4 Reasons Why the Leica M2 is Better Than the M3

[Bill Blackwell]

... any new M just feels tighter, fresher, unworn and new. ...

In my experience a freshly CLA'd "mint" Leica M feels and shoots tight and sometimes better than new - again, in my experience. When the MP first came out I bought one of the first .85 models; it had to go back to the factory because the shutter speeds were off (they essentially had to do a CLA on it).

As far as I know are the framelines of the M4-2 and later (all the models after the M5) less precise than those of all the earlier M camera's. ... too many framelines in them. ...

I don't recall when Leica adjusted the framelines, but the M4-P was the first with six framelines. Even so, Leica has said they adjusted the framelines (it seems to me it was in the middle of M4-P production) to be maximized by certain distances and had nothing to do with being paired.

... You could never have your M2 if someone else didn't buy it new.

Yes, that's stating the obvious. I suppose if you're making a life-long purchase, paying three times that of used really wouldn't matter that much in the long-term view - particularly if you're talking about a film M camera, which should outlast your grandchildren (the ability to buy and process film notwithstanding).

 

[Erik van Straten]

I don't recall when Leica adjusted the framelines, but the M4-P was the first with six framelines. Even so, Leica has said they adjusted the framelines (it seems to me it was in the middle of M4-P production) to be maximized by certain distances and had nothing to do with being paired.

I don't know if you ever tried an M-Leica newer than the M4-2. That camera in itself was not entirely reliable - the machines on wich they were made, were not correctly adjusted - but the later ones had framelines in their viewfinders for six different focal lengths. Those for the 50mm lens - the most used lens - indicated a field way too small so that the photographers who liked to use the full frame for their pictures had a problem.

Erik.

 

[Bill Blackwell]

I don't know if you ever tried an M-Leica newer than the M4-2. That camera in itself was not entirely reliable - the machines on which they were made, were not correctly adjusted ...

Yes, I am well aware of the M4-2 issues. But those that preceded it were the best ever.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Yes, I am well aware of the M4-2 issues. But those that preceded it were the best ever.

Then you know that these cameras had only three framelines (M3, M2) or four (M4, M5).


Erik.

 

[Bill Blackwell]

Then you know that these cameras had only three framelines (M3, M2) or four (M4, M5).

Right, and the M4-2 only had four; but I didn't see this as pertinent to this thread other than the 'aside' about when the framelines changed.

Then you know the first Leica M camera with six framelines was the M4-P?

 

[Erik van Straten]

Yes, but the framelines of the M5 were much more precise!


Leica M5, Summilux 35mm f/1.4 steel rim, 400-2TMY, printed on Adox MCC 110.

Erik.

 

[Bingley]

I don't know if you ever tried an M-Leica newer than the M4-2. That camera in itself was not entirely reliable - the machines on wich they were made, were not correctly adjusted - but the later ones had framelines in their viewfinders for six different focal lengths. Those for the 50mm lens - the most used lens - indicated a field way too small so that the photographers who liked to use the full frame for their pictures had a problem.

Erik.

The M4-P and later Ms have tighter 35mm framelines, which is why they supposedly work perfectly with 40mm lenses.

 

[Erik van Straten]

The M4-P and later Ms have tighter 35mm framelines, which is why they supposedly work perfectly with 40mm lenses.

Yes, they made them tighter, so they could make a 28mm frame around them. Neither of them were very precise.


Erik.


Leica M5, 35mm f/1.7 Ultron-M, 400-2TMY, printed on Adox MCC 110.

 

[Rob-F]

Without M3 there would have been no M2.


Erik.

OK, but if the M3 had been good enough, the M2 would not have been needed. (Just kidding; we all know they serve different purposes!)

 

[Rob-F]

The M4-P and later Ms have tighter 35mm framelines, which is why they supposedly work perfectly with 40mm lenses.

I can live with the tighter 35mm frameline on my M6, M7, and MP. It's the ridiculously tight 50mm frameline that bothers me! I keep an M5 around just to have a Leica that has both an accurate 50mm frameline and a meter!

I did a test: at a distance of around 10 feet, the M6 50mm frameline covers the same area as the 60mm Elmar on a Leica R body! Bad!

Some people have the 75mm frameline removed, to make it easier to use the 50mm frameline. I should have the 50mm frameline removed, so I don't confuse it with the 75mm.

 

[Huss]

Editor’s Note : Someone read this article and sent me a message that, in part, told me to kill myself. Pretty ridiculous, but I wanted to clarify that this tongue-in-cheek article is more of a silly conversation starter than a true examination into which Leica is best. And in any event, favoring any camera over another isn’t really grounds for death. Happy shooting, friends.

Wow are there some loony tunes people out there.

 

[dourbalistar]

Wow are there some loony tunes people out there.

Daffy Ducks and crazy.....


....clucks! 😀