film indicator on M-4P

<p>My newly-arrived M4-P has a rather simple film indicator on the back. No moving parts, but in the manual, it just says "takes ball-pen writing." Is one supposed to just write and erase on it? I'm assuming it's an example of a cost-cutting measure for this series.<br>

thanks</p>

<p>The manual isn't clear on how to use it other than as you indicated above. I doubt it was a cost cutting move...it would have been less expensive to just keep using something they had already designed and been using for years, and probably had a ton of them in inventory. My guess is that newer photographers at the time wanted something they could more definitively keep track of the film they had in their camera...but not a throwback to where one tore off the end of the film box and inserted it into a holder on the back of the camera (like my Nikons).</p>

<p>The manual says ball-point pen, but the metal barely takes ball-point ink and it rubs off readily. The best marker to use is a grease pencil like the Schwan Stabilo, but it also rubs off. Not Leica's finest moment. On my M4-P I just write the film info on a piece of masking tape and stick it to the bottom, as I do with my other cameras.</p>

<p>The masking tape idea is the one I use too for all my old school cameras.</p>

<p>Soft lead pencil should do the trick.</p>

<p>a sharpie is best...</p>

<p>Normal lead pencil has been fine for me. With a blank dial you aren't limited to film ISO like the prior dial (Leicas tend to last quite long and film ISO was evolving) and you can write on other info than simply ISO speed, such as film type, photo project, etc. Not a big deal. Most Leica cost cutting had little effect on camera quality or effect on results. Like the stamped (on M4-2, M4-P, rather than prior engraved frame counter dial numbers, or the introduction of superior case-hardened gears in the M4-2 onward, compared to prior Leica Ms, which simply requires a change in the frequency of adjustment. A great camera. Enjoy.</p>