Very happy with my M3 I recently bought a M6TTL (0.58), and now I am thinking about an M4. How come talk is so often about M2/3 or M6/7, and less about the M4? I am thinking about taking a Leica body with one lens on a trip, where I need to bring other material on the plane, like my laptop. Share yourn experiences please, before I buy a M4.

-- Lex Bosman (lexb@wanadoo.nl), May 24, 2002

Answers

Lex, Maybe this will help you decide. http://www.lhsa.org/pdf/343leicam4.pdf

-- John Abela (jamriman@yahoo.com), May 24, 2002.

The M4 is a more collectable body, so the price of a very good example can be higher than even a new M6. So for a shooter, its probably not the best bang for your buck.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), May 24, 2002.

If you use a 35mm lens most, you'll love the m4. It also has quick load and a film take up crank. While M4 is the true groundbreaking classic, I've always thought the M4 changes were wise and it is so nice to have a 35mm finder and not have to put up with those weird "eyes" on the M3's 35s. Also, it is hands down a better user than the M2, if for no other reason than the rewind crank, fast load, and auto frame counter.

-- charles (c.mason@uaf.edu), May 24, 2002.

oops--I meant the M3 was the groundbreaking classic...

-- charles (c.mason@uaf.edu), May 24, 2002.

Allaround I'd say the M4 is my favorite M. Only deficiency is lack of a meter (some would say that's a "plus"). Otherwise it has the build quality of the M2/M3, and film handling conveniences of the M6. It also has my favorite viewfinder framelines - 35/135, 50, 90 - without being cluttered. For a lot of these reasons, they are not cheap.

-- Ken (kennyshipman@aol.com), May 24, 2002.

Actually, I was looking for an excuse to post this, to be titled 4NOT6:

I just ended my brief experiments with M6s by swapping an M6 .85 ttl for a very clean (not mint) 1969 M4, which looks almost like it just came out of the box. (It completes a set, since I already have the M4-2 and M4-P)

The advantages of the M4 over the 2/3 have been noted: fast load, fast rewind, all four framelines in one body. An M3 DS definitely has a silkier wind than most 4s, however.

Here's what sold me on the -4 over the -6: No gaps in the framelines for meter diodes; no RF patch flare, a more completely outlined for the 90mm (8 segments instead of 4), no silly little mirror coatings across the top/bottom of the finder window, recessed finder windows (fewer finger prints), brass top plate (in all the M6 bodies I've tried the zinc seems to reverberate and amplify the winding sound - VERY slightly - but there's just a less more 'tank-track' noise on the backstroke, IMHO, under brass); chrome (on the '69 body) that looks/feels more like camera chrome than silver spray paint.

And no red dot. 8^)

In exchange I have to give up in-camera metering and the options of .58/.85 viewfinders - a small price to pay. I've discovered I don't especially like raising the camera to my eye to meter, at least not with the Ms - many times when I just don't want to introduce the camera to the situation too obviously before 'the moment' arrives. My hand- held meter is flatter and lighter than a wallet (well maybe not a recent Leica buyers wallet!!) so it's no trouble at all to carry it in a pocket.

Some of this stuff may seem like tiny differences/irritations - and maybe they are. I'm not trying to run down the M6s - I just know with the M4 I feel right at home, while the 6s (esp. the ttl with the extra 2mm of headroom) just feel a little alien. Not mechanically unsound - just different.

If you feel like you might need the 28/75 frames - there's always the M4-P.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), May 25, 2002.

Hello Lex.

For reasons stated above the M4 is indeed a lovely handling instrument with softer wind on and feel than the succeeding M4/2's and M6's. I especially like the improved loading action and framelines.I believe that true Leicaphiles bemoaned the introduction of the M4 simply for the fact that plastic was introduced for the first time,namely on the wind on,self timer and preview lever. In practice these are replaceable with M2/3 equivalents.

-- Sheridan Zantis (albada60@hotmail.com), May 25, 2002.

Thanks a lot for your contributions, that are really helpful. I had already read the Viewfinder article in PDF format by Roy Moss, but he doesn't really describe how the M4 works and feels when you are using it. For the trip I mentioned before I think of bringing just a body and the 35 mm lens, and a meter of course, so I can quietly use it in churches mainly (when there is no service). Thanks again!

-- Lex Bosman (lexb@wanadoo.nl), May 25, 2002.

Lex -

I've used our M4 for years - - - my wife" appropriated" our M6 < grin >. I've been through several light meters, and settled on the Sekonic 308B, as it works for both incident and reflected light situations, and it runs on a AA battery. IMHO, the M4 with a 35mm lens and the 308B are an ideal combination for travel.

-- George C. Berger (gberger@his.com), May 25, 2002.