Button or Lever rewind M2?

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malkmata

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I'm considering an M2. Which one is better, the button or lever rewind with self timer or does it matter?

Thanks.
 
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I prefeer button it is a aesthetical reason, love the clean and simple design of the camera with it. The lever and the self are useful but i "don't like" them when grab the camera.
 
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the very first M2's (#926 000 and up to about 929 000) had a rewind button that you had to hold in while you rewound - highly aggravating as it is very easy to let go and tear the film sprockets. Later version had the button click in rewound position - but with time that lock tended to wear and pop up at inopportune times.
The lever rewind is a bit more secure - but it is not a dealbreaker as such. The Press To Hold button can be replaced by the lever quite easily. Personally all my M2's have the lever rewind and there is less chance of tearing sprockets with overeager rewind action.
 
Hold the body vertically, press the button with the left hand, rewind with the right. Piece of cake and never had a problem.

Fred
 
Great info ! I am just waiting for my button rewind M2 to arrive, had a rewind-lever type M2 before (with ST). The button-rewind type M2 without ST seem to be the most "puristic" M Leica, now if it were in black paint .... :cool:
 
Mine is 935xxx... I haven't had the tearing sprocket holes problem; I guess I don't crank on the rewind knob hard enough to do that. Thanks, Tom, for the info, and I'll be alert to it.

But I did have a different kind of problem with occasional overlapping frames that I eventually traced back to inadvertently pressing the rewind button while winding on to the next frame. That was 40+ years ago, and I haven't had that happen since becoming aware of it.

The lever is probably more practical, but I don't mind the button!

Gabor, I hope your M2 will be in good shape and that you enjoy the button-rewind elegance! :)
 
Mine is a button rewind, serial no. 931***. You have to hold the rewind button down on mine. No biggie. I like the simplicity and clean lines of button rewind M2s. Just got mine recovered and CLA'd by Youxin Ye, and it's a thing of beauty.
 
Doug said:
Gabor, I hope your M2 will be in good shape and that you enjoy the button-rewind elegance! :)
Click to expand...

Doug, my wish was that it would have been in good shape but alas... I had to send it back to the seller. Not only were the cosmetics not as described but the camera had also a shutter problem (and a cracked frame-line illumination window that was not only cracked but also mounted inside out :eek:).

Now another M2 (Shintaro BP M2 button rewind) is on the way to me, thanks to a very nice fellow here at RFF ! :)

Cheers,

Gabor

PS: Congrats, Doug and all other new moderators !!
 
Thanks, Gabor! And I'll hope for better luck with the Shintaro painted M2 button rewind... That has to be gorgeous.
 
maddoc said:
Great info ! I am just waiting for my button rewind M2 to arrive, had a rewind-lever type M2 before (with ST). The button-rewind type M2 without ST seem to be the most "puristic" M Leica, now if it were in black paint .... :cool:
Click to expand...
Black paint is for paupers and loonies.
 
I decided to get the lever rewind. My M2 just arrived from Keh. Although rated as BGN, she is a beauty and very clean!
Can't wait to test it!!
 
Definetely the button rewind is my preferred style. It is a lot easier to handle than the lever rewind as your fingers don't come into contact with that lever. I think Leicas are better when their are less functions on them so to speak.

I used a button rewind and never tore a sprocket in two years of shooting with it. I don't like things obstructing my fingers. Self-timer is somewhat of an expensive gimmick for serious street photography! Also, I think they are more expensive last time I checked when compared with the button rewind!

Interestingly enough Ralph Gibson that famous Leica shooter was asked by leica to design a special limited edition kit and his was pared down to the absolute minimum as he said that you had better receptive touch with all facets of the camera.
 
I'm going with the standard RFF reply to questions like this: Get both. :)

One for the Summicron, one for the Summaron.
 

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maddoc said:
The button-rewind type M2 without ST seem to be the most "puristic" M Leica, now if it were in black paint .... :cool:
Click to expand...

I happen to own a very early black paint button rewind, nr. 948 639. This camera is a great user.

Erik.

3754029363_4c4e730cfc_z.jpg
 
Tom A said:
the very first M2's (#926 000 and up to about 929 000) had a rewind button that you had to hold in while you rewound
Click to expand...

M2, button rewind that you have to hold down while you rewind it.

I'm more used to the lever rewind on my M3, but I've not had a problem with this one. Nice to know that I can have it changed to a lever type, I just might consider that.

m2_test_shot_by_dudewithad700-d3d2guj.jpg
 
With the second version of the button rewind (which I have) - should you accidentally depress the button, just pull up on the collar that surrounds it - it will pop out the button without losing a frame
 
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