The Low-Down On M Leica Flash Sockets & Cords
The Low-Down On M Leica Flash Sockets & Cords
First off, straight cord last and last. Coil cords don't. At some point the fine wires inside will break enough that no electricity gets through. Either way, ALWAYS carry a spare cord. Test it on occasion and before an important shoot.
The Leica M1, M2, M3 and original (1950's vintage) MP had a larger diameter socket than later models and took a special "Leica M" cord. PC adapters were readily available for a dollar or two. Many cameras had the socket changed to the later M4 style. Sometimes both the X and M sockets were changed, but since flash bulbs were rapidly becoming a thing of the past sometimes only the X socket was changed.
The so-called M4 (and newer M models as well) socket and flash cords weren't exactly PC. The cord tip had a shallow groove around it and the socket had a bit of springy wire inside so when you inserted the tip into the socket it had to be pulled out with a bit (not much) effort. It was unlikely to fall out by itself. No adapter was needed to use a standard PC cord.
The various Leicaflex and Leica R models take PC cords with no adapter required.
Little plastic covers snapped into the sockets when not being used to keep the contacts clean. The M1, M2, and M3 came with white covers, newer models used black. Many photographers drilled (or melted with a hot needle) a tiny hole in the center of the caps so they could be connected with a bit of braided nylon fishing line with a knot on each end.
The Leicaflex caps came molded in pairs with a strand of thin plastic connecting the two caps but the spacing was wrong for the M rangefinder cameras. Since an M4 cap and a pair of Leicaflex caps were the same price many of us bought the Leicaflex pair of caps and trimmed off the connecting plastic. Back then the dollar saved would buy a cup of coffee, a donut, and a pack of smokes! Everybody smoked.
The only things that belong in the accessory shoe are viewfinders for wide angle lenses or a carefully torn and folded piece of the end flap of the film box so you know what film is in the camera. Get used to holding and operating the camera with your right hand and holding the flash in your left. You can nudge the focus with your extended middle or ring finger, wind with your thumb (try multi-stroking the wind lever) and firing with your index finger. The camera is much easier to hold with no flash on it.
