How rare is my M2?

[trittium]

I purchased an M2 on the auction site a little while ago. I went to a camera show a little while ago and a serious collector (I heard him cwabling around the room saying stuff like "if this had this making over here this lens would be worth a lot more money" and "this is not a good collectors piece") asked me how much I wanted for the M2, I told him it wasn't for sale, he asked if he could pruchase it again, and I said no again. I was taken a little off guard b/c it wasn't in the best shape at the time (no skin, no lens, and slight scratched). I started comparing it with other M2's. Mine has a lever rewind and no self timer. All of the models I have seen without the self timer have a button rewind. Is this a Leica rarity?

 

[ywenz]

maybe its one of them that failed QC because the technician forgot to put on the timer lever?

 

[jja]

Lever rewind + no self-timer M2's are, relatively speaking, rare. I do not know how collectible they are, at least compared to M2R's, which are very rare and expensive. Cameraconnection.com was listing an M2 like yours recently, and it was more expensive than the rest, but condition may have been a factor.

Check the cameraquest database, it should contain the information you are looking for.

 

[trittium]

maybe its one of them that failed QC because the technician forgot to put on the timer lever?

There is no hole where a timer lever should be, it is just non-existant.

 

[pbjbike]

A serial number might be helpful in determining rarity--LR but no ST...Any chance it might be the military M2, (I forget the designation)? I had an M2 with the most contrasty VF patch I've ever seen, (WHY did I sell it?), and the serial number was around 932,000. It was modified for a ST at some point.

 

[FrankS]

Put a new leather skin from Asahi on it ($19) and sell it for big bucks to a collector who cares about rarity ratings. You should be able to get a replacement non-rare M2 and a Leitz lens or 2 out of it.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I wouldn't sell it. Just keep it. In any event, it's probably an early run of the M2 cameras, which explains the lack of a self timer.

The M3 has three versions (and they're not DS and SS). One initial version came without self-timer & frame selector, another with frame selector (no ST), and the last one, with both... part of the production was double stroke, and the remaining cameras went SS.

There was a similar "evolution" for the M2, with push-button rewind, no self-timer, then with lever rewind, ST and frame selector. Remember that the M2 was meant to be an "economy version" of the M3, not an additional, more advanced model.

Economy or not, they're worth every penny. Don't sell it. Keep it. Use it! That's what they were made for.

And have fun too! 🙂

 

[pbjbike]

There was a batch of M2's in 1960, serial numbers 960501 to 960801 without self timers, but lever rewind.

 

[FrankS]

If you are using it to shoot rather than to collect, the rarity factor isn't going to do you any good. Would you rather have a rare M2 with no lens that you really shouldn't be using because of its rarity, or a nearly identical common M2 and a couple of Leitz lenses?

 

[jja]

If I remember correctly, there are also batches over 1 million serial no. w/ out self-timer.

 

[wengis]

My M2 made 1959 has lever rewind + no self-timer. Serial number is 970874, and according to Leica Collectors Guide self-timer was optional extra from 949101 and built into most cameras from 1004151. When button rewind was changed to lever rewind my Leica books does't say anything about, just that "early cameras" has the button rewind.
My M2 is a real well worn user, nothing for collecting...

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Hmmm... Frank has a point. Look for the guy and see how much he wants for it. AS IS! 🙂

 

[trittium]

I have some good advice here! Allas, I don't have the camera at this time though. It is getting cla'ed, fixed, and re-skinned. I do remmember that it is from 1958 if that is any help. I got this camera for a bargan (the only way I could afford it being a college student), and it is my first and only leica. I think the sentimental value outways the money I would earn from it (unless it would pay for a summicron).

 

[trittium]

If you are using it to shoot rather than to collect, the rarity factor isn't going to do you any good. Would you rather have a rare M2 with no lens that you really shouldn't be using because of its rarity, or a nearly identical common M2 and a couple of Leitz lenses?

It didn't have a lens at the time b/c I just purchased it and the lenes hadn't come in the mail yet. Now I have 4 lenses for it.

 

[trittium]

A serial number might be helpful in determining rarity--LR but no ST...Any chance it might be the military M2, (I forget the designation)? I had an M2 with the most contrasty VF patch I've ever seen, (WHY did I sell it?), and the serial number was around 932,000. It was modified for a ST at some point.

What is a military M2? How do I tell if it is a military M2?

 

[wengis]

If it's military I think it should be M2S or M2-R. And I think they were made from 1960 and on.

 

[wengis]

My not so collectible M2...

 

[trittium]

It's not military

 

[wengis]

No, but is a good user...
Anyone having a military??

 

[trittium]

Now I want to see the military one too!