Yeah, I never had an issue with the M4-2. It was my gateway Leica back in the early 90s.
Most Maligned Leica M Model
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filmtwit
Desperate but not serious
Preciously. So maligned, you can't see it for the M that is really is.
filmfan
Well-known
Maligned = M8
nome_alice
Established
wow! i'm surprised to hear someone hates the M4-P (3 people in the poll so far)
is it because the brass is the wrong colour? 😉
is it because the brass is the wrong colour? 😉
Roger Hicks
Veteran
I don't hate it, but it's the worst Leica I've ever owned. Poor finish (rapid-wearing black chrome), not very smooth (it's improved with keeping), flary viewfinder, vestigial 75mm frames... But the thing is that with Leicas, even the bad models are pretty damn' good. I've had my M4-P nearly 30 years.
I've not voted for any on this poll, because 'maligned' and 'hated' are completely different things.
It's amusing, though, how just about EVERY Leica introduced since I started using them some 40 years ago has been greeted by the doom-mongers as one or more of the following: the worst camera Leica ever made, a complete mistake, and the camera that will spell Leica's death-knell. That's M5, M4-2, M4-P, M6, M6ttl, M7, MP, M8, M8.2, M9...
Cheers,
R.
jan normandale
Film is the other way
regarding the most hated M series Leica camera...I agree with all the people Roger quoted, they're all hated.
;D
;D
David Murphy
Veteran
The M8 will become the M5 of digital malignment 🙂
David Murphy
Veteran
I agree with Roger about the M4-P. It's a fine camera as cameras go, but it's often held to the standards of exceptional ones (e.g. M2-M4).
rxmd
May contain traces of nut
I think I saw a picture of yours of a Canon RF with a 105mm lens and a grip that makes me doubt this statement. 😎
luuca
Well-known
another vote for the M8.
leica CAN'T produce a non 35mm camera
leica CAN'T produce a non 35mm camera
barnwulf
Well-known
My guess is that the M8 has the worst reputation. It took me a long time to make the decision to buy one with everyone saying how bad it was. I had almost decided to get a M9 but was put off by the cost a bit. I had an opportunity to buy a very nice and clean refurbished M8.2 from Leica and did lots of research before I decided to get it. I was so surprised to read reviews where people liked the camera and hated it at the same time. Usually when I spend the money for a new camera, I want to have confidence that I am getting a good solid performing camera. I wanted a digital Leica but was really perplexed about what to do. Since I shoot mainly black and white I decided to get the M8.2 a try. I haven’t had it very long and haven’t been able to shoot a lot with it but so far I like it very much.
When I first bought a used M film camera I read a lot and so a lot of warnings about the first Leicas made in Canada. A lot of my favorite photographers from the 1960s used M3s and M4s so my first M camera was an M4. If you want to see a well used M4, go to Stephen Gandy’s Cameraquest.com and take a look at the photographs of Gary Winnogrand’s M4. It’s not as brassed as Jim Marshall’s Leica. I was confident that if the M4 was Gary Winnogrands camera it would be good enough for me. It was and still is for film images.
When I first bought a used M film camera I read a lot and so a lot of warnings about the first Leicas made in Canada. A lot of my favorite photographers from the 1960s used M3s and M4s so my first M camera was an M4. If you want to see a well used M4, go to Stephen Gandy’s Cameraquest.com and take a look at the photographs of Gary Winnogrand’s M4. It’s not as brassed as Jim Marshall’s Leica. I was confident that if the M4 was Gary Winnogrands camera it would be good enough for me. It was and still is for film images.
Lord Fluff
Established
People dislike the M5 seemingly mostly on looks. People dislike the M8 seemingly mostly on reputation.
Bottom line though - most of the respondents here are talking about cameras they don't like, not that they feel are maligned. So congratulations to all the M8-haters who are clicking 'M8' in the poll - you're saying it's an unfairly disliked camera.
Bottom line though - most of the respondents here are talking about cameras they don't like, not that they feel are maligned. So congratulations to all the M8-haters who are clicking 'M8' in the poll - you're saying it's an unfairly disliked camera.
Lord Fluff
Established
Welcome to RFF
The M8 and M9 are not up to what job exactly?
I think you'll find that Leica are at the cutting edge of digital rangefinder technology, (mainly by virtue of being the only players in the game). Your slagging them off for not competing with Nikon is both naive and unintentionally hilarious - sounds like "my Micra is better in every way than a Porsche, except power and handling of course". The mass-market funds the relentless progression in tech that Canon and Nikon keep pouring into their DSLRs, but the reality is that most RF users want a camera that goes click and takes a picture.
rxmd
May contain traces of nut
In the case of Leica users, some of them also want this picture to be technically perfect. Whether they get that from the M8/M9 is really subjective.
What killed the M8 is that the M9 came. Leica users are like everybody else in the digital camera market: you've got something good, something better comes, and what was good suddenly becomes bad. There is nothing special about Leica in this respect.
Actually it's great, it means that the M8 now becomes a cheaper mid-level digital rangefinder, if only because Leica nerds scoff at it. So guys, you know, repeat after me, the M8 is really bad and you all want to sell yours as quickly as possible.
raytoei@gmail.com
Veteran
The Leica CL. It is a Leica but not really a Leica. Folks love it because it is small, compact and take M-mount lens. Folks hate it because it doesn't have the silky smooth Lecia feel to it.
The singular greatest fault of the CL, in my opinion, is the lack of a timer, not so much for self-portrait shots but more for stable available light shooting.
I keep the M4 at home but bring the CL out, and I alternate it with my point and shoot cameras.
cheers!
The singular greatest fault of the CL, in my opinion, is the lack of a timer, not so much for self-portrait shots but more for stable available light shooting.
I keep the M4 at home but bring the CL out, and I alternate it with my point and shoot cameras.
cheers!
ItsReallyDarren
That's really me
I have to say outside of RFF the most complained about M I hear from people is a brand new MP. So far it has come from two owners of MPs I spoke with who complain about how "rough" the camera feels against an M2 or M3. Seems to me they haven't used their cameras enough.
parsec1
parsec1
For 'maligned' -- in other words, 'attacked unjustly' (usually by those who hadn't tried it) -- the M8 must surely be the winner.
Cheers,
R.[/QUOTE]
IR/UV filters and all that fuffing about. Not 'Unjust' at all Roger.
BTW "Come on you Apes you wanna live forever"..............
Cheers,
R.[/QUOTE]
IR/UV filters and all that fuffing about. Not 'Unjust' at all Roger.
BTW "Come on you Apes you wanna live forever"..............
parsec1
parsec1
Would have thought that was a given for any photographer RF or not
Richard G
Veteran
The M3 maligned more than the M2. Love my M2, but I don't get that.
Alberti
Well-known
I voted M6 because all at once the 28mm framelines were there and as result the 50mm frameline was small, making the 50 mm a sort of telelens.
I like the M8 (where the 35 mm view is again sort of the largest frameline) and would like to have a serious a la carte option for a 35/50/75/90 mm on a M9/M10...
albert
I like the M8 (where the 35 mm view is again sort of the largest frameline) and would like to have a serious a la carte option for a 35/50/75/90 mm on a M9/M10...
albert