Leica M4

Why did you sell off the Leica bodies in the first place? I mainly use the 35/50 combo and have been thinking about selling off an MP and to get an M2 and an M3 so I can walk around with a lens on each body but shooting without a built-in meter scares me.
 
Rayt said:
Why did you sell off the Leica bodies in the first place? I mainly use the 35/50 combo and have been thinking about selling off an MP and to get an M2 and an M3 so I can walk around with a lens on each body but shooting without a built-in meter scares me.
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What scares you about shooting without a built-in meter ? Also, you could get an M2 (or M3) + Leicameter MR-4. Advantage is that you don't need to raise the camera to your eye to meter, that you can switch it between different bodies, and don't have an additional device hanging around your neck. 🙂
 
maddoc said:
What scares you about shooting without a built-in meter ? Also, you could get an M2 (or M3) + Leicameter MR-4. Advantage is that you don't need to raise the camera to your eye to meter, that you can switch it between different bodies, and don't have an additional device hanging around your neck. 🙂
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There was a time when I was too poor for a nice camera and could estimate exposure without a meter with an +/- 1 stop error and sometimes I can get luckier than that. I don't think I can do that anymore. I guess I can force myself to get my mojo back. When I am out with the SWC I find myself metering constantly in fear of getting the wrong exposure. I guess AE has dumbed me down a bit.
 
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Rayt said:
There was a time when I was too poor for a nice camera and could estimate exposure without a meter with an +/- 1 stop error and sometimes I can get luckier than that. I don't think I can do that anymore. I guess I can force myself to get my mojo back. When I am out with the SWC I find myself metering constantly in fear of getting the wrong exposure. I guess AE has dumbed me down a bit.
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AE makes lazy and skills get lost, very true.... In my case, being a high school student, I started photography using an East-German made Praktika L2 with a 35mm lens and a hand-held meter, 30 years ago. Then came the more expensive and better equipped Nikons (FM & F3HP), followed by fully automated DSLRs (D70, D1x). Coming back to film again (and for the first time Leicas), I needed to re-learn "seeing" light. It was only just recently that I for the first time in my life exposed one complete film without using any meter and I was astonished that it worked out quite well.
 
Rayt said:
You are a high school student? Your posts are much more mature than many 40+ years your senior. Hats off to good parenting 🙂
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... (maybe) good parenting but missing language skills ... 😱

It should have been "when I was a high-school student", it was 30 years ago ... 😱 ! Now I am an 43 years old researcher ... (it could be worse, though !)
 
Glenn2 said:
Years ago I found some thin felt with adhesive backing and cut a piece to fit the meter bottom. Since then haven't had a problem with marks on the top plate. Photo attached.....


Glenn
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Top tip Glenn,
amazing how the obvious passes by us some times and a much better solution than my sticky back plastic. I've just used some of the felt from one of Jon Goodman's Interslice kits and it makes a much better job of it,
thanks j
 
nobbylon said:
So I sell all my Leica bodies, the last one went a couple of weeks ago and I have to say I was having doubts about my big sell off!!!
I was casually looking on the net at ads for M2, M3, etc.......and I happened upon an M4 with Elmar 50 and leicameter. Apparently it hadn't been used for 20 years and the seller had bought it new in '70.
I couldn't help it!!! arghhhh, drove over and it really was in beautifull condition, slow speeds not working so I negotiated on the price and once again i'm back in leica land :bang:. I've cleaned it up and after sitting for an hour firing the shutter speeds, working progressively down from an eighth to 1 sec, all speeds now working fine. Popped a new battery in the meter and that's perfect too! 1st roll tomorrow and see how they look! sorry I just had to tell someone,
regards j
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Gefeliciteerd! Die ziet er prachtig uit!!
 
Thanks for sharing my 'buzz' everyone!!
here are 2 shots taken today whilst testing different speeds. All seems fine but I think it really could do with a service. The film advance is a bit squeaky and the frame preview lever, although changing frames, doesn't return to lens mounted position unless helped. The lens as suspected is as it should be even with a couple of fine scratches.
This M4 still has the black L seal above the lens and the owner said it had never been serviced so my next question to those in the know is....
when serviced, how are these seals replaced?
regards j


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I guess it depends on the service person. Some replace the plug and stamp their own seal in. Others may leave it out. I know Will van Manen (Zoetermeer, Netherlands) stamps his own Leica "L" like seal. I'm forgetting now if the original seal is with the "L" laying on top of the wax or stamped in. In any case, Will does the reverse.
That classic Elmar performs well. You got it with the camera?
BTW, was this one on Marktplaats?
 
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Leica is like the mafia, once your'e in you can never get out...

I recall you too had an MP, as I recall speaking to you a yr ago as I still remained undecided whether I wanted to sell mine even then.

Although the MP is the best IMO, yet if to do over again, I would go for an M4 or M2..it is not worth an additional $1k+ for a meter.

I am being pulled myself. This is crazy, really, just crazy.
 
Reading this thread I instantly thought of Hotel California, but Mr Shipman got there way before me.

Welcome back.

In a previous thread I told these guys I was thinking of upgrading from an M4 to an M6, but they soon showed me the error of my ways. I don't regret staying with the M4 - it's a work of art.

Enjoy.
 
HuubL said:
I guess it depends on the service person. Some replace the plug and stamp their own seal in. Others may leave it out. I know Will van Manen (Zoetermeer, Netherlands) stamps his own Leica "L" like seal. I'm forgetting now if the original seal is with the "L" laying on top of the wax or stamped in. In any case, Will does the reverse.
That classic Elmar performs well. You got it with the camera?
BTW, was this one on Marktplaats?
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Yep I spoke to Cathy at Will's and the original seal has the L standing proud whereas the service seal has the L recessed. Indeed I got it off of marktplaats with the lens and meter. I've had one of these elmars before and they are a great lens for the money, I sold my last one on here. I'm not that keen on the infinity lock and that's the reason I sold my last one. Not decided yet if I'm going to sell this one as I already have the hex 50 which I really like. I did speak to Peter over at CRR regarding the winder squeak and service as well as Cathy. Peter advised that if the speeds where all working then it could wait so I'm probably just going to use as is for a while and see how it goes.
regards j
ps I don't know if it's in the mind but this does feel nicer than either M6 I had, close to the MP I just sold but not as smooth but then it is an unserviced 40 yr old camera!
 
Congratulations, Nobbylon! It's a very nice camera.

Admit it... you're doomed to be a Leica user. It's in your DNA already. Years and years in the future, if they find your remains, they'll see a weird "L" shaped symbol in the inner walls of your skull and they'll say "Here! This is one more who belonged to that weird cult!" 🙂

And you thought you could get rid of them by selling them off... Little did you know, right? 😉
 
nobbylon - that is a FABULOUS find!!!

A word of caution, watch the curtain very closely, the cloth retention at the ends can be more fragile with the M4.

Roger S - I enjoyed the M4/M6 thread. Was getting a second body and looking for an M3 when a nice M4 presented itself, and now have two M4's with no plans to change.
 
Speaking of second bodies - I just bought an R4M on ebay (can't afford a second M). Hope I'm not disappointed - it'll be my first CV body, although I've got the 21mm lens.
 
CV bodies are good and reliable, I find. Not as quiet as Leica's, but kinder to your account balance. I'm keeping my R, regardless of what else I get.
 
Your M4 is lovely. Wish I have a M4 too. I know my next M will be a black M4...though don't have a clue on when to get it .
cheerz
bm
 
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