How to distinguish the Ms?

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wyk_penguin

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Why do all the M cameras look the same? :bang:

Apart from the M5 and M1, I can't tell a M3 from a M4, etc. :confused:

Also, I the dual range summicron 50mm f2 supposed to be a good lens?
 
Really? The M3 and M2 say "M3" and "M2" on the camera top plates. For a good source on the different Ms, see: www.cameraquest.com

The DR cron 50 is a very good lens, a bit lower contrast than the current cron, heavier, but exceptionally built. Has goggles for closeup focusing work.


good luck
 
Doesn't the M2 have 35mm framelines where as my M3 does not.

Also there are Different M3's The early models that have the glass pressure plate and no review.. and DS and SS..
 
They all look similar because they are designed as system cameras. I would almost say 'designed as classics'.
The top parts of the series is similar because of the possible use of 'goggles', extra eyes for close-up or magnified focus work (like the 135/2,8).

Between the different models there are a lot of similarities as well as differences.

hope this helps...

Rob
 
The only way to learn the differences is to do a lot of web research and have a bottle of aspirins handy because it can get very confusing. I was interested in the 50 f2 DR Sunnicron and from the web research I did get the impression that it is a sought after lens and not cheap either.

Bob
 
they don't look the same. keep lookin' and you'll be able to tell the difference.. oh and, a simple glance at the top plate would tell you the model of the camera.
 
For me the Canon EOS models look all the same. No problem at all with Leica M. I guess it's a matter of interest.
 
I have to use a book just to identify the various versions of M3. I use 'Identifying Leica Cameras, The Complete Pocket Guide to Buying and Selling Leicas Like an Expert' by Ghester Sartorious ( ISBN: 0-8174-4026-7). There are probably better books out there, but this one seems pretty thorough and handy in size, too.

:)
 
They're all very similar but hardly identical. It takes very little familiarization to spot which is which from across a room.
 
Ben Z said:
They're all very similar but hardly identical. It takes very little familiarization to spot which is which from across a room.
Click to expand...

I agree. Once you sort things out, identifying which is which isn't difficult.

:)
 
My personal key to recognizing Leica M bodies.

M3 models: all have a small marquee around the RF mirror window. Knob rewind, knurled, and also slow.

M2: no marquee, and external exposure counter (not with window). Still with knob rewind.

M4: Identical to M2, but with internal exposure counter (like the M3) and with a tilted crank rewind. I think it also has a fresnel-like light window for the RF.

M4-2: has a big M4-2 sign on the front.

M4-P: Has a big red dot on the front, next to the lens.

MP: The classic one looks like an M2 without the frame selector.

I'll skip the M5 'cuz it's distinctive enough.

M6: Has a big red dot above the lens. The light window is flushed and has a fresnel-like surface. And a meter!

M6TTL: Also big red dot, but slightly taller than the regular M6 (noticeable in the thickness of the line between the top and the light RF window on the top plate).

M7: Has a red dot... and it says M7 in the front!

MP (newer version): Looks like an M3 of yore... but smells like new!

Hope this helps! :)
 
Francisco, well done.

Next up: how to tell a Nikon M from a Nikon S.

The M goes for about $2,000 more if the seller knows the difference.
 
As long as you're on Camera Quest, make a printout of the section on Leica M serial numbers. That's a pretty good guide to when various changes took place. But as mentioned, the basic models say so on top. My M4-2 says so in front!
 
So how do you know if someone has changed the tops of the cameras?

Well, I mean at a glance sort of way; coz if you look inside, M3 has the largest magnification of all Ms and you can't miss the M7 and the M6TTL if you look inside the RF.
 
Tops of cameras are not easily interchanged: M2 is different from M3, M4 is again different. And M6TTL is again very different. Maybe it is possible to interchange between the different M4 models and the M6, I don't know these well enough.

Rob
 
SolaresLarrave said:
My personal key to recognizing Leica M bodies.

M4: Identical to M2, but with internal exposure counter (like the M3) and with a tilted crank rewind. I think it also has a fresnel-like light window for the RF.
Click to expand...

So does the M2. The M4 has a plastic-tipped advance lever (unless someone had a compulsion to change it for one of the earlier type), and preview and self-timer levers with tapered rectangular shape and black plastic inserts.

M4-2: has a big M4-2 sign on the front.

M4-P: Has a big red dot on the front, next to the lens.
Click to expand...

A few M4-2s also have that. They are "collectible"

MP: The classic one looks like an M2 without the frame selector.
Click to expand...

Actually, except for the manual frame-counter, the original MPs look like M3s, with the "marquee" as you termed it, surrounding the windows.

M6: Has a big red dot above the lens.
Click to expand...

Unless someone with a compulsion blacked it out (like the one I bought...took me some time and effort to undo his damage, but thanks to him I got it cheap.)

The light window is flushed and has a fresnel-like surface.
Click to expand...

Late-run M4-Ps also had the flush windows (btw, it's the viewfinder window that's flush or not flush. The light window was flush from the M2 on. However late M4-P and all M6 and later the light window has a black plastic frame and is inserted from the front. The M2, M4, M4-2 and early M4-P the window has no plastic frame and is glued from inside


MP (newer version): Looks like an M3 of yore
Click to expand...

Actually it looks most like an M2 (the front of the top plate is nothing like the M3 with those "marquees"), but it has an inbuilt frame counter and a battery compartment cover rather than a selftimer. The MP3 "LHSA" looks like the original MP, ie M3-style top plate and dog-ear strap lugs, M2 manual frame counter, but also has the battery compartment.

Hope this helps!
 
SolaresLarrave said:
Well... between Ben and I it seems we can write the book on telling M bodies apart! :)

Thanks for the additions, Ben!
Click to expand...


Sounds like a plan...but do you speak German? A definitive Leica book has to be in German initially, and then after years of pleading and begging, someone must make a really bad translation :p
 
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