Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/07/31
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]The lack of commercial success for the M5, the decline in sales of rangefinder cameras in general and the rising labour cost in Germany led Leitz to decide to discontinue the M line. Walter Kluck, CEO at the time of Leitz's Canadian subsidiary where most of the M lenses were made, knew that Leitz Canada would be hit hard by the loss of M business. He fought for continuing the production of the M camera and had the manufacturing equipment moved from Germany to Canada where labour costs were substantially cheaper. Some of the M production staff also moved over to Canada. The camera was redesigned to reduce costs and to modernise it as well. For example the selftimer was eliminated, the film counter simplified and a hot shoe and a coupling for a winder were added. There were a lot of teething problems in setting up production in Canada and the early M4-2 cameras had a great deal of problems. They were sorted out and later M4-2 cameras were very reliable. How should this affect your decision to buy an M4-2? If it is a later production camera, or a M4-P, do not worry about it as the bugs had been worked out by then. If it is an early camera that has seen moderate to hard use, do not worry as the bugs would have been straightened out in warranty and maintenance repairs. If it is an early camera in mint or mint - condition, I would not buy it as the problems will not have been dealt with. One of our illustrious members had a strap eyelet come away from an early M4-2 camera resulting in an unfortunate rocky landing which destroyed his lens as well! All covered under warranty though! John Collier sources: Leica Photography 6/98, pg. 18-19; and, Popular Photography July, 1980, starting at pg. 121 > From: "Julian Thomas" <mimesis@btinternet.com> > Reply-To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us > Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2000 12:51:52 +0100 > To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> > Subject: [Leica] M4-2 > > Can anyone tell me why the M4-2 is often reviled? I've just had a chance to > take my recentlyCLA'd M4-2 out and I love it - I much prefer to my M6. The > shutter release is so much more positive and need so little travel. With a > softie it is perfect. The M6 feels slacker for some reason. OTO at least I > could get a backup fairly cheaply! > > Julian >