A super special Leica
I don’t often make posts about the cameras that I get for people…..er…actually, yes I do. But this one deserves its own post for sure. Come and look at some serious camera porn.

Now everyone who knows their Leica’s knows that the black paint versions are the most desirable of all. Produced in limited batches they often command a premium with collectors. But bizarrely for antiques, it is often the brassed versions that command some of the highest prices. Yes, of course the mint ones will always get the biggest money, but a brassed up and abused Leica M is still going to get a high price. And there is a good reason for that. They look amazing!

This is a black paint M4. And it has seen something that we will never know. I was looking at this camera for a long time, wishing that it could talk and tell its story. Where has it been? What has it shot? What has it seen? This camera looks like it has lived several lives. I know that it was in the USA for a long period, but that is all I know. Has it been in a war? Maybe. It looks as if it has seen some pretty rough situations.

Going by the serial number, this camera was made in 1969. Now there were 1900 M4’s made in 1969, but the majority of them would have been chrome versions. The black paint/enamel versions were made in much more limited amounts. They were not made as collectors items in those days though. These were made to be offered to the press and professional photographers. So chances are that they were going to be used and used hard. Like this one.

This camera looks like it has seen better days. The leatherette is basically dead and falling off, there is not a single space on the body where the paint hasn’t been scratched or damaged and there is rust showing through from under the peeled leatherette. But you know what? Looks can be deceiving, as this one runs like a dream. I am serious. Wind on that advance lever and it is smooth as silk. The shutter has that lovely ‘ping’ to it and it is perfectly on time for all speeds. And the window. Well, they guy who bought this put it to his eye and was completely blown away at how clear and bright it was. It was as if it had just come out of the factory.

So you know what the guy did? He slapped a lens on it, chucked a roll of Tri-X into it and immediately started shooting with it, right there on the street. Yeah, because this is not going to be a shelf queen, nor is it going to be retired and pampered. It is going to be worked and shot, and I am very happy about that. This camera has got another 40 years in it and I am happy to see it go to someone who is really going to make the most of it.

I hope I am still around in 40 years time to see what this lovely Leica looks like.

Thanks
JapanCameraHunter