Differing tightness of fit M4-P back door compared with later models

[F456]

A post by Bigglesworth has prompted me to make this enquiry.

I have some different 35mm M models dating from M6TTL bought in about 2000 through M7 bought a couple of years later to MPs all bought a few months before the pandemic. All work fine and, touch wood, none is giving me any problems of any kind.

So the post is of the non-essential kind... on a recently acquired and in excellent working and cosmetic condition black M4-P the back door is a slightly looser fit than the uniformly tighter fit of the other cameras already mentioned.

I have not noticed any light leaks, looking at the HP5 films I have got back. I am just curious to know if this looser fit (you can press the door in a bit; it gives) is par for the course with the M4-P. It doesn't bother me but I keep wondering if it is an exception to the rule for that model.

Also I sense the frame lines are brighter than in the M6TTL and M7. Can that be right?

Tom

 

[Tom R]

I have two M4-P bodies that I use regularly. One is slightly older and more worn than the other. The "worn" model appears to have a "looser fitting" back door. I've used these cameras for over fifteen years and have never noticed any evidence of light leaks in either body.

Comparing these bodies to the M-2 and M-3 bodies that I had used previously, the fittings in general felt "tighter" on the earlier camera bodies (again, no light incursion issues with ANY of these bodies) and the frame lines appear brighter on the M4-Ps. I don't know if this is secondary revision, based on your suggestion, or if it was really the case. Sadly, I have neither the M-2 nor the M-3 any longer.

 

[Mute-on]

I have an M4 on which the back door will give just enough to make a soft ‘click’ every once in a while. Tom A. has reported that some proportion of his (many) M2s would do the same.

I have acquired the felt strips for an MP that line the channels around the back door to see if that helps. I haven’t got around to installing them yet, since it’s really not a big deal. If I ever get around to it, I’ll post back.

J 🙂

 

[maddoc]

I switched my original M4 black paint back door for an M4-2 back door and the fit is much tighter than the original M4 back door. Must be small tolerances in the manufacturing process.

 

[Tom R]

I switched my original M4 black paint back door for an M4-2 back door and the fit is much tighter than the original M4 back door. Must be small tolerances in the manufacturing process.

Interesting, that. Somewhere (on this Forum?) someone mentioned that many of the internal parts for the M-2/4 were stainless steel as opposed to bronze(?)

I don't know that this makes much of a difference other than one (stainless steel) being more 'durable' than a softer alloy?

Tom R.

 

[F456]

Thanks, all, for your replies. Good to know I can immediately do nothing and find something else to worry about!

I use the M4-P less than the newer cameras but when I do use it I enjoy knowing there is no meter to go wrong and taking a slower, incident meter-led approach to picture taking. Very enjoyable unless it's one of those days when fast-moving cloud keeps changing the scene and the light levels.


Tom

 

[Deleted member 65559]

Interesting, that. Somewhere (on this Forum?) someone mentioned that many of the internal parts for the M-2/4 were stainless steel as opposed to bronze(?)

I don't know that this makes much of a difference other than one (stainless steel) being more 'durable' than a softer alloy?

Tom R.

Here's a good article outlining all the changes made in the M4-2 and subsequent cameras that differed from the M2,M3,M4:
https://www.nemeng.com/leica/016b.shtml