I love my M4

N

Nick De Marco

Well-known
Local time
11:47 PM
Joined
Apr 16, 2007
Messages
902
View My Gallery
I love my M4

L9996079%2528Planar50%2540f8.3%2529.jpg


See more and find out why on my daily blog:
Rangefinder Chronicles: Monday 20 December 2010

Anyone else?
 
In the beginning I didn't like the M4. It was too precious to take the chrome body out
of the dry cabinet. I didn't use it much either, I ran through no more than 10 rolls for the 6 months I had it.

I thought the M3, M2 would satisfy my need. But recently I bought a
M4-P from a fellow RFFer, and I found myself subconsciously playing with the release button and winder. I then proceed to sell the M2.

The no.1 reason why the M4-P is better than the M4 is this:

It has a Hot-Flash. (After using available light for 99% of my photography history,
I find a good flash very useful indeed, and no need to worry about shutter speed at all)

The no.1 reason why the M4 is better than the M4-P is this:

The M4-P is not a M4. (The lack of the self-timer on the M4-P is not a bug but a feature 🙂).


4p_1.jpg

4p_2.jpg

4p_3.jpg
 
Last edited:
Nick,

I read and enjoy your Rangefinder Chronicles, but have to say I don't agree with your comments about the pricing of the M4. I've not found them to be cheaper than an M4-2, M3 or (increasingly) M2. I'd say they hover around the £500+ mark for a 'user' and go up from there.

John
 
Thanks for the comments.
John maybe you are right. I got mine, in good condition, for MW Classic for £499. I have recently seen many M3s go for in excess of £600, but if you look around I am sure you can get one for 500. M2s are usually less than M3s. But M4-Ps are usually more than 600. I guess the difference is not as big as I may have suggested, but I still think the M4 is one of the best value Ms you can buy
 
I used an M4 for a couple of months and liked it. Couldn't afford it at the time. Now I have an M4-2 which I like because it handles about the same, and takes a Rapidwinder with Rapidgrip. Great for "big" lenses like the Canon 50mm F1.2
 

Attachments

  • DSC03635.jpg
    DSC03635.jpg
    59.7 KB · Views: 0
I guess the difference is not as big as I may have suggested, but I still think the M4 is one of the best value Ms you can buy
Click to expand...

The "flaw" of the M4 is the lack of black ones. Thats why I got myself an M4-2.
 
SimonSawSunlight said:
maybe there is a reason why there aren't so many variations of the M4. maybe it's because you can't make it much better. 🙂
Click to expand...

... M4 silver-chrome, M4 black-chrome, M4 black-paint, MDa, olive-green M4 (Bundeswehr), KE-7A (US Army), M4 MOT, M4-2, M4-P classic (brass top, recessed windows) , M4-P late series, M4-P 50years ... I don't know of any other M Leica that came in so many variations ... 🙂😉
 
The M4 is a beautiful camera - I've had mine for a year and two months and put hundreds of rolls through it. It's a joy to use. It's my best friend, goes everywhere with me. I ran into a fellow on the street a while back who saw my M4 and called it the "apotheosis" - the quintessential example. Though I've never used any other models, it doesn't sound like much of a stretch to me.

I've come close to selling it a few times, once when I got it in my head that I needed an in-camera meter and thus and M6, and most recently when I started lusting after a digital RF (thus an M8). Unfortunately I sometimes have an impulsive nature that gets in the way of rationality, in camera gear and in life. If I do get one of those I'll have to save for it the old-fashioned way, because I think I would regret parting with it. It's got a few small dings in the top plate, some of which were there before, some of which I put there (not on purpose of course). It has some scratches on the bottom plate, some of which were there before, some of which are from me. I've started to notice some brassing along the bottom edges and on the switch that enables you to engage the rewind crank (I know that has a snappier name, just can't think of it). I feel like I'm leaving my mark on the camera, not through neglect or carelessness, but simply by using the camera for its intended purpose - to take a hell of a lot of pictures with. This makes me happy.

I love prefer chrome, so the lack of black options never bothered me...though that black paint one you have is beautiful.
 
With due respect to the -2 & -P models. IMHO they have always been "another" or different model Leica that happens to carry the similar M4 name. Kind of like how one would differentiate "Mr.Wilson Jr." from his father if you will.

I do have an M4-P that am very fond of and enjoy; but I appreciate it's qualities differently from the "M4, M4mot, etc" ones. But will go further to say that if made to choose, I would prefer working with "Sr." than "Jr."
 
maddoc said:
... M4 silver-chrome, M4 black-chrome, M4 black-paint, MDa, olive-green M4 (Bundeswehr), KE-7A (US Army), M4 MOT, M4-2, M4-P classic (brass top, recessed windows) , M4-P late series, M4-P 50years ... I don't know of any other M Leica that came in so many variations ... 🙂😉
Click to expand...

I was talking about the original wetzlar M4. that one has only been variated in colour and some cement in the finder at some point, afaik (at least the civilian, purchasable version, not any special production runs for special clients). I did not know about the M4-Mot / M4-M, but the MDa is really quite a different camera, not a 'variation' of the M4.
it has not seen variations like i.e. the M3 (DS / SS, no selftimer / selftimer, no frame preview lever / frame preview lever etc.), the M2 (button rewind / lever rewind, self timer / no selftimer, M2 / M2R etc.) or the M6 (good lord...).
🙂
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom