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.
To be honest, the Leica M4 is the top-of-the-line camera in the entire Leica M series. It’s got the most advanced film loading and rewinding systems, the most ergonomic film advance lever, and the most advanced black chrome plating technology. A brand new black chrome M4 is considered to be first-class in terms of both technology and workmanship. Plus, you can still find a top-of-the-line black chrome M4 at a reasonable price. Black chrome is more durable than black paint, but collectors prefer the latter because brass shows through where the paint has worn off.
There’s nothing quite as alluring as a black paint Leica camera. Once you get your hands on a black paint Leica, you can’t let it go. The worn-off black paint on the brass gives it a kind of glow that reminds us of the history of our rise and fall. It’s inspiring, really.
Black paint is becoming more and more popular, and the price keeps going up. Another option is to buy a current version of the black paint MP, since it hasn’t been discontinued yet, and even used ones often look like new.
In the past, black Leicas were a great help to war photographers, and now those same photographers have contributed to black paint Leicas. When you wear a black paint Leica M4 on your chest, you’re reminded of the masters, which gives you even more courage and strength. If this is true, then such a camera is truly priceless. Leica has become a cultural symbol, at least that’s how they promote themselves.
The Leica M4 stands out for its speed. It loads, advances, and rewinds film quickly, which is really useful. The M4 also has a combination of the M3 and M2 structures, with the counter from the M3 and the viewfinder from the M2. It was sold at a higher price than the M2 and M3 at the time. So, no matter what color it is, the Leica M4 is a really user-friendly camera.
The M4 was the first model to have a bent corner and a plastic washer on the film advance lever. This design increased the contact area of the thumb during film advance, so the thumb could slide along the edge of the body to the end. The classic film advance lever on the M3 looks good, but when the film is fully advanced, the finger has to leave the body, which reduces grip stability. The M4’s film advance lever design makes it easier for your thumb to move, which actually speeds up film advance and increases grip stability. The Leica M4’s film advance lever is designed with ergonomics in mind.
The Leica M4 also loads film pretty quickly. This fast film loading feature was inherited from the military versions of the Leica M2 and M2-R.
It’s hard to believe that the Leica Summilux 35mm f/1.4 Ver. 1 Steel Rim was made in 1960. It’s a gorgeous little lens, with its 35mm focal length and f/1.4 aperture, and it’s so compact. The brass chrome plating is really lovely, and the focusing lever is super smooth with an infinity lock. It’s a great-looking lens, and it’s more attractive than all the current versions of the Summilux 35 1.4 Asph. This lens is a favorite among collectors and photographers alike. I spent a pretty penny to get it.
What I like about the steel ring lens is not just its looks, but also how it performs optically. At f/1.4, it’s very sensitive to highlights, which makes it great for taking sharp photos in low light and for creating soft light effects in bright light. If you really need something particularly sharp, any version of the Summicron 35mm f/2 lens will do the trick.
Lens mount - Leica M-bayonet Number of lenses /groups - 7 /5 F stop range - f/1.4-f/16 Angle of view diagonal - 64 degrees Filter type - E41 - A46.5 Accessories - Hood: OLLUX 12522 Dimensions length x diameter - 38 x 53 mm / 1.50 x 2.07 in Weight - 245 g /8.64 oz M3 - 195 g / 6.88 oz
