Since the M4-P does not have a film dial on the back, but instead has a place for the user to mark the film type, I'm curious to know what type of implement users of the M4-P. I am loathe to make any kind of mark on the back of my M4-P because I don't want to leave scratches, impressions in the metal, or ink that might be hard to remove. Has anyone come up with what they believe is the ideal writing instrument for marking the back of his or her M4-P?

-- Peter B. Goldstein (peter.goldstein@us.cgeyc.com), January 05, 2002

Answers

Since the M4-2 is the same in this respect, I use a bit of masking tape with the info I need -if say I uprated the film. That is if I need it...

-- Dave Doyle (soilsouth@home.com), January 05, 2002.

Seems like most pens would either scratch that film speed indicator or be hard to remove, so I've never actually used it.

With my M4-P, I stick pieces of top on the top plate and write the film type and speed on it with a sharpie. Not elegant, but then again, my camera is scratched to all hell and has parts of its vulcanite missing.

Actually Lutz makes a memo holder that you can stick on the back of M-series cameras. Haven't tried it myself since I'm so enamored with my tape/sharpie solution.

-- Richard (rvle@yahoo.com), January 05, 2002.

The M4-2/P film ID disks are supposed to take BALLPOINT, per the M4-P instruction book.

I stole Lutz's idea and put regular stick-on film boxtop holders on mine - since the marking disk is so flat, you don't need Lut's "cutout" version to evade the M6's lumpy ISO dial.

I have no idea whether this will also damage the disks if removed - but then I don't plan to remove them. 8^)

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), January 05, 2002.

I don't generally use more than 2 different emulsions at once so I've never given it much thought. If you're not using an accessory viewfinder or a flash, why not just tear or cut a piece of the film box to fit into the flash shoe?

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), January 05, 2002.

I have found anything other than a pencil WILL PERMANANTLY mark the disc, ie ballpoint pens etc.

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), January 06, 2002.