pbjbike
Established
Look up military Leica M2 on google for more info. Here's one page:
http://www.pacificrimcamera.com/pp/leica/m/M2.htm
http://www.pacificrimcamera.com/pp/leica/m/M2.htm
How rare is my M2?
- Thread starter trittium
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taffer
void
I have a 'military' M2. Quotation marks since it's not one made FOR the army but one owned and used BY them, US Navy specifically as the hand made engraving says.
Yes, that people cared so much about their Ms that they engraved them by hand 😀
Look at the bottom of the camera with the plate off and see if there's some kind of contact / indent for attaching a motor.
Btw, sell that M2 at your own peril, in my last coffee chat with the devil, it told me they have a special place down there for people selling pre-owned M2s... 😉
I guess it's the 8th capital sin, or something.
Yes, that people cared so much about their Ms that they engraved them by hand 😀
Look at the bottom of the camera with the plate off and see if there's some kind of contact / indent for attaching a motor.
Btw, sell that M2 at your own peril, in my last coffee chat with the devil, it told me they have a special place down there for people selling pre-owned M2s... 😉
I guess it's the 8th capital sin, or something.
Sell it for big bucks then buy a nice clean regular one for a normal price and add a lens to go with it.
jja
Well-known
Not that it matters, because you are not considering selling it, but your (below 1 million?) M2 would not be worth that much more than a 'regular' M2 (LR, ST). So unless it is mint (which you said it's not), you would not realize enough money to buy another M2 and lens.
If selling a camera you love is not a capital sin, it's at least a waste of energy. I know because I've done it and regretted it. Listen to taffer on this one.
From the perspective of use, if I were to be really picky, I'd choose an M2 w/ out ST, as I found the ST to slightly alter my grip when using my old M2.
If selling a camera you love is not a capital sin, it's at least a waste of energy. I know because I've done it and regretted it. Listen to taffer on this one.
From the perspective of use, if I were to be really picky, I'd choose an M2 w/ out ST, as I found the ST to slightly alter my grip when using my old M2.
FrankS
Registered User
I suggested selling it based on the presumption that it was worth much more due to its rarity.
SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
Wasn't the military model green? With a funny moniker, like EK47?
SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
Oops! That was the military M4.
Again... don't sell.
Again... don't sell.
trittium
Well-known
Don't worry anybody, I am not going to sell it. I <3 it too much. Plus it took me so long to actually purchase it, it would be hard for me to go through that again.
jja
Well-known
Trittium, click My Gallery, below (sigh). It is too painful to update!
flamingo
flamingo
The M2 I just sold to Kyle here on RFF had the same setup. No ST, lever rewind, and s/n over 1 million. Matter of fact it was a 1965 vintage.
I did a lot of investigating here, on PNet, and writing to several LHSA members about this when I bought it last year, because I thought I had a real rare bird, too. Turns out Leica made M2's with or without ST's throughout the model's entire production run, some of which were in undocumented batches. Several LHSA members knew the answer to this right away, as apparently the question comes up from time to time. The earlier ones I believe before 1960 or '59 usually had button rewinds, but there were lever rewind versions without ST's as well. There were indeed , holes in certain periods of Leica historical documentation.
I did a lot of investigating here, on PNet, and writing to several LHSA members about this when I bought it last year, because I thought I had a real rare bird, too. Turns out Leica made M2's with or without ST's throughout the model's entire production run, some of which were in undocumented batches. Several LHSA members knew the answer to this right away, as apparently the question comes up from time to time. The earlier ones I believe before 1960 or '59 usually had button rewinds, but there were lever rewind versions without ST's as well. There were indeed , holes in certain periods of Leica historical documentation.
tajart
ancien
i've learned of a couple variations in the m2 series- early ones had button rewind that had to be held in while rewinding, some only had to be depressed to begin the rewind. i've seen a reference to a difference in the size of the windows.
i've had both, button rewind (no st) and lever rewind (w st). both are nice to use.
has anyone seen or does a buttonr rewind with a self-timer exist?
i've had both, button rewind (no st) and lever rewind (w st). both are nice to use.
has anyone seen or does a buttonr rewind with a self-timer exist?
trittium
Well-known
jja said:
That is a really really nice m2
trittium
Well-known
Thanks for all of the information! So I guess it isn't very rare
Andrew3511
Established
I don't think lever rewind M2's without ST really are all that rare, certainly not as rare as button rewind. No-one's ever offered me a sum I can't refuse for mine (975707)
jim0266
Established
JJA, your M2 also has the felt strips in the channel of the body where the back contacts the body. I've seen this on some M2's and M4's.
Ergo
Observer
I had an M2 when i was IN the military in 58-59 but i did not like it as all i had was a 135 lens.
jaapv
RFF Sponsoring Member.
taffer said:
Typical, he told you that the wrong way around: There is a special place in heaven for those buying used Leica's....
payasam
a.k.a. Mukul Dube
Having always thought cameras to be things to be used, a means to an end, the importance which seems to be attached to rarity baffles me.
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