Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/07/03
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]David, There was indeed a problem with the earlier M4-2 motors (# under 10 000, the number is stamped on the locking disc). These had a solid drive that did not allow any lateral movement and could, under extreme condition ruin the camera drive. If your combination is working fine now, there is probably no need to worry. Some of the early M4-2's had a copper colored "cup" on the drive connection at the bottom of the camera. I always recommend that you abstain from using the M4-2 power winder with these, seems that the drive on the power winder can jam against the cup and the camera then locks up. Not fatal, but irritating enough. The older M4-2 winder also had a severe "backlash" in the release action, and, if you dont watch it, it can advance faster than you release, so you end up with lots of blank frames. The newer versions, the M4-P and Leica M-winder are seemingly safe to use. I have never liked them, too big and bulky and a bit noisy too. Only problem I had with the M4-2's was that on some early ones, the shutter brake did give up and induced a strange pattern on the negs, an almost diagonal overexposure along the short side of the neg as the curtain bounced at the end of its travel. The M4-2 is still a good buy, as is the M4P. Makes a great back up camera and it is considerably less than an M4. May it never become a collectible! Tom A