Thinking about a M2. Cons/Pros?

Tom's winder -- nothing better made -- unless you want a motor. :)
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Yup, even better than the original. And on top of it, you get service with a big smile from Tom and Tuulikki.
 
Simple solution to disliking the M4 lever - replace it with an M2/M3 lever. :) I did this and am much happier. The ergonomics simply work better for me with the (long) M2/M3 lever.
 
Vince Lupo said:
Actually, you can adapt an M winder to an M2, if you're willing to have the modification done.

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Great cameras -- probably more versatile than the M3, no frills (unless you consider a self-timer a frill), and really keeps to the essentials of the 35-50-90 framelines. Find a good one, get a CLA done, and you're all set.
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Be careful with the modification of the M2/M3 to the Leica Winder. It does apply a lot of pressure on the winding gear. I had several of these modified M2/M3 and they do work - but are very clumsy. If you want to wake up the neighborhood - use the selftimer with the on and hear what a M sounds like at 6 frames/second!!!!
 
Harry Lime said:
There have been several posts over the years on RFF with this problem. One of them quite recently. It's not a daily occurrence, but it does happen. Personally I have never heard of an M4 having this problem, but there have been several M2 and M3 bodies with this problem. On the risk of starting another sh*t storm, I'm going to say that I have noticed this more often with M3 bodies.

My M2 has been in my bag almost every day for the past 10 years. It's taken a few good shots over the years, but so far all is well. I don't think Tom A. has ever had this happen and he's been at this a lot, lot longer than I have.

Over at the L-Camera forum there is someone right now with an M6 showing separation. That may be the first or second M6 I have ever heard of doing that.

It happens and probably will happen more often as these cameras get older and the materials degrade.
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The only time I have had separation has been when a M has sustained a severe bump (dropping it, closing the car door on it etc). I have seen more M3's with this problem than M2's. There can be some "dimming" of the viewfinder simply by age - but it can usually be fixed with a clean-up - to some extent. The CLA fetish is kind of funny - if the camera works, keep shooting with it until something major goes wrong, then have it fixed. Only time this does not apply is if you are going on a long trip - have the cameras (you dont go on a trip with just one body) checked and adjusted if needed (speeds, rangefinder etc).
When you are buying a M in a person to person deal - I advise that you bring a roll of film (24 exposure 100 iso cheap C-41). Put a lens on the camera and shoot it at all speeds (pick a nice shady place so that you can check the 1/500 or 1/1000. Drop the film at a 1 hour lab (unfortunately more difficult to find now!) and check that the exposures are even across the board. This will also tell you if you have a dragging curtain at 1s or 1/2s.
Always ask why he/she is selling the camera - and how long he/she has had it.
 
Congrats on getting a M2!
That combo looks handsome... but mine probably looks a bit better! :p
 
That's my only real beef w/the M2, mostly due to the unnecessary rectangular mask that Leitz put into VF (can be removed, though). It would have been nice if they had kept the collar around the lens release button, too, but that's not a big deal & can also be installed if one cares enough. I had both of these issues fixed on my M2, which was actually my 1st Leica, but then I sold it to finance an M6 TTL. Many years later,I have a KS-15(4), which is a nice upgrade to the standard M2.

Congrats to the OP on his purchase.

stratcat said:
The M2 is a beautiful timeless camera, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. The only disadvantage I could mention is that I wear glasses and I have a bit of a hardtime seeing the complete 35mm frame. Yet considering that I used to shoot 35mm using the whole viewfinder in my M3, or the frameline clutter in my Canon P's viewfinder, this is a somewhat moot point.
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I missed the original comment about seeing the 35mm framelines with glasses on. I was tempted to mention it as a drawback (for me) with the M2, but was afraid people would just dismiss it as my imagination.

I assumed it was the mask, but never found anyone to verify that. So, it can just be removed? I had my M2 serviced by Sherry Krauter a few years back, and would love to use it a bit more often, but I almost always grab my M4-2 for the slightly easier to see 35mm framelines.

Is the M2 the only Leica that had this issue? I have the M4-2 and M5 to compare, but not the M4.

furcafe said:
That's my only real beef w/the M2, mostly due to the unnecessary rectangular mask that Leitz put into VF (can be removed, though). It would have been nice if they had kept the collar around the lens release button, too, but that's not a big deal & can also be installed if one cares enough. I had both of these issues fixed on my M2, which was actually my 1st Leica, but then I sold it to finance an M6 TTL. Many years later,I have a KS-15(4), which is a nice upgrade to the standard M2.

Congrats to the OP on his purchase.
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Tom A said:
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Be careful with the modification of the M2/M3 to the Leica Winder. It does apply a lot of pressure on the winding gear. I had several of these modified M2/M3 and they do work - but are very clumsy. If you want to wake up the neighborhood - use the selftimer with the on and hear what a M sounds like at 6 frames/second!!!!
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The winder that's pictured on my M2 is the M6 winder, not the M4-2, so once you loaded a roll of film in the camera, it was as quiet and as smooth as can be (it was, admittedly, louder and more 'clunky' if you were just dry-firing it). I have experienced the M4-2 winder, however, and yes it's loud and does literally kick you in the face when you use it.

As far as any trouble/clumsiness went, I didn't have any at all. Got almost 20 years of use out of it, and it was very easy and straightforward. Plus I had the great David Eve (Doctor Dave) of Mississauga, Ontario do the work, so I knew it would be perfect.
 
The VF rear aperture ("black rectangular mask in VF") can be swopped to a M4/M6/MP style rear aperture that is slightly bigger (~25% larger). Don from DAG Camera sells the bigger rear aperture and he (or any technician) can install it for you.

I wear spectacles and the bigger VF aperture helps me see the M2 framelines a little easier (especially the top and bottom lines). I would not claim it is a big improvement but FOR ME, it made some difference and I am happy with the improvement. Anyway I had mine changed to the larger rear aperture when I sent my M2 in for an overhaul. The larger rear aperture don't cost much.

I am not sure whether the rear aperture can be removed completely. I never thought of doing that but that sounds possible.

BTW, I have seen some M4s that uses the same rectangular VF rear aperture as M2s.

I find that I can see the 35mm framelines a little easier on the later M bodies (M4-P/M6/M7/MP). Possible that the framelines sizes were reduced to include the 28mm framelines.
 
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