Got my first Leica! And some questions.

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rubercoober

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Hey everyone!

I've been a Contax G2 user for the past year and a half. Talk about a phenomenal camera. It really pushed me to shoot more often. Such an inspiring camera to use. I had an electronic issue recently that was rather discouraging, where the camera kept draining a fresh set of batteries overnight. The camera was serviced, and performs flawlessly now, but this got me worried about longevity. Especially with plans of extended traveling overseas and not wanting to worry about sourcing batteries or other electronic issues.

So, I decided I would sell it after buying a Leica M4 that wouldn't have these issues. I'll get back to that...

I just this past week finally got myself a black M4 and a V4 50mm Summicron, and I'm in love. Everything about it is a joy to use, the images are fantastic, and it's been well loved! I'm absolutely satisfied with it. It's a good feeling, as I'm sure you all know 🙂

Here are some photos:

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Can anyone confirm that this is actually a Black Chrome M4, as I was told in the ebay listing? Or is it a repaint? I searched the serial number database and it tells me it's just an M4, not M4 black. Isn't M4 black in the database referring to black enamel not black chrome? Sorry, I'm not as well versed in Leica history as I'd like at this point. I'm happy with it either way, as I had planned on buying a repainted M4 originally to save money.

My next question relates to the Contax, as I'm not sure I can part with it at this point. It's just too good of a value, as well as sentimental value, that would probably make me regret selling it.

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Do any of you shoot with two cameras bodies on a regular basis? I do primarily street photography (like many of you, I'm sure), as well as concert and skateboard photography. I was considering picking up a 28mm Biogon for my G2 as they are relatively inexpensive, that way I could carry both with me and have both 50mm and 28mm lenses at my disposal. Does anyone use this specific combination?

If you do carry two with you, how do you go about carrying them on you? Pockets? Camera bags? I'm just interested in seeing what everyone else does.

Pardon the massive potato quality cell phone images, not sure how to resize them on here/for here appropriately.

Cheers!

-Ruben
 
Hey Ruben!

Congrats on the M4 man, but I have also long pined after a Contax G2, especially a black one. I can't answer your question on the authenticity of your black chrome m4 (though I'm sure someone undoubtedly will be able to though).

I can however answer your question regarding two body shooting from my own experience. In short, I love working that way.

I've long used two cameras simultaneously with most any system I've had as it allows for rapid versatility "in the field". I try not to carry too much equipment with me at any given time anymore (I don't need to have it all available "just in case") but I really like working with two bodies / two lenses. And ironically enough my favorite pairing is 28/50. When I go with one camera and one lens it's most often a 35mm, but when I take two, it's the 28/50 pair.

I think it's super versatile, and you'd enjoy it, plus the 28 Biogon for the G2 is excellent!
 
Modest sized bag (something in the size class of a Tenba DNA 8) would handle both bodies and a few rolls of film.

Nice M4 and G2! I had a G2 for a while, between Ms. It was a nice camera, although at the time I couldn't get on with the AF. But I still prefer the M. 🙂

G
 
Congrats on the M4, that's a sweet camera. When I'm doing event photography, and shooting film, I use two Nikon F cameras. Both with straps, one slung over each shoulder. Pull up the one that has the focal length lens I need for the shot, then switch off when I want the other focal length.
 
Ahh this is what I LOVE to read on a Monday morning 🙂

Congrats on becoming one of us -chants: one of us/one of us/one of us - O_O

Anyway! I'll just say keep your Contax and see how you feel about it over a few months - heck I've been saying that about my M2 since I switched to the M6...and I still have my M2 LOL for "sentimental reasons I can't let go of because it was my first Leica". It's been maybe 4 years since I got my M6, and now I'm starting to feel like I might sell the M2 so...

Usually, I would carry just my M6...I try not to carry 2 cameras but if I do, I carry a point and shoot as a second one.

A friend of mine has the Biogon 28mm and he's loving it. I shoot primarily with 35 but have the 50 if I want to shoot certain things, but then again I try not to carry too much out unless I'm going on a trip.

I have been told numerous amount of times that it doesn't take much to carry a second lens out. I usually hate carrying a bag out, but gah. I guess they are lighter than DSLR lenses anyway! 🙂
 
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Regarding authenticity, you'll never really know. But, black chrome is rarely faked if ever. It's hard to do and they don't fetch a premium like black paint do. On the other hand, black paint is relatively easy to fake, and they fetch a premium price.
Your black chrome looks nice by the way, like it's had a very good life!
 
I usually carry two bodies, the one I feel I will use most round my neck, the other over my shoulder, I've probably been doing this for close to 35 years!
 
A follow up to my earlier reply;

The serial number on this camera comes from a very big batch (7520 cameras) in 1968/9 which officially contained some chrome and some black paint cameras. Yours is definitely black chrome (I haven't known of any "fake" black chrome cameras so it is most likely an official job). But, the KE-7A is supposedly the first Leica to be made in black chrome, was produced in 1972.

So this puts your camera in an interesting place...
My guess is that it was sent back to Leica by the original owner and converted to black chrome.
The other plausible option is that it may have been a left over serial number that Leica decided to make a black chrome camera when one was required (don't forget the batch does not refer to the number of cameras made in a particular time period, but when the serial numbers were assigned - so a serial number might be assigned years before the camera is manufactured)?

Did you buy it from the original owner? It would be nice to know its story.
 
I did an auto show once where I had an SLR and rangefinder around the neck (rangefinder was hung higher so it wouldn't bang into the SLR), with a digital compact and Lomography fisheye P&S in a bag, along with extra film, and batteries. It was not that hard to shift from one to the other, as I had different films in the three 35mm cameras. Different focal lengths too, with each camera dedicated to a particular style of photo. The digicam was really for when I'd run out of film, but also for those quickie macro and low detail shots.

And congrats on the M4.

PF
 
I use precisely the combination you outline I.e. 28mm on my G2 and 50mm on my M6. I shoot street mainly and find this combination perfect although periodically I'll attach the 21mm Biogon to the G2.

Keep the Contax, it's a lovely machine, and I'm sure you'll enjoy your Leica for many a year.
 
My advice is don't trust the lists entirely as to what is black and what is chrome. Trust your eyes more. I doubt that they paid a man to sit at the end of the production line and count how many and what serial black or chromed they did that day. That looks like original black chrome to me.
 
Black chrome cannot be faked. It's a process that cannot be duplicated since it's highly industrial and if it would be faked, it wouldn't look anything like the real thing.

I've never heard of the KE-7A being the first black chrome M4 model, where's the internet source on that?


I list the specifications of 'regular' M Leicas in this article but chrome vs paint production numbers aren't included. Still, since it can be useful to folks I link to the article here.
 
i've never heard of black chrome fakes, if you were going to fake an m4 i would think it would be black paint!
the back has been changed at sometime as that seems to be a back off a chrome camera.
I do like that black Contax!
 
johannielscom said:
Black chrome cannot be faked. It's a process that cannot be duplicated since it's highly industrial and if it would be faked, it wouldn't look anything like the real thing.

I've never heard of the KE-7A being the first black chrome M4 model, where's the internet source on that?


I list the specifications of 'regular' M Leicas in this article but chrome vs paint production numbers aren't included. Still, since it can be useful to folks I link to the article here.
Click to expand...

The KE-7A being being the first in black chrome came from here: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/M4
Bottom of the page. It's the only place I've seen it mentioned.
 
johannielscom said:
Black chrome cannot be faked. It's a process that cannot be duplicated since it's highly industrial and if it would be faked, it wouldn't look anything like the real thing. . . .
Click to expand...
Also, of course, there's the question if why anyone would want to fake the ugliest finish Leicas ever had. It wasn't all that bad when it was new (my first new Leica was a black chrome MP, which I still have) but it certainly didn't age gracefully.

If you want to see black paint aging gracefully, look at Nikon Fs, not Leicas.

Cheers,

R.
 
rubercoober said:
If you do carry two with you, how do you go about carrying them on you? Pockets? Camera bags? I'm just interested in seeing what everyone else does.

If you do carry two with you, how do you go about carrying them on you? Pockets? Camera bags? I'm just interested in seeing what everyone else does.

Cheers!

-Ruben
Click to expand...

When I was shooting professionally, I always carried two cameras - one had a wide angle zoom and the other a telephoto zoom. Now retired, I STILL carry two cameras. After selling all my Nikon gear, I settled on Fuji's X100S and a X-E1. With the X100S acting as my wide angle, I use a Nikkor 1,8/85mm on the X-E1 so I have what for me is the best of both worlds. I also have the Fuji 1,4/35mm that is my "normal" lens (52mm) when I need it. As far as carrying them, I have both on shoulder straps (love my Wapiti straps) with one or the other in my shooting hand always at the ready. The small Fuji batteries are usually in separate pockets. For my usual shooting, I do not carry the 35mm but sometimes I just want to shoot at the "normal" focal length.

I also sometimes will carry my Yashica Electro35 GS with the X-E1 so instead of the X100S spare battery I have a roll of Tri-X in my pocket along with a cannister holder w/Tri-X on the camera strap.

Anyway, that is what works for me.
 
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