OpenTube

Resurrection of a Dead Legend: Leica M4 Complete Restoration

Vintage Resurrection

251,744 views

A friend recently handed me a heavy, silent Leica M4 and asked a simple but daunting question: "Could you repair it?" The camera was seized, the shutter was dead, and it had clearly seen better days. The Leica M4 is often considered the high-water mark of the M-series rangefinders, and I couldn't let this one stay a paperweight. In this video, I take on the challenge of a full mechanical and aesthetic overhaul to prove that these legendary machines are never truly "gone."

Chapters
--------------
00:00 Intros
00:50 Disassembly
07:00 Shutter Disassembly
11:30 Reparing the shutter
19:44 Remaking the shutter curtain
27:00 Shutter Reassembly
33:51 Film Counter and Speed Control
41:36 Adjusting the shutter speed
47:50 Self-timer
51:07 Viewfinder
53:46 The body frame
58:08 Repainting the body
01:01:36 Flange to focal distance
01:03:35 Viewfinder adjustment
01:07:42 Leather Replacement
01:10:19 Refilling the letters
01:12:18 Film loading test
01:12:52 Outro and test shots.

✂️Leather Cut out pattern - https://jumpshare.com/share/aIqqzL5mv...

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#leica #leicaM4 #restoration #camerarepair #analogphotography #filmphotography #vintage

20 Comments

@MrPkots 8 months ago

I am a profesional watchmaker swiss trained for 28 years. I consider myself highly skilled and very good at my profesion.
This is honestly on another level👍👍👍. I will never ever say that my job is difficult. C👋👋👋ongrats

@JamesClements-007 8 months ago

Of all the YouTube restoration skills, fixing a camera like this to its former glory is at the very top of the totem pole! Well done friend! 👍👏👏👏

@r.p.3192 8 months ago

No wonder why these cameras are so expensive… an intricate puzzle of mechanical parts. German camera-build obsession 😂 ❤❤❤

@ThoughtfullAthlete 1 day ago

i can't even comprehend how difficult this may be to do. But what an amazing skill to be able to give these amazing cameras new life. But even more unreal, is imagining inventing and putting together such an amazing mechanical work of art, and having to produce the parts for the very first time. Mind blown!

@thomaseisen304 8 months ago

Jesus that thing is worse than a clockwork ! Your friend must be amazed to get it back like that ! Good job !

@pcd4050 8 months ago

That shutter rebuild was incredible

@jonvincentmusic 8 months ago

Work like this is not just next tier. It’s top tier. There is nothing beyond this. This is schooling for everyone else. Incredible.

@peterkop3099 7 months ago

This is the True Definition of Masterpiece.
A Super Tough Task like this has to be handled by the Master.
All Mechanism Knowledge, Tools Handling, Assembly Process, Photography Science, Physics, Chemistry, Painting & Craftsmanship. Everything was done Wonderfully with so much Patience.
You are a True Admirer. We literally need more people like you in the World. Keep it up bro 🎉

@sapperdeflap 4 months ago (edited)

After eight minutes into this restoration I would have totally forgotten which screw and spring goes where, I'm amazed by your skill sir!

@pablojinko 8 months ago (edited)

This is amazing. We need more people with this level of passion, dedication and patience. Congrats.

@HansRutenbrecher 8 months ago

This is the video I have been waiting and searching for years. Thank you!!!!

@jagitmax 6 months ago

Bravo , beyond excellent work ! Only one thing to ask , concerning the case top cover , if you were going to paint it , why not use some hardening filler and reshape the dented edge to perfection and then paint it . No one would ever know that it was there .

@lic4X4 6 months ago

Fantastic work! It’s impressive how well you understand the mechanisms required to repair and fine-tune everything with nanometric precision.

@dwightbrown2808 8 months ago

If you are going to work on a camera there is nothing quite so wonderful as a Leica. The name alone makes me smile.

@BeppeDeNardin 8 months ago

I started with an M3 in early '70; now I am the happy owner of a Leica III, a M6 and a M9; let me say that you are a true artist, and deserve the best compliments from a Leica addict! 👌

@Otschingo 5 months ago

After watching this video, I changed my opinion about Leica. What fantastic mechanics! Thanks for sharing

@Global.GlobeTrotter 5 months ago

The level of Skill required to fix the Aperture and Shutter mechanism is just impeccable, which makes this whole restoration such an amazing episode !! Kudos to you.

@ChudGPT 1 month ago

For the body of this camera you should have used :
Auto Bondo is a brand name for a polyester putty or body filler used to repair dents, dings, holes, and rust damage on cars. You mix the filler base with a liquid cream hardener, apply it to bare prepped metal, let it cure, and sand it smooth before painting.