The 35mm F1.4 Summilux with eyes, made in Canada, is selling at bank breaking prices lately on the used market these days (like $10K or thereabouts). I don't know if that's because it's Canadian and rare, or due to something else, such as rarity combined with its indubitable superb quality. I've never seen a German-made version of this lens.
Irwin Putts stated that there is no difference between Leica products from Canada vers Germany. As people have said, without the M4-2 there would not have been a Leica.
While that's true, the construction materials and methods used with cameras up to- and including the M4 used brass rather than steel or zinc found in the film models thereafter whether made in Canada or Wetzlar. Even the M5 has a pretty hefty "metal alloy" that is subjectively heftier than the M4-2 and following models.
Up through the M5, these cameras were all handmade in Wezlar. After that, Leica introduced steel gears and other more "mass produced" (relatively) parts to keep costs down, though the later cameras were still hand assembled and calibrated. I have read that even the Canadian built cameras went to Wezlar for final assmbly and calibration, though I have been unable to confirm this.
Does it make a difference? It depends whom you believe. The legacy film cameras have a reputation of being "smoother" to operate than the later ones though this is very much subjective. It's hard to know whether the older stuff is smoother only because it's older and that parts have worn in more completely. In my direct observation, my own 1961 M2 is smoother to advance than a just-serviced M4-P I played with in a store. Then again, it feels smoother (to me) than my late 1960s M4.
In no case are any of these cameras poorly built or badly engineered. With the exception of the early M6 meter debacle and some of the electronics issues of the M7s, Leica M bodies have always been top tier, regardless of model or construction methods.
Stock market these days is 99% speculation. It has nothing to do with state of economies or any industries as once known. Just keep moving money and never look back.
Thats a new one - I thought the traditional "brass vs steel gears" story ends already with the M2, if not the M4. Just checked the usual forums and there is a wonderful never ending debate about those magic gears and whether the M4-P or M4-2 was the first with the dreadful steel gears. YMMV.
The "metal alloy" you are referring to is probably the brass top and bottom plate. Most M4-Ps had zinc components. M6 too (hence the bubbling on earlier models).
That gears of "older" cameras are smoother - well a 1969 M4 and a 1961 M2 almost of the same age now...
So, lots of urban legends, things one loves to believe.
Maybe important to remember that the creator of many great Leica lenses, Dr Walter Maldner, moved to Canada and actually became a Canadian citizen. So from that perspective, anything Canada-made should be more valuable than items made in provincial Wetzler.
Glad you’re not my financial adviyStock market these days is 99% speculation. It has nothing to do with state of economies or any industries as once known. Just keep moving money and never look back.
There has always been lots of speculation in stock price. 40 years ago, I was in an industry struggling as the #2 player in the market...my peers at work and I suddenly noticed that the #1 player (our fierce competition) stock price was down 25%. We knew our industry, we knew our competition (and how we fared against them in winning business), so we thought it a great opportunity to personally benefit by buying our competitor's stock at a 25% discount...after we did, it went down to 50% of its start value, and it took over two years to recover our investment and cash out at a break-even from our original speculation. IOW, the market speculated our competition stock price even further downward, even though we had no reason to be bearish about our #1 competitor (nor the stock market in general)
Glad you’re not my financial adviy
Moderator hat on:
Further discussion along this line - stock markets/fraud/currencies/government interference is outside the ambit of Photrio, and will be deleted and/or get the thread shut down.
Hat off.
Noted, with apologies.
Now returning to discussions of prewash and stand development ...
Traders speculate, investors don't. Both are needed for liquidity and stability respectively.
An M4-2 or M4-P will never match an M4 in quality or value.
The market price and availability of camera and darkroom stuff is an absolutely appropriate subject for Photrio!
Based on what? What is "quality?" Go ahead, define it. What is "Value?" The selling price for a used body? The cost per exposure for 100,000 exposures?
The 35mm F1.4 Summilux with eyes, made in Canada, is selling at bank breaking prices lately on the used market these days (like $10K or thereabouts). I don't know if that's because it's Canadian and rare, or due to something else, such as rarity combined with its indubitable superb quality. I've never seen a German-made version of this lens.
Best for me to sit this one out
As Leica has been present in Canada and Portugal for a long time
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