andy_aitken

Very nice job but IMHO ruined by the green leather.

I'm also sceptical of this.

 

As it happens just a couple of hours ago I was comparing the whole of my M4-2 finder to the view from an external Kobalux finder and the M4-2 finder shows much less. I also remember comparing with a Pentax LX (which has close to 100 coverage) with a 28mm and it is much closer to the view (and perspective) of the Kobalux external finder.

 

I do use the 28mm Kobalux sans finder most of the time for my street photography but then I mostly either shoot "from the hip" or use the whole finder "plus a bit extra" with both eyes open.

 

Hope that helps, rather than complicates...

Also remember that when the extra framelines were added the accuracy of some of the frames was compromised (especially the 28mm, 35mm and 50mm). That, along with the missing condenser lens put me right off the M4-P, M6 etc.

 

If these thing matter to you too then look for an M4-2 with an early serial number 1500000 - 1508000. Those with serial numbers starting 14xxxxx are generally considered a bit dodgy. This won't be easy as there weren't too many M4-2s made, especially in those serial number ranges.

 

Good luck.

Try camera fairs. I got lucky and got a nice rigid Summicron for 99 euro (!) There was also a user M2 with a recent model 50mm Summicron (scruffy but smooth and with good glass) for 680 euro but I was out of cash :-(

 

So it is possible - however if you want a good price you have to put up with one that's cosmetically challanged.

I'd take a SLR with a close focussing 50mm too: 70cm just isn't close enough with a tiny baby.

This is them:

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/5x-Snap-On-Front-Lens-Cap-39mm-Caps_W0QQitemZ7536657227QQcategoryZ43479QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Oscar, I'm pretty sure that would be a standard 39mm thread. It always makes me laugh that you get charged twice as much for an (identical) 39mm filter as a 49mm or 52mm filter just 'cause it's a leica size. Likewise with 39mm caps except there's a supplier in the US who sells decent generic 39mm caps for very little. I can't remember the name but if you keep checking on ebay you can find them (K something import or somesuch).

twat

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You could always sell them to Frank Twatovski - he loves cameras with "dork" bars...

Marc, if it's any help my CL cell looks exactly like the 1st picture, isn't yellow at all and is still working fine after 32 years (even though the rest of the camera is pretty battered and has other minor problems).

John, that's the funniest thing I've read this year, still giggling as I write this...

Sorry, that should have been "even" not "really".

Being Scottish, I should really call it a dropscone and, indeed, Frank doesn't really warrant the attention of the dropscone bunny.

 

In Scotland we have a saying "Empty barrels make the most noise".

Yeah, I just borrowed him for the day...

 

Hmmmmm, shouldn't the Pancake Bunny be the Photo.net mascot?

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...and I should add that none of the Leica lenses I bought were any newer than the Pentax's

I used Pentax kit with a range of good SMC M lenses extensively for years and at the same time I had a Leica CL with a 40mm Summicron which I used only occassionally. Every time I did I was blown away with how much sharper the results were. While I loved the Pentax gear I moved on to Leica as soon as I could afford it (yeah, like about 2 decades later ) and almost never pick up the Pentax now. Having said that I think Pentax lenses were at least as good as any of the same vintage Nikon, Canon, Olympus glass.

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I've been using one on a CL for street photography for years. Superb little lens very sharp and flare resistant. As you no doubt realise it's not rangefinder coupled but has click stops for (0.7m) 1m 1.5m 3m (and infinity) and a good DOF scale so focusing is still easy enough. Mine has been bumped around more that any other lens I have and has held together just fine. At the price it's a total bargain.

or just ignore all the framelines in the finder. Total visible view is around 28mm (well almost - we all know the 28mm lines are too tight anyway).

 

However if you want to see the perspective of a 28mm lens you really need an accessory finder. Me? I mostly use the "whole finder + a bit" system.

My personal experience with 3 MX's and 2 LX's are that the MX's remain reliable but the LX's develop a string of annoying malfunctions - especially "sticky shutter syndrome". I'd go for an MX every time now - much less to go wrong and great cameras to use.

Try using it for a few rolls. I had the same kind of thing on an MX and after a couple of rolls through it it started counting again just fine. If it doesn't it's hardly the end of the world.

Things have changed a little. 60 years ago the USA bombed first world countries now they bomb only third world countries (first world countries largely being able to shoot back...)

Oh yeah, Douglas is right. I'm talking about 80's vintage lenses here, can't vouch for the newer versions which are often very cheaply put together...