P! Meterless is for real men that don't shave their armpits! (Dunno, just felt like saying that! 🙂)

.... 😀 😀 😀

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

I like the photo of the woman in the park, and was sorry that when I first saw it in a critique here that I couldn't say that I liked it because I wasn't part of that critique.

The out of focus woman is very nice. I understand that you had been ready to photograph the statue behind her and she just walked into the frame.

 

[Ken Ford]

I always enjoyed my M4-P - congrats!

 

[Vincenzo Maielli]

Welcome in the Leica M world. Your camera and your lens are very fine. Good light.
Ciao.
Vincenzo

 

[shadowfox]

Michel:

The building behind the pigeon is just another office building in downtown Dallas, now the building that the pigeons are on are quite unique, I'll take a picture of that building next time I'm in downtown with the leica again.

Max:

Thank you, yes, the photo is more important than the camera

Toulomne:

Beautiful quote, I wonder how you get to think of that.

Samsam:

I've never held a Zeiss Ikon, but its viewfinder must be really good to be better than the Leica's. I have held a Bessa R3A, I like the 1:1 magnification, but the Leica's rangefinder is still better IMHO.

ocean7:

Thanks, which M did you get?

xayraa33:

One of the thing that blew me away is loading the film, how easy is that? just plop the film in, lead the leader through the sprocket hole into the spool. That's it. I was a bit leary when I remember some of the things I read about loading a film on oler Leicas.

maddoc:

I hope the same for this one 🙂

Martin:

Sunny-16 rule for me also. It actually gives me more confidence the more I use it. And an old Sekonic L-308 when I have a brain-jam 🙂

Ned:

🙂

Jon:

I didn't know that you can't comment on a photo critique that you're not a part of, I saw Kully did it, so I thought it's ok, thanks for the comment here though 🙂

Ken:

Cheers.

Vincenzo:

Graci!

 

[gavinlg]

Will, I think we have a bit in common regarding camera choices.... funnily enough, I just bought a "working mans Leica", but I think mines a little more working class than yours. They're great aren't they - I'm having a lot of fun with it, just really badly need a handheld meter.
Mines a little worn and has a fixed dent over the VF, but is very very smooth and functional... I kind of like the worness of it...

 

[shadowfox]

Gavin 😀😀😀

I think if we ever meet together, people will think we're twins at least camera-wise 🙂

Nice looking M4-2, and look at that Jupiter 12, I have the Contax version mounted on the Kiev 4. How do you like it on the M4-2?

The only advice I have on a light meter is don't buy cheap ones, get a good one and be done with it for a loooong time 🙂

I was lucky to get my Sekonic with a pristine Minolta outfit from a gentleman here locally.

 

[gavinlg]

We certainly have similar arsenals and tastes gear-wise!

I've only shot one roll so far through the J12 and the camera itself, was guessing difficult exposures in dappled light while using 400tx (tri-x) for the first time so as you can imagine the roll didn't come out so nice. I'm not sure how much I like 400tx either...

The J12 is very good value for money, Quite sharp so far and well built - seems to handle flare pretty well.... Only thing is the bokeh seems to get busy looking sometimes, but not too bad overall. I will shell out and get either a hexanon 35 or biogon 35 eventually though, the j12 is okay for the moment. I'll post a result from it from the next roll if you're interested..

Lightmeter... I've been eyeing off the smallest sekonic one - I think it's called an L208 twinmaster or something but it looks very small and light, has reflected and incident. Later this year I'll buy a bigger sekonic one with more features like flash metering for DSLR work though.


I tell you what - that elmar 50 on your m4-p looks great and has an extremely pleasing rendition.. You like it?

 

[swoop]

My old photo professor used an M4-P. It was worn down to the brass and the Leica dot was long missing. Everyone who has TA'd for him, including myself has switched over to Leica for day to day use.