I was recently gifted a beautiful old camera, the Leica M4-2. In my opinion, it's almost perfect in every way. The only two things I'd like: a light meter, and a metal shutter curtain.
Obviously for a light meter, I should just buy an M6 (but they're 3 grand). For now phone metering works, the attached meters are bulky and gross looking. The cloth shutter curtain just makes me uneasy, and I don't think they're generally made to age very well. At least I've learned this from my canon rangefinders. I've put a dozen rolls through this or so, and it's already changed timing enough to need a CLA. Although some purists probably would say I should have done before I ever shot a roll.
I'm seriously tempted to design my own rangefinder. But I know it's an extremely difficult task. I'm curious if there's some optimal condition between mechanical and electromechanical, and some simplifying design decisions that could land me in territory of manageable. Most DIY cameras on the internet are just heinously ugly though, and I'd like to avoid this.
Some shot's on either a LTM Canon 50mm f1.4 or a Voigtlander Ultron 35mm F1.7 Aspherical.
She's off to CLA soon. Guess I'll use the Rolleiflex :)
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