M4-P what are your thoughts?

freeranger

freeranger

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My search didn't find any posts about the M4-P.

Anyone used this camera?

A good experience? I'd like your thoughts, please:)
 
Nice camera. The last M with the 1 meter frame lines that are more accurate at normal working distances (3 meters - infinity), than the M6 and newer bodies.
 
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The M4P is one of the "unsung" heroes of Leica M's. They are the "end" run of Midland's M production (though they did do some M6's - but they are marked Wetzlar as they were assembled in Germany).
I have had M4P's since they came out in 1980-81 and I still have two of mine from that time. Both are heavily used (to put it mildly) and apart from losing the intermediate drive in one (the one that the Rapidwinder or M-winder attaches to) and some lubrication services every 10-15 years - they just keep firing.
One of my M4P's was a testbench in my workshop for almost 10 years. Every Rapidwinder would go on it and a couple of rolls shot with it. I estimated once that it had had at least 10 000 rolls through it. The black chrome wore down through the nickel plating and into the brass! A couple of years ago I had it painted "crackle" finished black - just to make it look a bit better. Oh it still gets its fair share of film through it, but I have another couple of M6's now as testbenches, so it is retired and lives a more sedate lifestyle.
It is a workhorse camera and they are incredibly rugged. I mainly use them as 28/50/75 bodies with Tri X and guesstimate exposures.
 
yeah I've one and I got it for the versatility of the rangefinder framelines. It's got a 28mm and afaik it's the only Leica with this frameline. Tough camera. I've put mine through some 'crash tests' and it's still going. It's the one on the floor... the one on the seat is a Canonet GIII QL 17

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I bought an M4-P as a "buy it now" from eBay about 8-9 years ago for $1350--along with a 4th-generation 35 Summicron, a thin 90 Tele-Elmarit, and a Leica gadget bag. The guy was local (the outfit had belonged to his recently-deceased father) so I paid him cash and picked it up in person. The slow speeds didn't work because it had been sitting a couple of years unused, so I paid Don G $285 (at the time) for an overhaul...used the camera for a year and a half, then sold it for $1250. The Type IV 35 Cron and thin T-E and gadget bag (net cost $385 total) I still have. So in my book the M4-P is the best value I've ever had in a Leica :D
 
jan normandale said:
It's got a 28mm and afaik it's the only Leica with this frameline.
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Jan, the M6, M6TTL, M7, MP and M8 also have framelines for the 28mm, except for the 0.85x finder versions (where it applies).

The M4-P was the first Leica ever to sport the 28mm framelines, and yes, it is a tough camera indeed.
 
freeranger said:
My search didn't find any posts about the M4-P. Anyone used this camera? A good experience? I'd like your thoughts, please:)
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For all practical purposes, think of it as an M4 [minus] self timer [plus] motor/winder mechanism [plus] six framelines, and a simpler rangefinder

Or an M6 without a meter.

Also look here:

http://www.cameraquest.com/mguide.htm
 
Didn't the M4-P come out after the M5? As I recall from the CameraQuest site, it was the body (designed in Canada?) that pulled Leica's ass out of the fire when the M5 bombed.

/T
 
My M4-P has been with me since 1986. I've really abused it, far more than my F2s or any other camera. It is still with me, working perfectly (so far), with no service or repair ever. I'd get another if I didn't have a M2 which works just as well since 1981.
 
The only Leica that has 28 and 75 lines and the old fashioned bigger 35 and 50 lines :) The earlier ones, that is. Great camera.

Roland.
 
Harry Lime said:
Nice camera. The last M with the 1 meter frame lines that are more accurate at normal working distances (3 meters - infinity), that the M6 and newer bodies.
Click to expand...

Be aware though that it need to be an early one/ recessed finder window, to have the "accurate frames".
 
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First Leica I ever had new; roughest Leica I've ever used; 75mm 'frames' are almost totally inadequate corners. Utterly appalling 'black chrome' finish that wore so badly that a Leica dealer friend advised m to return it under warranty.

And my newest Leica until I got an MP. Even bad Leicas are good...

Cheers,

R.
 
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