Long-term planning for a very specific gift...

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Wiyum

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First, if there's a more appropriate forum for this, please let me know/move it there. I was looking for a forum dedicated to buying (other than the actual Marketplace), but couldn't find it...

I've recently decided that I want to celebrate my 30th birthday (yes, just over a year away) with my first Leica, and I've decided (rather sentimentally) that I want an M4-P from 1982 and a 35mm summicron from 1982... a camera and lens that I've long wanted (a Leica M with 35 'cron), both from the year I was born.

I've consulted the cameraquest serial number guides, and determined the numbers I'm looking for. Beyond that, does anyone have any advice on locating a camera or lens from a specific year? It seems like an awfully specific thing to locate, and in many ways a bit pointless, but I like the idea of having a camera and a lens that are both as old as I am (especially a Leica; I love my D700, but have no interest in 1982 Nikons), and it seems like an appropriate time to find them.

Finally, is there any reason that, sentimentality aside, I should avoid either the M4-P or the 1982 35mm 'cron?

Thanks!
 
You could place a WTB ad on a couple of the forums. Otherwise, just keep monitoring the for sale listings here, on eBay, on GetDPI, etc. It might take months, but I think you'll be able to find what you're looking for. I was looking for a specific lens last year, and it took four months and I had to purchase it as part of a package, but it ended up working out perfectly. Good luck!

Rick
--
http://www.LivedCaptured.com
 
Or......get a 2012 Leica MP celebrating the year you turned 30! Then shoot as many rolls as you cn before the Mayan calendar runs out!
 
The 1982 35 Summicron would be one of the Version IV lenses, known for their good bokeh. I used to have one and kinda wish I hadn't sold it, so its an excellent but very expensive lens. On ebay they're going for a fortune now, far more than I paid for and later sold mine for.

The M4-P is basically an M6 with no meter (the M6 actually came later and is an M4-P with a meter, lol). A good camera. I have two M6 bodies. If you can do without a meter, you'll like the M4-P.
 
Yeah, Chris... I have a handful of handheld meters (cine meters, but they all do photo work quite handily). I'd rather have a built-in meter, but an M4-P is cheaper and in the past week I've fallen in love with the idea of a camera as old as I am... and I wasn't born in 1984. I'm okay with the tradeoff.
 
We have a free "want to Buy" Section.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost-classifieds/showcat.php/cat/7

You could research a serial number range, and list it in the WTB. Be prepared to pay something of a premium, but you never know.

Or- keep an eye on cameras for sale and on auction, buy when you see the correct range.

Or just buy a lot of cameras. I have a Nikon M made the Month that Joe, Back Alley, was born. I have a Leica M3 with Summicron that was made within the month that I was born. It's older than you are...
 
If you've got your heart set on it then cool. But I did the same for my 30th (a '79 M4-2). It was nice and boxed with the instructions, but as I only bought it for the novelty and not because I needed it, it sat on the shelf, in the box... And I sold it a few months later.
 
interesting. some time ago i was looking for a camera and lens made in 1982 because this is my year too.. finally i found cron 35 v4 according to the number and i bought it, but it appeared to be made in 1990. i decided to keep this lens because it was in mint condition.
and i bought m7 because i simply liked it and then i found out that my m7 came with old viewfinder and old dx reader. definitely shopping is not my cup of tea :D but i like this combo and don't care about years it was made
 
You could post WTB adds all over the place with specific serial number ranges. Also, check Leicashop and Schouten, the latter I know will help you find something specific.

It's a cool idea. But as someone else suggested, maybe do an ala carte Leica MP/7 and purchase a new 35 cron asph in 2012 celebrating the 30th birthday. Almost $8000, but your only 30 once!
 
No reasons at all to avoid the M4-P, it's an excellent user camera. But if I have the money for my 30th, and film is still being made, I am getting an MP :)
 
Wiyum, what series of serial numbers are you looking for ?
I have a mint black M4-P with a star in front of the S/N. Wonder what this is for really.

Edit: Hexiplex, this is Denis Hopper in your icon man. I love listening to Apocalypse now audio while driving to work :D
 
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aperture64 said:
I liked this idea, but realized it would leave me with an M5.
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Ahhhh, you think that's tough ? I'd be looking for a camera taking glass-plates . . .

Ok, I'm exaggerating by eighty years or so ;)

By accident, I have an M3 which is within a couple of years of my age so these ideas can be very practical !
 
jsrockit said:
You guys buy yourself birthday gifts?
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Yeah, it's not so bad.

I wrap it up then rip the wrapping off singing 'happy birthday' to myself before drinking enough cheap whisky to bring welcome sleep in my cold, lonely little house. Waking in the morning only when my urine soaked jeans get too uncomfortable.
 
It's a great idea. I did the same, but not camera-wise. I couldn't afford the Sputnik, so I settled on the world's first electric watch - a Hamilton Pacer 505. It first was released in January 1957, the month and year of my birth. You only live once. Enjoy. Best of luck in your search!

(I am still waiting to meet Princess Caroline of Monaco! We share the same birthday.)
 
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kully said:
Yeah, it's not so bad.

I wrap it up then rip the wrapping off singing 'happy birthday' to myself before drinking enough cheap whisky to bring welcome sleep in my cold, lonely little house. Waking in the morning only when my urine soaked jeans get too uncomfortable.
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That's a good one... I'm going to start doing the same this year!
 
goodtimes said:
Wiyum, what series of serial numbers are you looking for ?
I have a mint black M4-P with a star in front of the S/N. Wonder what this is for really.

Edit: Hexiplex, this is Denis Hopper in your icon man. I love listening to Apocalypse now audio while driving to work :D
Click to expand...

With the M4P and early M6 Leica USA had a "no questions asked" warranty. If the Rhino stomped on your camera/lens or the bullet ripped it apart - you just sent it in and they replaced it. You got the same serial number as the original one - just with the * added in front.
I actually saw one, a M4P, with two ** and a D added. It implied that the owner had had it replaced 3 times!!!!! Kind of sloppy, i think.
This was done to avoid having cameras with the same serial numbers popping up. On the M4P the number was engraved on the shoe and it was easy to move these around.
 
as my wife will tell you I prefer my cameras to be about the same age as I am. I have a few Contax IIAs that are a year or two older and a couple of M3s that are a couple of years younger (double strokes only for me please) and my favorite Rolleiflex built the same year as I. And i think its no coincidence that I shoot Tri-X film 99% of the time as it and the M3 went on the market the same year as my birth
 
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