Sentimental M

Hello,

I think the M4-P is underrated, which is fine by me because I could actually afford one. I thought the lack of a meter would still bother me, but I had already been shooting with my IIIc and got used to guess the light. Mine is a brass top, at least I hope, the window is recessed. It won't be my last Leica, but probably will remain the most used. I am saving up for a Summicron 35mm ASPH for it, so no new bodies for me for a long time. Right now I have the Color Skopar, my only M lens. The camera is such a pleasure to use. I very rarely encounter the flare problem, and when it happens, changing the angle a bit solves the problem. Definitely not a reason to avoid buying one. For the price they demand, it is a real bargain. Hell, if I bought a 90mm, I might even get a second one just so I don't have to swap lenses. I use a little Metz flash with it sometimes and the results look great. Anyone thinking about maybe getting a M4-P should not hesitate. The meter is really not an issue either. Well, maybe at first, but if you try to guess what you handheld meter is going to say everytime, it won't be long before you get it right most of the time. You don't need to meter every shot anyway...

Jonathan, if you ever sell that silver M4-P, I will come and beat you up with a stick! Just because it's harder to do it yourself 😱 I just won't hit as hard if you sell it to me 😀

Gil.
 
gilgsn said:
Hello,

I think the M4-P is underrated, which is fine by me because I could actually afford one. I thought the lack of a meter would still bother me, but I had already been shooting with my IIIc and got used to guess the light. Mine is a brass top, at least I hope, the window is recessed. It won't be my last Leica, but probably will remain the most used. I am saving up for a Summicron 35mm ASPH for it, so no new bodies for me for a long time. Right now I have the Color Skopar, my only M lens. The camera is such a pleasure to use. I very rarely encounter the flare problem, and when it happens, changing the angle a bit solves the problem. Definitely not a reason to avoid buying one. For the price they demand, it is a real bargain. Hell, if I bought a 90mm, I might even get a second one just so I don't have to swap lenses. I use a little Metz flash with it sometimes and the results look great. Anyone thinking about maybe getting a M4-P should not hesitate. The meter is really not an issue either. Well, maybe at first, but if you try to guess what you handheld meter is going to say everytime, it won't be long before you get it right most of the time. You don't need to meter every shot anyway...

Jonathan, if you ever sell that silver M4-P, I will come and beat you up with a stick! Just because it's harder to do it yourself 😱 I just won't hit as hard if you sell it to me 😀

Gil.
Click to expand...

Hello Gil, thanks for stopping by. It is always nice to meet a fellow M4-P owner. I also own only one M lens, that is the Nokton 40. Good luck on that Cron ASPH! I have been eyeing on 21 Color Skopar. As for selling, well I really love this camera, it is really fantastic and fun to use. The lack of meter did not bother me one bit, in fact I love the uncertainty and the spontaneity of it. Here is one image just for you mate:

14433216954_bf9563cb18_c.jpg

​
 
Thanks Jonathan, nice image. I did think about the Nokton 40mm, as it seems to be better than the 35.. What about framelines? Did you file it to get the 35 frameline to popup?

Something in my processing isn't right. I get more grain than I should with HP5. I found old negatives from decades ago, HP5, and they were much better. The Color Skopar 35mm should make better results. I process with distilled water, so no problem there. Here is an example from the M4-P/Color Skopar:

IB_280-vi.jpg


That is a LOT of grain, even for HP5 at 400. I am getting my Nikkor 50/1.2 delivered today, so it will be interesting to compare, but I suspect something is going on with the processing (using HC-110/H)...

Here is the old negative, still HP5 (taken with F3, probably Micro Nikkor 55mm):

10743944234_6c8285c968_c.jpg


I am scratching my head on this one... The only difference is that for the old one, I used dissolution B with the HC-110. Maybe that's it...

Gil.
 
M4 is the peak of Leica M production IMO, together with the M5. It is on a different level of fit, finish and durability to the models that followed it. My M6 seemed like a Japanese copy in comparison.
 
gilgsn said:
Thanks Jonathan, nice image. I did think about the Nokton 40mm, as it seems to be better than the 35.. What about framelines? Did you file it to get the 35 frameline to popup?

Something in my processing isn't right. I get more grain than I should with HP5. I found old negatives from decades ago, HP5, and they were much better. The Color Skopar 35mm should make better results. I process with distilled water, so no problem there. Here is an example from the M4-P/Color Skopar:

That is a LOT of grain, even for HP5 at 400. I am getting my Nikkor 50/1.2 delivered today, so it will be interesting to compare, but I suspect something is going on with the processing (using HC-110/H)...

Here is the old negative, still HP5 (taken with F3, probably Micro Nikkor 55mm):

I am scratching my head on this one... The only difference is that for the old one, I used dissolution B with the HC-110. Maybe that's it...

Gil.
Click to expand...
Hi Gil,

If agitation/developing method stays the same, then most probably it has something to do with the dilution. Or maybe new scanner is resolving the fine details or maybe it applied excessive sharpening?
 
I am very impressed with how you use the 40mm f1.4 - especially those monochrome shots - was it the SC or the MC version? I notice your colour photos too are pretty good - the let down in only in the scanning, I am sure the actual colour prints you have in your hands are stunning too - which won't translate easily onto the PC. Great work, thanks for sharing.
 
Finglas said:
I am very impressed with how you use the 40mm f1.4 - especially those monochrome shots - was it the SC or the MC version? I notice your colour photos too are pretty good - the let down in only in the scanning, I am sure the actual colour prints you have in your hands are stunning too - which won't translate easily onto the PC. Great work, thanks for sharing.
Click to expand...
Thank you John for your kind words. This is the MC version, and the color photos are the best that I can get from local labs. Thanks again, have a good one!
 
Salam kenal Jonathan, greeting from fellow Indonesian and M shooter here....

Just wondering, are you still able to get chemical for film processing easily there? and where is the best place to get film there? I'm originally from Surabaya, Indonesia... I'm planning to go back for vacation so your information would be very helpful.

Thanks,
Rio
 
riverie said:
Salam kenal Jonathan, greeting from fellow Indonesian and M shooter here....

Just wondering, are you still able to get chemical for film processing easily there? and where is the best place to get film there? I'm originally from Surabaya, Indonesia... I'm planning to go back for vacation so your information would be very helpful.

Thanks,
Rio
Click to expand...
Hi Rio,

For black and white processing we usually arrange group buys and distribute the costs evenly, or we use home brew chemicals. The last posts were developed with home brewed Pyrocat-MC.
Where are you located now?
 
I live in New York city, haven't going back home for 12 years since I left Indonesia. Really miss the food there btw. Planning to bring my canon digital, my main camera (m3+50cron), lots of tri-x . But if film is easy to get there, I might just bring little bit and buy the rest there.
 
riverie said:
I live in New York city, haven't going back home for 12 years since I left Indonesia. Really miss the food there btw. Planning to bring my canon digital, my main camera (m3+50cron), lots of tri-x . But if film is easy to get there, I might just bring little bit and buy the rest there.
Click to expand...
At the current exchange rate, a roll of TriX is USD11 if you can find any. I'd say you bring as many rolls as you can, if you have leftovers we can arrange so I can absorb them hahaha.
 
KRaZiGLiTcH said:
Congrats on the M4-P, it is such a beautiful camera. and your photos taken with it are great 🙂. I am hopefully getting a M2 in February, should be fun to finally use a Leica.
Click to expand...

Hey mate, thanks for your kind words. I hope the M2 arrives prettier than your expectations!
 
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