C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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rangefinder-35mm
The Leica M4-2 (1977) was the first Leica M built in Canada (Midland, Ontario), after Leica moved cost-conscious production out of Wetzlar. The M4-2 is the M4 with cost reductions: **no self-timer**, simpler advance gears (initially plastic — quickly revised back to metal), no engraved Leica logo (replaced with the red Leica dot). Mechanical horizontal-cloth shutter to 1/1000s, no meter. Frame lines for **35, 50, 90, 135 mm** (no 28 or 75 mm — those came with the M4-P, 1981).
Reference
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
C41
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
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Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
Develop 35mm film
Labs in our directory that process 35mm film.
Before you buy used
About this camera
The first Canada-built M. Cost-cut from the M4: no self-timer, simpler advance gears, lower price.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Mount | Leica M |
| Years | 1977–1980 |
| Shutter | 1s – 1/1000s + B, mechanical horizontal cloth |
| Flash sync | 1/50s |
| Meter | None |
| Frame lines | 35, 50, 90, 135 mm |
| Finder magnification | 0.72× |
| Weight | 545 g |
| Battery | None |
Released 1977 to revive Leica M production, which had effectively halted after the M5's commercial failure (1971–1975). Production ran 3 years; about 16,500 bodies were made. Replaced 1981 by the M4-P (added 28/75 frame lines) and ultimately by the M6 (1984, added TTL meter).
The M4-2 has the dubious distinction of being "the cost-cut Leica" — the body that purists pointed to when arguing Wetzlar build quality was being lost. Initial M4-2 bodies had plastic advance gears that wore quickly; Leica revised to metal mid-production, and post-1978 bodies are mechanically equivalent to Wetzlar M4s. The lack of a self-timer is genuinely missed only by self-portrait shooters.
For 2026 buyers, the M4-2 is among the cheapest M-bayonet Leicas. $1,300–2,400 for a clean body. Trade-off vs M4-P: only 4 frame lines instead of 6 (no 28mm framing, no 75mm framing). Vs original M4: no self-timer, slightly less premium feel.
All Leica M-mount lenses. Note: The 28mm framing requires an external accessory finder on M4-2, since the camera body has no 28mm frame line.
C41
Kodak Portra 160 is a professional C-41 color negative film with fine grain, soft contrast, and natural color.
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Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
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