Noisy Leica M4-2 - advice needed

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netzspannung

aka _basil
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Hi everybody,
I am sorry if this has been asked before, I haven't been able to find anything on the subject

Being tired of my Bessa R2, which I find unacceptably noisy and mostly unusable indoors, I was going to buy an M4-2 off one guy. The Leica M is supposed to be one of the more quiet 35mm cameras, right? I know what M7 sounds like and its sound (or lack of it) is remarkable IMO

Well, imagine my surprise when I found out that this m4-2 is just as loud as any other camera - slightly less so than the bessa, but just about the same as a Canon DRebel.... :bang:

Is this model supposed to be like this or do you think it may be a defect of some sort? The camera looked and performed fine otherwise... Maybe it is a simple adjustment job?
Please share your experience with this and other model leicas. Thanks
 
Hi,
I haven't used an M4-2 but my M4 was about the same sound as both the M3 and M6. These are all slightly louder than the Canon VI-L but quieter the the Bessa R I had. Hope this helps.

Kim
 
Most likely the shutter speeds were tweaked by someone who's not a Leica technician. Check the shutter and see if it's "bouncing back". That's an issue with improper calibration. It should not sound like a rifle.
 
I remember reading on this forum that someone said their Leica m4-2 was actually quiter than their M6. Theres a thread somewhere on this forum which discusses the m4-2 reliability and compares its history with the other leicas produced in Germany.

I just bought a m4-2 and it arrived 2 days ago. It sounds perfectly fine to me, not loud at all. I get that 'snick' that people describe. I dont understand why people want an absolutely quiet camera, personally I love hearing the shutter fire.
 
My M4-2, M4P ,and M6`s all sound the same. The M3, M2 M2r are similar, but not noticably more or less noisy. My 111f and 111c are the loudest/sharpest sound and are the same.

Besas sound is a loud/sharp clank compared to any Leica M.
 
My early DS M3's shutter is whisper-quiet. It can't be heard at all over normal conversation. It's the most remarkable thing about my M3. It probably has to do with the tight construction of the body.
 
i have an m2 which is nearly silent, much quieter than my m4p and m6, i also have a ZI which is louder than the m6 but about 1/2 as noisy as the bessa r3a.

my remaining cameras after all this research are the ZI and the m2. the m2, i had CLAd by youxin ye. the difference after the CLA was HUGE in respect to the sound of the shutter(i also had him replace the curtain)

helpful? i hope so
 
Oh yes, thank you... Now I envy you all a bit 🙂 Most likely, that camera was adjusted improperly in the past. The seller just said something like "well, it aint no m6, willya".. Rubbish IMO, as they are supposed to be 80% the same camera :bang:
 
There must be quite a variation between individual Leicas. I have 3, a beater CL, a "new" CL and an M4-2. The M4-2 is quiet, the beater CL is practically silent (just a "fffffppp" sound) and the new CL has a sharp sound perhaps a bit louder than the M4-2. I've played with other M's in shops and I don't remember any of them being much/any quieter than my M4-2.

In general though, I don't think Leica M's are quite as quiet as a lot of people make out. They're certainly a whole order of magnitude louder than leaf shutter cameras.
 
I'm currently in the market for an M2. I have checked out several in the last few days and they vary quite a bit in sound. I find the zinc bodied Leicas a bit louder than brass bodied ones overall but there can be quite a variation between cameras of the same model.
 
I own a M4-2 and it sounds like my other Ms. The M4-2 should be quieter then the Bessa, but not the M7. The M7 is one of the most quiet cameras around, and the most quiet of all the Ms. Your M4-2 might be in need of a CLA.
 
Some early M4-2 retained M4 style features, most of the plastic bits that might break will have been fixed already.

But check the blinds in the fired state are the ends visible?

Fire the shutter on 1 sec does the 1st blind edge clear the frame, before the 2nd runs, and is the speed 1 second, check the first time as the 2nd and subsequent attempts will be different - if there is a lube problem?

The 1/15 and 1/8 speeds make a characteristics noise, we need some one with a microphone and a M which does not need a CLA to record for you... (Mine do as well.)

Sorry you may need maintenance, soon, but shoot until the problem is annoying photographically... only a fondler does a preemptive CLA...

Noel
 
Thanks for all the replies, people.. quick indeed
Xmas: yes, the metal edges of the blinds were visible in the fired state.. Not sure about the rest tho, as I didn't buy the camera because of the sound. It was going to be my first Leica, but alas...
 
Magus
If a .wav is not possible we are stuck
Netz
It may go for years (decades) before it snaps a ribbon, but if you are using chrome and the slow speeds are off it will annoy. The one second should be consistent from first to second shots and near to one second, selecting another speed will normally reset the escapments - even if it hangs up but be real gently trying this if it does hang.
If it is near to one second and any way consistent you need to spend an evening dry firing the shutter at 1/15 and 1/8 as there should be a slight difference between each of the slow ones and 1/30, unless the lube is gum.
As you while away your evening you should also learn where the shutter button tension changes so you can catch champagne corks in flight and release without shake down at 1/8, both real difficult but if I can you can.
After the evening it is likely the 4-2 will be ok on slow speeds.
If it is mint then it may be a shelf queen and the lubs a lost cause. If the viewfinder slightly misty when you shoot a light bulb in a dark room this is bad, the lube tends to evaporate and move to viewfinder optics where it is annoying.

But with all these things it is still a real camera, catching corks easy with your 4-2.

Noel
P.S. if you have a warranty and the speeds dont stabalise then it is ask for % $ back, or a visit to repair shop or whatever.
 
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