Leica M4 prototype
104
Hammer Price
€40,800
incl. Buyer's Premium
Estimate €20,000 – 24,000
Manufacture Year : c.1970
An extremely rare, original prototype Leica M4. Body without a serial number, the camera has got a built-in quick film loading system, similar to the one used in the M5 (but not identical), and the screws covering the self-release lever and the frame selector lever also resemble the M5 screws. It comes with a modified Summicron 2/50mm no.1925719 (the infinity lock professionally removed); research in the Leica Archives revealed that the lens never left the factory and was, most probably, used internally for testing purposes. The camera shows a small hand-engraving on the body shell, 'Broschke' - Heinrich Broschke was a prominent engineer at Leitz company and the developer of the Leica M5.