Heads Up Leica m2-R

I bought one when they first came out and I'm still using it on a regular basis. I also have all of the original paperwork and the box. Mine looks like it's seen years of pro use though, has M4 style synch sockets added, and it's been revulcanited. I wish that I'd bought a couple more of them when they were cheap. Great camera!

http://thepriceofsilver.blogspot.com
 
arseniii said:
M2-R.....it looks like it has self-timer which standard M2 doesn't....
Click to expand...


Actually you are mistaken about this. The early M2s and a few later ones were the only M2s that did NOT have the self timer; otherwise the M2 + self timer was the standard M2.

FWIW, many think the early M2 w/o the self timer and with the rewind lever is the most beautiful M. Rather like a meterless MP w/o the battery cover.
 
I can't stand the self-timer...
I actually like the m2 k15-4 better than m2r. It is usually cheaper and it doesn't show the special engraving "R" on the body.
 
Well folks, I decided to pursue this, and am now convinced this is a scam.

The "Seller" wrote back accepting my decision to buy, and said she needed my full name and contact details. She explained that the transaction would go through EBay, allowing me a 3 day examination period of the Goods, and an option to return the goods if I was not satisfied.

I sent her my name and address.

Well I just got an email, advising me that a "Transaction Agent" would be the Intermediary.
She advised I should send a "moneygram" (an emoney transfer) for $1500 to the Agent, a man's name and address in London, UK. The "Seller" noted is a woman's name, address in White Falls, MT, USA.
None of the EBay or other links on the email work, and one is invited to contact the seller with any questions.
 
Also, contrary to what's written in the Craigslist ad, the KS-15(4) was the actual U.S. military-issue M2. The M2R was the later, civilian, version, though made w/many of the same parts.

fbf said:
I actually like the m2 k15-4 better than m2r. It is usually cheaper and it doesn't show the special engraving "R" on the body.
Click to expand...
 
Most of the KS 15's I have seen also had the M4 style finder in it (135 frames). It also had a different manual, buff colored military colors. Most were shipped as full "kits" with a 35f2.8, a 50f2 and a 90 2.8 ( and very few with the 66f2.0 ELCAN!).
As stated, the M2 R was a civilian version and came with a DR Summicron with a # 2.3xx xxx - and a few with DR's in the 2.4xx xxx range. 2500 M2 R's were sold, mainly in Canada and the US - hence the "hyped" value in Europe and Asia.
I have had a couple of them (K15's) and they were all well used and usually painted black (not factory paint - just a rather crude brush paint job with something that would have been appropriate for a garage floor!).
Leica overestimated the US Military demand for the K15's and ended up with the 2500 that were not included in the sales (various figures given - 1000 or 2000 units) and rather than dumping them, re-engraved them M2 R and sold them to the public.
The M4 was already in the pipeline and I suspect that the military wanted the "newer" version with the dedicated 50mm lens.
 
IMHO there is no obvious sign of a scam. The seller has 100% +ve feedback on EBay. Of course, there can always be a first time, if one does not care about future dealings on the Auction site.
 
That's interesting; I didn't realize that the KS-15(4)'s came w/the later, M4-style framelines, though it certainly makes sense for the reasons you describe. My KS-15(4), acquired by itself sans kit, has the original M2-style framelines & is actually in decent shape (though w/some sort of inventory # scratched onto it).

Tom A said:
Most of the KS 15's I have seen also had the M4 style finder in it (135 frames). It also had a different manual, buff colored military colors. Most were shipped as full "kits" with a 35f2.8, a 50f2 and a 90 2.8 ( and very few with the 66f2.0 ELCAN!).
As stated, the M2 R was a civilian version and came with a DR Summicron with a # 2.3xx xxx - and a few with DR's in the 2.4xx xxx range. 2500 M2 R's were sold, mainly in Canada and the US - hence the "hyped" value in Europe and Asia.
I have had a couple of them (K15's) and they were all well used and usually painted black (not factory paint - just a rather crude brush paint job with something that would have been appropriate for a garage floor!).
Leica overestimated the US Military demand for the K15's and ended up with the 2500 that were not included in the sales (various figures given - 1000 or 2000 units) and rather than dumping them, re-engraved them M2 R and sold them to the public.
The M4 was already in the pipeline and I suspect that the military wanted the "newer" version with the dedicated 50mm lens.
Click to expand...
 
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