You Are Leaving the American Sector: West- und Ost-Berlin, März 1986

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Leica M2 und Leica M4-2

 

 

 

[…Ein paar geliefert Umrisse, denen durch geschickt hingestreute Punkte eine gewisse Richtung gewiesen wird, erlauben viel mehr Freiheit als die so heftig begehrte absolute Freiheit, die sich der Phantasie des einzelnen ausliefert, dem bekanntlich nichts, gar nichts einfällt, dem ein leeres Blatt Papier soviel Anlaβ zur Verzweiflung bietet wie eine leere Stunde, wenn plötzlich die Bildröhre streikt…

(...)

…daβ dieses Erzählwerk wirklich eine reine Idylle werden soll, in der Kloakendüfte dieselbe Funktion haben wie anderswo Rosendüfte, in der die Auseinandersetzung mit dem Krieg vermieden oder zumindest sehr reduziert wird, die Nazi-Angelegenheit wie etwas zwischen Schnupfen und Schwefelregen abgetan werden soll…]

 

Heinrich Böll – “Entfernung von der Truppe” (1963/64)

 

(Als der Krieg ausbrach – Erzählungen – Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag)

 

Technische Daten

Kameras: Leica M2 + Leica M4-2

Objektive: Leitz Super-Angulon 3.4/21mm u.a.

Aufnahmematerial: Kodak Tri-X

Entwickler: Kodak D-76

Aufnahmeort:Berlin (West- und Ost-Berlin)

Datum: März, 1986

Scanner: Epson 4990

 

 

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Film Cameras For Lovers - Leica M4 (Photo Gear 15)

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The Leica M4 was introduced in 1967.

It combined some of the features of previous models, the Leica M3 and M2: the viewfinder - magnification 0,72 - was the most complete of them all, having the frames for the 35, 50, 90 and 135mm lenses (M3 = 50, 90 and 135mm; M2 = 35, 50 and 90mm).

On the Leica M4, the 35mm and the 135mm brightlines appear together. They appear automatically when you insert a certain lens, or you can preview the field of view of a given lens with the preview lever.

Leica M4 + Summicron 50mm

Other novelties of the Leica M4 included a new rewind lever instead of the old extendable knob (much slower to operate) and an improved loading system, without the separate take-up spool.

You only have to insert the end of the film into the slots of a fixed take-up spool.

These new features obviouslly contribute for a much faster and easier change of film.

Leica M4 + Super-Angulon 21mm + external finder

Most other (minor) changes were of cosmetic nature - at least from the outside - but I should maybe still point out the new shape of the angled advance lever with its hinged plastic tip. I find it more confortable and more reassuring to use.

Somehow it feels better to me, but that's just my opinion... I know that other people prefer the old-style lever. 

Leica M4 + Elmarit 28mm + external finder

Production of the Leica M4 officially stopped in 1971, although some small batches have been manufactured at a later time.

Some special models were made for use with motor-drives - marked M4 MOT or just M4M - and some models were produced for the American Army - known as KE-7A, made by Ernst Leitz Canada, in Midland.

You can find the Leica M4 manufactured in standard chrome finish or black enamelled, later cameras were also produced in black chrome. Both plants in Wetzlar, Germany, and Midland, Canada, produced the M4.

I could be tempted to think, that the Leica M4 represents the last classic production M camera, the pinnacle of the german camera industry, the cherry on top of the cake!

But then again maybe no, that place must be reserved - at least chronologically speaking - for a (maybe) less appealing - not meaning less innovative! - camera, the Leica M5.

Let's leave that story for another day...

Greetings to you all!

Leica M4 + Summicron 50mm

Fátima - Portugal, May 13th, 2011

(Agfa APX 100, Kodak X-tol 1+1)

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Sofia and Ricardo Got Married - September 10, 2011

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My nephew Ricardo and Sofia got married last September.

I decided to take the chance and use the occasion to make some classical Leica photography: unobtrusive and intimate. The kind of stuff Leicas are good at and got famous for!

In black and white film, of course!

I chose two Leica M bodies (a M3 from 1955, - yes, that’s the year of my birth! and a M4 from 1968/69 respectively, - yes, that’s the year the first men landed on the moon!) and a couple of lenses:
 Super-Angulon 21mm f/3.4  (a really true non-retrofocus classic, designed and built by Schneider and resold by Leitz), Summicron 35mm f/2.0  (the often called “king of Bokeh, whatever people mean by that…), and the very enjoyable and small Tele-Elmarit 90mm f/2.8 (sadly in the meantime vanished from the Leica catalogue, I will forever treasure it!).

As film material, I picked up Agfa APX 100 (another true classic) and the new Kodak T-Max 400 (my concession to modern technology…).

I stuffed it all, together with a Gossen Variosix F lightmeter, in a small Leitz Kombitasche M.

 I was ready to go!

Wishing this nice couple all the best in the world, a wonderful song as food for thought:

“Congratulations” – Paul Simon

Congratulations
Oh, seems like you’ve done it again
And I ain’t had such misery since
Since I don’t know when,
Oh, and I don’t know when


I notice so many people
Slippin’ away
And many more waiting in the lines
In the courtrooms today
Oh, in the courtrooms today

Love is not a game
Love is not a toy
Love’s no romance
Love will do you in
And love will wash you out
And needless to say
You won’t stand a chance, and you won’t stand a chance.

I’m hungry for learning
Won’t you answer me, please?
Can a man and a woman
Live together in peace?
Oh, live together in peace

(From the album Paul Simon - 1971)

Technical Data:

Cameras - Leica M3 + Leica M4

Lenses - Super Angulon 21mm + Summicron 35mm + Tele Elmarit 90mm

Films - Agfa APX 100 + Kodak T-Max 400

Developer - Kodak D-76, diluted 1+1

Location - Setúbal, Portugal

Date - 10th of September 2011

Scanner - Epson 4990 Photo

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