Got my first M2 and I have no idea what frame I'm on!

RdEoSg

RdEoSg

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I'm on my second roll and I find that every time I pull the camera out of the bag, the frame counter has moved again. It has proper clicks, but I don't use a normal camera bag. I have it in a little Peak Design soft case that is designed for their straps but covers the camera and lens perfectly. It bounces around with everything else in my bag so I guess it's rubbing against the bag and other stuff and spinning itself.

I don't care really what frame I'm on. I'll just shoot til the camera stops advancing, but how do you long time M2 shooters get around this? Or do you just live with it and not care?
 
Mine is quite stiff and doesn't really move unless you want it to. I used to have one that was so stiff you really had to dig your thumb nail into one of the grooves to turn it. I guess it all depends on when the camera was last CLA'd and by whom... but in answer to your question it really shouldn't move very easily.
 
I have a Nikon S2, which has a similar system (not automatic frame counter), and every time I loaded a new roll I had to reset the darn thing. Of course, there were times I forgot, but then, that was kind of exciting because I just didn't know how many exposures I had left and I had to be careful with my film. Fortunately, loading film in an S2 isn't as difficult as it is in a Leica, but anyway...

You'll have to teach yourself to reset the exposure counter. There's no workaround...
 
The dial should not move with any casual contact. Its just a friction devise so you should get it serviced so that it works properly. My M2 has never had an issue. BTW all Barnacks and most FSU's use similar devices.
 
Thanks everyone. It was just serviced and it rotates smoothly and clicks at each tick like I think it should. I guess I just don't pay attention when I'm walking around with it or putting it in the bag and move it
 
Something I've noticed with mine - if you partially, but not fully, advance the film to the next frame, the counter will spin easily and freely in both directions. Otherwise I've never had an issue with it moving, and given it's stiffness I'm not sure how it would.
 
nickthetasmaniac said:
Something I've noticed with mine - if you partially, but not fully, advance the film to the next frame, the counter will spin easily and freely in both directions. Otherwise I've never had an issue with it moving, and given it's stiffness I'm not sure how it would.
Click to expand...

That's how your supposed to set the counter. Cock it half way and rotate the counter freely. Now advance and fire 2 frames and you're at frame one.

Of the half dozen M2's I've owned none have turned easily when its not cocked or fully cocked. My first two were bought in the 60's just as they were discontinued and were virtually new. My brother bought a new M2R when they came out and it had resistance too.

I'd say that any M2 that's counter turns easily like yours need work on it. Im guessing the teeth on the ratchet have worn down over time from use and improperly setting the counter without it being partially cocked.
 
x-ray said:
I'd say that any M2 that's counter turns easily like yours need work on it. Im guessing the teeth on the ratchet have worn down over time from use and improperly setting the counter without it being partially cocked.
Click to expand...


I have never tried moving the counter with a partially cocked shutter, I just rotate the counter dial against moderate resistance. It stays there, too.

I do note that the Leica M2 instruction manual makes no mention of partially cocking the shutter to move the counter dial. It seems perfectly normal to rotate it against the click stop resistance, which ought not to cause the detente to wear out, even with normal (prolonged) use.

However, I didn't buy my M2 new so I can't tell what is normal anyway.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Hi,

I'm getting worried; in my M2's manual it says put the film in and fire off two blank shots then turn the dial so that the zero is opposite the arrow/marker. Then wind on and take the first shot.

If you've a manual then the instructions are on page 23.

If not then please buy one* and download one whilst waiting for it to turn up. There's usually one or two on ebay.

Regards, David

* Try here:http://www.cameramanuals.org/leica_pdf/leica_m2.pdf
 
1. In a forum that is so enamoured of the M3, for some reason, it is not appropriate for an M2 owner to mention any possible flaw of an M2, especially anything to do with the frame counter. That is deemed to be a cheap inferior alternative to the fussy concealed self-zeroing frame counter under glass, instead of the millennially ingenious future-proof austere fit for purpose device that graces our modern successor.
2. Mine, bought at age 19 years was very stiff and wrecked a few fingernails. Thirty years later I had it serviced. It spins just right now. Couldn't happen accidentally though.
 
Mute-on said:
I have never tried moving the counter with a partially cocked shutter, I just rotate the counter dial against moderate resistance. It stays there, too.

I do note that the Leica M2 instruction manual makes no mention of partially cocking the shutter to move the counter dial. It seems perfectly normal to rotate it against the click stop resistance, which ought not to cause the detente to wear out, even with normal (prolonged) use.

However, I didn't buy my M2 new so I can't tell what is normal anyway.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...


It's your camera and your choice. These cameras are getting old and years of use and abuse have worn parts.

I was told to do the partial cock of the Shuttet by the Leica rep who serviced our area. It's been almost fifty years since I've seen him but his name was Hans Kippert and he had been a repair tech in Wetzlar. He knew his equipment and I had seen him open up an M camera and make minor repairs in the camera store.

I see no harm in doing it the way he told me to and over fifty years have not had any issues. My current M2 is a 1960 and I was the second owner and have put several thousand rolls through it and only had it serviced once when the shutter started capping early.

It's obvious when you partially cock the shutter and set the counter that it takes the tension off the ratchet which would reduce wear. It causes no harm, takes no extra time or effort to do this and potentially prevents wear.
 
David Hughes said:
Hi,

I'm getting worried; in my M2's manual it says put the film in and fire off two blank shots then turn the dial so that the zero is opposite the arrow/marker. Then wind on and take the first shot.

If you've a manual then the instructions are on page 23.

If not then please buy one* and download one whilst waiting for it to turn up. There's usually one or two on ebay.

Regards, David



* Try here:http://www.cameramanuals.org/leica_pdf/leica_m2.pdf
Click to expand...


That is my understanding as well. I never heard of the partial advance method.
 
Thanks for the additional comments. I've never heard the partial cocked method before so I'll give that a try. It could very well be that I didn't quite advance it all the way and that's why it spun. Since I'm only on my second roll I'm going to have to give it some time and find out. The repair guy that worked on it will be in next week so I'll mention it to him as well and see if he has any thoughts about it. It's a minor annoyance so I'd hate giving it back to him to work on for another week or two, but obviously having it correct is better than not. If it is moving too much, I don't want to run the risk of wearing down the teeth further.
 
The frame counter on my M2 turns very easily. Just the slightest tug with a fingertip causes it to move. Glad to find out it is not supposed to be that way.
 
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