Leica M4 Review: The Black Paint Paradox——Where Engineering Meets Alchemy

Leica’s Last Mechanical Monarch

Born in 1967, the Leica M4 was the Swiss Army knife of rangefinders. It combined the elegance of the M3 with the practicality of the M2 and boasted the fastest film loading system in Leica history. But today it’s neither the most desirable (M3) nor the most accessible (M6). Instead, the M4 occupies an iconic middle ground – a tool for those who crave mechanical perfection with a dash of heresy.

When “Better” Became “Controversial”

1. Speed Demon

Load film: Drop the leader, pull, done. 8 seconds versus the M3’s 30-second base plate ballet.
Rewind Crank: Angled lever retrieves 36 exposures in 15 turns (M3: 50+).
Frame counter: Auto-reset like M3, but with shatterproof Plexiglas – a nod to war photographers.

2. Ergonomics of Compromise

Advance Lever: The plastic-tipped lever divided purists. M3 loyalists cried blasphemy; photojournalists praised its thumb-friendly glide.
Brass vs. Zinc: All M4s retained brass top plates, unlike the later zinc-alloy M4-2/M6 models.

3. The Black Paint Enigma

Originally priced 5% over chrome, these matte black workhorses were built for Vietnam trenches, not display cases. Today, a M4 in mint black will set you back $18,000. Why? Each brass scar tells a story that no Instagram filter can replicate.

Poetry in Pragmatism

1. Viewfinder Sorcery

The 0.72x finder – borrowed from the M2 – natively frames 35mm lenses. 50/90/135mm lines appear as faint ghosts, subtle enough to ignore.

2. Tactile Rituals

Shutter click: 10% softer than M3’s cannon fire, 30% crisper than M6’s mush.
Film transport: The single-push lever purrs like a Rolls Royce shifter.

3. The “Flaws” We Love

Plastic tips: Heretical? Maybe. But after 10 rolls, your thumb will thank you.
Brassing: Chrome M4s stay pristine; black lacquer turns into copper maps of your travels.

Collector’s Chessboard

Model	Rarity	Price (2025)	Quirk
Black Paint M4	1,200 made	15k−15k−25k	“M4-MOT” motor-drive variants
Chrome M4	58,904 made	2k−2k−4k	Bargain king
Olive Bundeswehr	87 confirmed	$45k+	W. German military provenance
KE-7A (Canadian)	1,500 estimated	12k−12k−18k	ELCAN lens pairing

M4 vs. The M Universe

1. Against Ancestors

vs. M3: Loses 0.91x finder mystique, gains 35mm framelines & speed
vs. M2: Upgrades rewind system, adds 135mm framelines

2. Against Descendants

vs. M4-2/M6: Brass vs. zinc, metal vs. plastic counters, soul vs. comfort
vs. MP: costs 1/3 as much, ages 10x more characterfully

Relic or Revelation?

The M4 is Leica’s last uncompromising mechanical body – a bridge between the craftsmanship of the 1950s and the pragmatism of the 1970s. Shoot it for its film loading speed, collect it for its black lacquer alchemy, but never mistake it for a safe investment. Like a Stradivarius played in subway stations, its true value lies not in preservation but in the patina of use.