My 1st Leica, the M2

[gilpen123]

I recently got my 1st Leica, an M2 button rewind sn# 970xxx from a fellow RFFer and did some test shots. My initial impression is that this camera is a joy to use. The RF patch is very contrasty though not as bright VF as the R3a, the film advance is very smooth, rewinding the film is a bit longer but it holds it's position even when you take your hand off the button, loaded the film w/o any hassle a bit more process but not a problem. I used the VC 40 1.4 as I don't have any other M lens yet but a ZI 35 2.0 is coming. Here are some informal shots, scanned thru v500 opened at PS then convert to low res file for web.

 

[__hh]

Congrats!!!!. Lovely photos, and lovely family.

 

[gilpen123]

Thanks Hung you're responsible for this.......nice M2 I got from you, a real user one. When the ZI 35 2.0 comes, I guess it will live with the M2.

 

[John Lawrence]

Congratulations on the M2 - I find them a joy to use.

 

[gilpen123]

Btw, all pics were taken using Kodak BW400CN rated at EI400. Thanks John....

 

[Debusti Paolo]

Congratulation for your new camera!!!!Next lens??😀

 

[jonmanjiro]

Beautiful shots Gil! Glad the M2 worked out for you 🙂

 

[nzeeman]

nice shots - especially first one. do you use 50mm or 35mm framelines for nokton 40?

 

[gilpen123]

Thanks Paolo next lens is a 50 cron or maybe a CV 75.....when I use slr my favorites are 35, 50 and 105.

 

[gilpen123]

nice shots - especially first one. do you use 50mm or 35mm framelines for nokton 40?

It brings up the 50 frameline as I have not filed the 40 yet...the 1st one was shot at 30 1.8 i think.

 

[gilpen123]

Beautiful shots Gil! Glad the M2 worked out for you 🙂

Hi Jon, yes it's working very well nice one I got. Shutter speed is ok even at low speeds.

 

[Chyn]

Congrats! I started out 2 years ago using the exact same lens/body/film combo as you are now and couldn't be happier. It looks like you're going to be having a great deal of fun building up your kit--I keep going back to the Nokton these days.

 

[gilpen123]

Thanks chyn, yes the Nokton is a lens I would'nt be without. It delivers and IMO quite sharp even wide open making it a good lens for lowlight.

 

[januaryman]

My first was the M2 also, after a year or more of the Canon P, the next closest thing to an M2. I like it a lot and find it nearly perfect for my needs. (but an M4 is on its way to keep the M2 company)

 

[gilpen123]

Well I was a bit worried when I tested the camera dry firing at all speeds. I heard a slight whirring sound at speeds lower than 30 until I read somewhere that this is normal with Leica cloth shutter curtains.

 

[nzeeman]

It brings up the 50 frameline as I have not filed the 40 yet...the 1st one was shot at 30 1.8 i think.

will you file it or you are satisfied with 50? i heard a nokton 40 is a bit longer than 40 - around 43mm. do you get too much space which was outside framelines? sorry for being boring but im considering that nokton 40 for a long time - but im scared that i will not be able to frame good enough. unfortunately i dont know anybody who have it - so i could take it for a few rolls... 🙁

 

[gilpen123]

will you file it or you are satisfied with 50? i heard a nokton 40 is a bit longer than 40 - around 43mm. do you get too much space which was outside framelines? sorry for being boring but im considering that nokton 40 for a long time - but im scared that i will not be able to frame good enough. unfortunately i dont know anybody who have it - so i could take it for a few rolls... 🙁

Actually I really have not noticed the corners that I lost using the 50 frameline. It must not be too big as my framing of the ticket booth needs very slight crop (minute I would say). Thinking of filing it but I want to preserve the original as much as I can.....maybe preserving the resale value as well if I ever decide to part with it but not in the near future. I can live with it at 50 frameline but not in critical shoots I suppose.

 

[nzeeman]

glad to hear that difference is not that big. and about filing - if you dont see much difference between composing and results, dont do it. and also in critical situations it is better to have more space around framelines. also resale value will be bigger if original. thanks and good luck with your new m2!

 

[__hh]

Gil,

I've performed the operation on the CV 40mm before and it was not as hard as one would think... however, with your 35mm ZM coming, why bother? I am sure that you will find that M2/35ZM a joy to use... I too had that combo.

The noise for slow speed shutters are normal for all Ms...

Again... keep all of us posted on your new-found venture 🙂

Hung

 

[gilpen123]

I had one blooper though using the M2. I accidentally opened the bottom thinking I already took the used film out earlier. I was shooting alternately with the S3 at that time....oh my, one of those times. Next time if I have 2 bodies with me, I'll make sure to put a piece of the film box on the hotshoe. Must have been shooting digital so long that I forgot I'm using film.......