ASA dial on M4

[steve_bauer2]

I've been researching M4 bodies on the internet and have learned that an M4 does not

have a light meter. What then is the ASA dial on the back for? Sorry if this is a dumb

question -- I researched it on Google and have not found an answer. Is it just to let the

photographer know what kind of film is in the camera? Or does it work with the

separately sold meter that's designed for the shoe? Thanks.

[shambrick007]

" Is it just to let the photographer know what kind of film is in the camera?" - Yep. Kinda hard to imagine in these days of auto everything huh?

[steve_bauer2]

Well, no, I realize that there were days before auto-everything, and I don't see how this is

auto-anything. I have older cameras that have a slot for the bottom of the film box. I

didn't realize there would be a quarter-sized dial that had no function other than to

remind the photographer what film he was using. Thanks anyway.

[tom_burke3]

My M2 has a similar dial on the back, and that dates from 1959. Did even the M3 have it?

 

It would be nice to think it was exceptional forward planning by Leica ("one day we'll need

this....") but I don't think it was. Just a little gadget.

[rico_tudor]

<i>I've been researching M4 bodies on the internet and have learned that an M4 does not have a light meter. What then is the ASA dial on the back for? ...</i>

<p>

I fondle the back dial on occasion. Like everything else about the camera, it's exquisitely engineered. Would use it as a memory aid, but I always forget to set it! Film check windows are tacky, but they work.

[Rob F.]

No matter what kind of dial you have, auto or non, a piece of masking tape on the camera back, marked with the specific film loaded, is a good idea--especially when working with multiple cameras.

[al_kaplan1]

When I'm working with more than one film type in several bodies I sometimes tear the lid off the film box, fold it, and jam it in the accessory shoe.

 

That "Film Reminder Dial" on older M bodies also had 3 index marks for black and white, daylight color, and tungsten color.

[working camera]

My personal favourate is the M4-P ISO reminder dial. Just a white disc for which you

use a soft grade pencil to scribe the film details. Just like a sheet film double dark.

Much more flexible than other M dials.

 

C.

[furcafe]

You must not have any *really* old cameras! ;-)

 

Every meter-less camera I have from the 1940s-1960s has a film reminder dial somewhere (not always on the back).

 

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" I realize that there were days before auto-everything, and I don't see how this is auto-anything. I have older cameras that have a slot for the bottom of the film box. I didn't realize there would be a quarter-sized dial that had no function other than to remind the photographer what film he was using."

[al_kaplan1]

The film box slot is relatively recent (20 years?), but then finally all the manufacturers got together and standardized the cassette markings well enough so the camera back could have a little window to see what film was inside. Of course now you have the problem of constantly checking that the foam around the window is intact and light tight. New cameras read the ISO off a bar code on the cassette ~ nothing to set. Just don't lose the instruction book in case you want to figure out how to use a different exposure index than the ISO.

[sammer]

Grey gaffer's tape on the top plate and a sharpie keep me in line when memory fails.