Allure of the Leica M2.

[Keith]

No I'm not looking for one ... I already have one and have had it for about five years.

Every now and then I take it out of the cupboard, look through the excellent viewfinder, listen to the subtle snick of the shutter at various speeds and marvel at just how good it feels in the hands and of course think to myself ... "I should be using this camera, why am I not I using it?"

I need to find/buy a decent 35mm lens for it, get off my butt and start shooting with it again. I thought I was over the whole Leica thing ages ago ... why am I suddenly having these bizarre thoughts? 😱

 

[Sylvester]

Things come and go

 

[Rob-F]

I bought my chrome M2 circa 1961 or so. I do like the uncluttered finder, especially with the 50mm lens. Having two framelines at a time in the M6 finder doesn't bother me with the 28/90 combination, nor with the 35/135; but the 50/75 pairing is annoying! And the shrunken 50mm frame of the M6/M7/MP makes me avoid those bodies with the 50mm lens. The M2 frameline sizes are more accurate at the distances I shoot. The same comments apply for my M5 as well.

Yes, the M2 is a special camera. It has been so popular with the RFF members, I wonder if Leica ought to do a new production run of them. I would opt for: No self-timer; lever rewind; and the later enlarged finder mask.

 

[Contarama]

Refer to "Confessions of an ex-gear addict" thread maybe? 🙂

 

[rpsawin]

It's just such a pleasure to use. I find the uncluttered viewfinder really draws me into the composition and the mechanics of operating the camera is just second nature. The M2 is the camera I pick up when I just want to go out enjoy photography.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

It's the only Leica body I think I really need. It has the class and resilience of the M3, with the practicality of later models (basically, the framelines that get more use in any M4 and its variants). And for those who want to shoot without a meter... well, it's the whole package. 😉

There you go!

 

[yossarian123]

Its a great shooter but I actually prefer the M4. It has the same frame lines, same build quality, faster film load and rewind. The only thing I'd change would be to use the M3 film advance lever.

 

[helen.HH]

Yes M2's are Quite Special !

As for a 35.... If speed is not Supreme
The c biogon is Great

 

[Tom A]

Keith, just pick up a C Biogon (as Helen says) or a VC 35f2.5 and load the M2. Life doesn't get any simpler than that!

 

[back alley]

No I'm not looking for one ... I already have one and have had it for about five years.

Every now and then I take it out of the cupboard, look through the excellent viewfinder, listen to the subtle snick of the shutter at various speeds and marvel at just how good it feels in the hands and of course think to myself ... "I should be using this camera, why am I not I using it?"

I need to find/buy a decent 35mm lens for it, get off my butt and start shooting with it again. I thought I was over the whole Leica thing ages ago ... why am I suddenly having these bizarre thoughts? 😱

pain killers?


.

 

[Keith]

pain killers?


.

LOL ... I hadn't thought of that! 😀

 

[back alley]

it's like me and cold pills...

 

[Keith]

Refer to "Confessions of an ex-gear addict" thread maybe? 🙂

Bingo ... It was after reading that thread that I felt I had to be a little more proactive but I have been taking the M2 out of the cupboard a fair bit lately and musing on the possibility of reconnecting with it.!

Not to mention the thousand odd feet of 35mm black and white film in the freezer!

 

[Keith]

Keith, just pick up a C Biogon (as Helen says) or a VC 35f2.5 and load the M2. Life doesn't get any simpler than that!

I kind of have a hankering for the Zeiss 35mm f2 Tom ... in fact I've been trying to sell a lens I don't use that could possibly cover the cost. Before I put the M2 away I was an habitual 50mm shooter but over the last couple of years have come to enjoy 35mm a lot more and now see it as my 'go to' focal length.

 

[Richard G]

The quintessential Leica. I even prefer the manual frame counter. The M3 et al film counter is an unnecessary contrivance. That viewfinder, framelines for 35 alone and 50 alone (and 90 alone) is even more of a revelation after you experience the subsequent abominations, my much loved M9 finder included.

 

[gilpen123]

I still have my M2, sold my 35 V4 but now have the very compact cron 40 2.0 filed to show 35 frame line. Maybe you can consider this or the Minolta Rokkor 40 2.0. Quite a cheap alternative to the 35s.

 

[truefriendship]

Hormones??

 

[Sparrow]

 

[Sparrow]

... my work here is done ...

 

[Keith]

... my work here is done ...

Ahh ... beautiful indeed!