The True Weight of the Leica M4's

[shadowfox]

@ Roger...
I thought it worth sacrificing 5 minutes in order to mention the fact that, to some people (ie myself), the almost infinitesimal size and weight differences existing between essentially similar cameras doesn't figure highly on the list of essential things to know when pursuing the noble art of photography.
Others may think differently, of course... (!)

I'm quite sure none of the people contributing *positively* to this thread held their breath and with sweaty palms waited for the scales to bring forth a great revelation out of how many grams a camera weighs.

Relax, it's just an idle curiosity. 😀

 

[furbs]

I think the milligram balances at my lab can go up to 600 g, I'll bring the M4 next time... 😀

 

[leicapixie]

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2225661#post2225661

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2225661#post2225661

This is a most interesting topic.
i too, wondered what a Leica M-4 weighs.
i wanted to get out my scale but remembered
someone with "DEA" on jacket took it away*.
i thought i would go to the Post Office..
then i looked at my "M's" and realized ,
i don't have that model.😀
The scale was actually stolen.Rats.

 

[shorelineae]

Interesting old thread 🙂 I like my M5 but I once held a shop owner's M4 (not sure which model it was; wasn't paying attention) and was pleasantly surprised by how light it felt. (Lensless and without film but with body cap on). Since then, I've wondered a lot about which Leica (M) is the lightest... and that's how I found this read. I also handled a MA (lensless; with cap) in a shop recently and found that it felt ... heavy/solid.

 

[a.noctilux]

Hello everybody,
and happy new year.

As my favorite pastime for many years, I weighted so many photo gear, since I have digital scale 😛.
The lightest Leica M is MDa 472 g not real M lacking RF/VF.

Over time, I have used some M, so in use the feeling of weight could not be donewithout the lens in use, balance of the combo can make that feeling heavy/light/just fine.
I had surprise when weighting some Leica M, just for fun, nothing to talk about for a couple of grammes or tens of g.

Let's see the differences of same form factor M, in my notes (all nude, even not including flash socket cap ! ).

M4 (nude, no cap/strap/film) type is the most "variable" (small scale) : 538 g, 541 g, 547 g, 555 g, 557 g
strange my two M2 are 560 g and 571 g a bit more than M4 !
M4-2 ... 523 g
M4-P ...537 g, 543 g, 550 g
M6 ...553 g, 555 g, 560 g
MP ...595 g, 600 g
M-A ...580 g, 583 g

:shootout: have fun

 

[1joel1]

My silver M4-P weighs about 589 grams.
Variance is due to scale accuracy as well.
Joel

 

[jankap]

Not much change in 50 minutes. Perhaps you have the true weight of your sample.

 

[Ambro51]

You have to take into account the position of the Moon when weighing things. If the Moon is a “New Moon” and in line with the Sun, the item will be lighter ....if the Moon is opposite the Sun “Full Moon”, the item will be heavier.

 

[hap]

Good luck on following your obsession ( we all have them). But in the final analysis: What it is, is what it is. Ciao

Well...if you are climbing in Nepal...it could be a problem...eh?

 

[hap]

You have to take into account the position of the Moon when weighing things. If the Moon is a “New Moon” and in line with the Sun, the item will be lighter ....if the Moon is opposite the Sun “Full Moon”, the item will be heavier.

My equipment always gets heavier after a burger.

 

[hap]

If your M4 P is too heavy , remove the leather case and take out the film. Or join a gym and get swole.

 

[Retro-Grouch]

When I worked in the cycling industry, there were people (usually at least 20 lbs. overweight) who would buy titanium valve caps for their tires to "save weight". The irony: titanium was still heavier than the standard plastic valve caps. But it was wicked cool!

 

[jsrockit]

I like ponies.

 

[Retro-Grouch]

I like ponies.

There you have it! End of discussion. But cats rule.

 

[Rob-F]

The weight depends on how much the camera has been used. More heavily used M4s will weigh less than new ones, owing to the wear on the strap lugs resulting in loss of metal. Any chipping of the vulcanite also reduces the weight. Having one's name engraved on the camera may not change the weight, if metal is displaced, rather than removed, during the engraving process. Exposing the shutter to direct sunlight can cause weight loss, if holes are burned in the cloth. Air travel can cause weight reduction when vibration causes screws to fall out. Sherry Krauter has information on this. Evaporation of lubricants is also a factor. However, these effects may be masked by weight gain from the accumulation of photons in the viewfinder.

 

[Coldkennels]

The weight depends on how much the camera has been used. More heavily used M4s will weigh less than new ones, owing to the wear on the strap lugs resulting in loss of metal. Any chipping of the vulcanite also reduces the weight.

This is some good insight, but you're forgetting to account for the "patina" - the build up of skin grease on the metal and vulcanite will put some of that weight back in. As such, greasier photographers are likely to end up with heavier M4s than most.

 

[AveryWagg]

My M4 weighs 570g, but it has a 36 exposure roll of TMax 100 in it. That's without the lens, nor the MR4 meter.

 

[JoeV]

This is some good insight, but you're forgetting to account for the "patina" - the build up of skin grease on the metal and vulcanite will put some of that weight back in. As such, greasier photographers are likely to end up with heavier M4s than most.

You have to account for the Patina-to-grease quotient, since the acids and physical abrasion wear off the electroplating, which reduces total mass, while the grease adds back some mass. 😉

 

[largedrink]

Well...if you are climbing in Nepal...it could be a problem...eh?

The weight of an object decreases with altitude due to decreased gravity. The M4 will weigh less at high altitude in the mountains.

 

[Doug]

The weight of an object decreases with altitude due to decreased gravity. The M4 will weigh less at high altitude in the mountains.

Yes, but there's less buoyancy in that thin air up there.