28mm lenses on M2

[leica M2 fan]

Was planning to buy a 28mm lens for my M2, does the viewfinder show the entire field of vision of the 28mm or do I need an auxiliary view finder? Would I be better off getting a 35mm lens.

 

[back alley]

the m2 was made for a 35mm lens tony.

with a 28 you will 'need' an external viewfinder unless you can be happy with less accuracy of using the entire fov in the m2 finder.

joe

 

[leica M2 fan]

28 mm lens and thanks

28 mm lens and thanks

Thanks that's pretty much what I was thinking so a 35 it is, thanks again.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Joe said it above...

Now... you can be creative and "see" the 28mm FOV if you simply ignore the 35mm brightlines and consider the entire VF as the FOV of this lens. However, that wouldn't do for perfect framing... unless you're going to center everything.

See to get a auxiliary finder instead.

 

[richard_l]

I think it would be very close to the 28mm FOV. I'll compare the M2 finder with the 28mm framelines on the M6 tomorrow (if I remember).

 

[richard_l]

Joe said it above...

Now... you can be creative and "see" the 28mm FOV if you simply ignore the 35mm brightlines and consider the entire VF as the FOV of this lens. However, that wouldn't do for perfect framing... unless you're going to center everything.

See to get a auxiliary finder instead.

Perfect framing is impossible with a rangefinder anyhow. I pretend that the entire M3 finder gives a 40mm FOV, and it works well enough.

 

[Honus]

I believe that Garry Winogrand used a 28mm on his M4's almost exclusively without an external finder. The M4 has a .72x finder like the M2, with 35mm being the widest bright line. If you don't have glasses, the full viewfinder frame should work for a 28mm. Of course, he shot about 5 rolls a day, so he probably could compose a 28mm view in his sleep.

- robert

 

[Doug]

It may be possible to "imagine" the 28mm FoV out there beyond the M2's viewfinder. But (without glasses), I can just barely see both sides of the 35 frame at once, plus a sliver extra at top and bottom.

This is in apparent contrast to the .72x M6 etc, that reportedly show you smaller frames (and a smaller portion of what is actually captured on film) for the same FoV, giving you more "margin for error". And it's conceivable they may have different optics in the viewfinder to actually show a wider view with the same magnification, as I just cannot imagine otherwise any near-accurate 28mm frames at .72x.

I can use a 25mm ok with the full window of the Minolta CLE, and I can use the 45mm lens with the Bronica RF645's full viewfinder, but IMO the M2's 35 frames fill the viewfinder too thoroughly for a 28mm to be approximated.

 

[Mark Wood]

One of the standard Leica modifications for the M2 was the fitting of the M6 framelines to give the 28 mm (and 75 mm) frame. I don't know if they still offer this service.

 

[Jacob]

One of the standard Leica modifications for the M2 was the fitting of the M6 framelines to give the 28 mm (and 75 mm) frame. I don't know if they still offer this service.

I asked Leica Solms about this a few weeks ago since I just bought an M2 and would like to comfortably use my CV75/2.5 on it. They said they could do it for ~€250 if it is a later M2 (higher than 1052000) when they only need to change the frames. If it is an older M2 they need to change the whole rangefinder.
I havent decided yet if I will go ahead and change the frames, I might save up for an M6 instead. At the same time, the feel of the M2 is fantastic (I never thought I would like the knob rewind...!)

Jacob

 

[richard_l]

I can see the 28mm FOV in the M2 finder, but I have to shift the position of my eye to see it all. Even the 28mm framelines in the M6 are hard for me to see. The best thing is an auxiliary finder. The little metal 28mm CV finder is excellent. Otherwise, get a 35mm lens, which is optimal for the M2.

 

[Doug]

I asked Leica Solms about this a few weeks ago since I just bought an M2 and would like to comfortably use my CV75/2.5 on it. They said they could do it for ~€250 if it is a later M2 (higher than 1052000) when they only need to change the frames. If it is an older M2 they need to change the whole rangefinder.

Interesting that the rangefinder/viewfinder is different on late M2... Mine is a very early M2 with button rewind. Does that make a difference in how tightly the 35 frames fit in the viewfinder window?