Allure of the Leica M2.

[SolaresLarrave]

By sheer accident I ended up with an M2. I placed a bid on an eBay auction and, against my expectations, I won it. It was an anodized black M2 body, sold to me by Ken Hansen. When I got the box I was thinking about turning it around and sell it... but the minute I put my hands on it I just couldn't do it. After having it repainted and CLAed (job done by Youxin and his partner in painting Steward) it has become one of my favorite cameras to travel with (the others are my M4-2 and my M4).

Why? It's a direct approach to photography. What an good espresso is to a cup of coffee. Freshly baked bread and butter for breakfast. Something inherently good that won't fail you.

Curious about it? Click HERE to take a peek at how it looked when it came to me. Of course, now it looks regal.

 

[Erik van Straten]

It was an anodized black M2 body

This does not look like an black anodized body, but like an black paint body made on special order. The number block to wich the camera belongs is not black paint, but the number engraving is absolutely genuine.

If it is black anodized: many people will want one, because black anodized M2's officially do not exist.

Probably it was not wise to have it repainted. All in all it is a very strange camera, a "Frankenleica". The transport lever, for instance, is a short one, these belong to double wind M3's.

Maybe you can ask Jim Lager about it.

Erik.

 

[HuubL]

...and what happened to the film counter wheel? It's supposed to 'overhang' a tiny bit at the front to allow setting it to the desired frame number. It seems as if the 'teeth' are filed off. Plus, there are two pins/screws between the light capture and viewfinder windows...

 

[Erik van Straten]

Also the two rivets on front - between the windows - are a mystery to me.

Erik.

 

[davidnewtonguitars]

M2 / M Elmar 5cm, f 2.8, FP4+ in D-76

Old River Cove, Bridge City, Tx

 

[SolaresLarrave]

You are not looking at the camera as it looks now. That's how the camera looked when I purchased it from Ken (who described it as anodized black too... To me, that's weird, but then, what do I know?).

I had it repainted because the black finish was chipping off... and I thought it'd be better for the camera. I had no idea about the film advance lever, but in the photos I've seen of M2 bodies, there seems to be no difference between the M3 and the M2 levers. The legitimate problem was the two holes next to the VF window: they were drilled to place a non-Leica part of some sort. Youxin ye later replaced it with a legitimate Leica rangefinder, and then Steward sealed them. Youxin also replaced the frame counter (it was very worn out) with another from a different M2 body. The result is a very nice looking M2 painted black, with a good rangefinder and uncluttered VF (I left it with the original framelines) that I may never be able to sell because of all these transformations. But then, again, it's gone through so much already...

There you go! 🙂

 

[Gbull]

Here is my Leica M2-R:-

Just a lazy day!! by Jay, on Flickr

 

[Chromacomaphoto]

One sale I regret is the M2. I purchased it from an RFF member at a great price and unknown to me, he included a Luigi half case.

For this shot, I paired it with a summaron 2.8. That was my favorite lens with the M2. Sold the camera, kept the lens. Should have kept the M2!

[/IMG]

I am currently in exactly the same situation, thus I can sympathise. The Summaron 35 on the M2 was the best rig for me in Leicaland. Love this picture also.

 

[ChrisLivsey]

I decided the only way to get a BP M2 was to pay up.
I'm not interested in a glossy, quick to brass, finish so a matt DuraCoat finish was ordered, work by Alan Starkie in the UK https://www.cameraworks-uk.com/
New skin as well, Alan was excellent to deal with and fixed a light leak it had developed, that was the excuse to send it in and while it's there may as well get a paint job 😱

 

[Chromacomaphoto]

Just lovely Chris, shoot it in good health!

 

[ChrisLivsey]

Just lovely Chris, shoot it in good health!

Thank you, I intend to, the loss of Tom has concentrated the mind wonderfully.

 

[Timmyjoe]

Chris, so he stripped it down to brass before the paint?

Best,
-Tim

 

[jsrockit]

Drool worthy...

 

[lxmike]

I decided the only way to get a BP M2 was to pay up.
I'm not interested in a glossy, quick to brass, finish so a matt DuraCoat finish was ordered, work by Alan Starkie in the UK https://www.cameraworks-uk.com/
New skin as well, Alan was excellent to deal with and fixed a light leak it had developed, that was the excuse to send it in and while it's there may as well get a paint job 😱

ultra cool M2😎

 

[ChrisLivsey]

Chris, so he stripped it down to brass before the paint?

Best,
-Tim

Yes it's done properly 🙂
He details the work on the website.

He is happy to take any instruction on finishes and what parts not to paint to customer desires, there are many references to the quality of his work on similar forums and as a first time customer I was treated as a long standing one.
I didn't order a CLA as the body had one about 5/7 years back but I said let me know if you see anything:- "We removed the rangefinder and whoever fixed it the last time didn’t replace the round seal that goes on the rangefinder arm shaft or the teardrop seal that protects the frameline pin. We put new ones on for you."
FOC

The whoever was Leica 😉

 

[nguyendkhoa]

One sale I regret is the M2. I purchased it from an RFF member at a great price and unknown to me, he included a Luigi half case.

For this shot, I paired it with a summaron 2.8. That was my favorite lens with the M2. Sold the camera, kept the lens. Should have kept the M2!

[/IMG]

Just love your photo!