nobbylon
Veteran
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
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
Al Kaplan
Veteran
OOh! Lucky you! Enjoy!
kbg32
neo-romanticist
Beautiful.
FPjohn
Well-known
very nice.
visiondr
cyclic iconoclast
Very nice, indeed. The M4 is my all time favorite camera. If I could afford an a la carte MP, it would look like an M4.
How do you know the slow speeds are working fine? Did you test them other than by listening to them?
How do you know the slow speeds are working fine? Did you test them other than by listening to them?
parsec1
parsec1
Wecome back.
PS Love the Oregon Coast and the drive down US 101.
PS Love the Oregon Coast and the drive down US 101.
visiondr
cyclic iconoclast
Oh, it's a beautiful drive alright - just a little less "spoiled" than the California coast.
nobbylon
Veteran
Ron,
Basically the slow speed mech had obviously gummed up a bit and at an eighth, quarter, half and 1 sec the first curtain opened and the second didn't close every time. I could hear the mech struggling to run. I just sat there and clicked away for an hour and eventually the mech started to run consistently. The speeds sound about right when compaired with my OM1's. I'm going to try it out tomorrow and see how the results look. I can't see that they will be that far off and with the latitude of print film I'm hoping it will be fine.
I'm going with the Roger Hicks school of thought on this one regarding 'none cla' !!!
regards j
visiondr
cyclic iconoclast
Well, that's a cheap fix. Let's hope it works as well as it sounds.
Tuolumne
Veteran
Does the Leica meter scratch your top plate? I've seen many older Leicas with meter scratches on the top plate and so have been reluctant to use one.
/T
/T
nobbylon
Veteran
The Leicameter scratches the top plate only when put on and taken off clumsily or wrongly. This particular M4 has just a couple of meter marks on the top. I have seen some top plates actually dented by rough and wrong removal technique! I suppose that in a bag with pressure on top of the meter, as it moves around in the flash shoe it could cause the trademark light marks on the top. You could perhaps use some clear sticky back plastic to protect the top plate.
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SimonSawSunlight
Simon Fabel
more M4 love! big time!
Glenn2
Well-known
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
Attachments
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anoldsock
Established
you can never leave Leicaland.
ocean7
DSLR Defector
Good one John, congrats on this beautiful M4! I am most envious. You cannot escape Leica M love 
anoldsock
Established
dang it, I shoulda said you may leave leicaland but it'll never leave you
maddoc
... likes film again.
Welcome back to Leica-land ! An M4 .... you won't regret it !
Cheers,
Gabor
An M4 .... you won't regret it ! Cheers,
Gabor
George S.
How many is enough?
" So I sell all my Leica bodies, the last one went a couple of weeks ago..."
THAT was your first mistake.....How many times have we heard stories just like this?
That sure is a beauty! Welcome back!
THAT was your first mistake.....How many times have we heard stories just like this?
That sure is a beauty! Welcome back!
Haigh
Gary Haigh
That great M4
That great M4
Congratulations. I have an old and well used M4 ( all the shots of mine on Leica Boutique were made with it ) and it is battered but beautiful.
Yours is terrific. Use it and love it.
Gary Haigh
South Australia
That great M4
Congratulations. I have an old and well used M4 ( all the shots of mine on Leica Boutique were made with it ) and it is battered but beautiful.
Yours is terrific. Use it and love it.
Gary Haigh
South Australia
mtwo
Member
Seems like you can leave if you want but you always come back. I have been gone and back a few times. It always costs more to come back than it does to leave. I have decided to stay even if the camera sits unused from time to time. Less guilt and more satisfaction if you don't worry about leaving the thing unused. After all, it is not sitting there shouting at you to come play with it like a new puppy. John