Not a question, but more an interesting item for sale on eBay:

Leica M4-P Half Frame Camera

-- Richard Le (rvle@yahoo.com), March 06, 2002

Answers

Thanks for the link Richard, this is the first one I have seen for sale - very rare indeed. There seems to be very little documentation on these although one was pictured in the latest "Classic Camera" M Special.

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), March 06, 2002.

It is a conversion by a southern Californian shop. Leitz did list a MD-22 but there are no records of any being produced.

John Collier

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), March 06, 2002.

Richard. Isaw that camera too. He (userid tonaya) also has (or recently had) an M4-2 safari green with matching green 50/2.0 Summicron lens for sale. The problem is that there is no documentation for either of these cameras having been factory produced as such. The official leica camera list shows no M4-P half frame and no M4-2 olive cameras being made. Of course they could have been special orders, but I weould like to see some documentation that these cameras left the factory that way, as opposed to being private conversions.

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), March 06, 2002.

As to whether it's factory-produced or a private conversion, I'm no Leica-historical expert, so I can't take a guess. Interesting camera, though. Too bad it will end up in a glass case somewhere...

-- Richard (rvle@yahoo.com), March 06, 2002.

Leica 72 screwmount camera had a vertical viewfinder.

This "M72" has the same horizontal finder as M6, suspicious

It is quite easy to add a 24x18 mask as shown; the difficult part is: does the counter count to 72 and advance only half frame at a time ? If it advance one full frame but takes half frame picture, that is not real half frame camera. Let me try ask the seller a question

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), March 06, 2002.

One of these was on ebay about 6 months ago. I e-mailed Steven Gandy about it and he indicated the same as above - no known half frame M4-Ps produced. He thought it might be a conversion.

-- Pete (Leica_RF@yahoo.com), March 06, 2002.

  I asked the seller the following questions



1) What is the range of counter from 0 to 36 or 0 to 72 ?
2) Every time the film advance by half frame or full frame ?
3) Is this a genuine Leica factory product or modified
by after market ?
--------------------



Seller Maria reply:




counter 0 to 80 the  one full transport advance inside half frame the 
camera 
have copy of blue print from Leitz Canada 
I get this cameras from Leitz Canada
Maria

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), March 07, 2002.

What is the half frame M? Is it used for doubling up images on a roll of film. ie get 72 exposures on a 36 roll? If so, apart from being able to cram in more exposures, you will have a resoltuion deficit on blow up. Does anyone have any info on this camera?

-- sparkie (sparkie@mailcity.com), March 07, 2002.

I'm glad tonaya (Maria) has some documentation for this camera from Leitz. I asked her before about the M4-2 olive with 50/2 Summicron olive, and she did not have any information on that item. The seller has offered a variety of very interesting and rare Leica items for sale, including a nice set: Midland Canada Leica IIIf camera with Midland Canada engraved 50/1.5 Summarit-SM and Canadian Leicavit SYOOM. To assemble those three items individually would be very hard, as each one is quite rare. This set did not sell: the reserve was not reached.

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), March 07, 2002.