Leica M4 Black Paint. The Leitz product code is 10402. This example bears a serial number in the 1.26 million range and was delivered on June 11, 1970. Near-mint condition. The beautifully preserved semi-gloss black paint is simply mesmerizing.
The year 1970 marked major historical moments such as the Osaka Expo, the breakup of The Beatles, and the escalation of the Vietnam War with the U.S. incursion into Cambodia. It was an era when photojournalists played a vital role, and the Leica M4 Black Paint was widely used as a trusted tool by professional photographers of the time. Photography carried the power to convey reality and to challenge society itself.
The Leica M4 was introduced in 1967 as a model that integrated the key features of the Leica M3 and M2, with production starting from serial number 1175001. It is equipped with bright frames for 35mm, 50mm, 90mm, and 135mm lenses, and adopts the same 0.72× viewfinder magnification as the M2. The film advance uses a fold-out crank lever design, and the camera is compatible for use with the then-new MR4 exposure meter.
A like-new example with no signs of use. It feels as if this M4 black paint has traveled by time machine from the year of the previous Osaka Expo in 1970 to the year of this year’s Osaka Expo. There is a tiny mark at the 4 o’clock position on the lens mount, two fine scratches about 2 mm long on the plastic part of the advance lever, and a very slight paint loss at the base of the rewind crank. Aside from these, the strap lug area, bottom plate, and overall condition clearly indicate that it has not been used for actual shooting and was only lightly handled for basic operation.
Overhauled in December 2025. All controls now operate smoothly, and the viewfinder is clear and bright.
The original box, leather case in like-new condition with tag attached, instruction manual, catalog, and genuine body cap are included.
An exceptionally hard-to-find condition. Highly recommended also for those born in 1970.
