amateriat
We're all light!
A while back, I mentioned a client of mine who mentioned having a Leica M2 she hasn't used in close to a (healthy) dog's age. I mentioned I might be interested in buying it, but she initially scoffed at the idea, in spite of her seriously deteriorating eyesight (the main reason for her giving up photography altogether), although she offered to loan it to me for a somewhat extended period.
Trouble was, she couldn't find the thing. In fact, her entire Domke bag, containing the Leica, a few lenses, flash and so on, couldn't be found in her apartment. Stolen? Unbelievably misplaced?
Turned out it was the latter. (Don't ask where.) After dropping by at her place for a free follow-up to a job I did for her several weeks back, I come home with this:
"M2 the Moon, Alice!"
So, I have my little yippee-ti-yay! moment. Don't have the slightest clue what generation (Canadian) Summicron I'm dealing with here, and the M2 itself is kind of worn 'round the edges, but, to quote a MINI catalog blurb, that just means that the thing was being used as intended (for a change). It even has a rapid-rewind accessory knob. I fondle the focusing tab (after unlocking it...forgot that's how things are done here...).
Then I try and stroke the film-advance lever. Not budging. Shutter's already cocked, generally not a good thing for any long-dormant mechanical shutter, and probably Leicas in particular. I punch the shutter release: nothing.
Damn. I was all set to load the thing up with Kodak BW400CN.
I explain the matter to my client. She said "It certainly worked the last time I used it." (Spoken like a true non-Leicaphile. 😉) I explained the idea of mechanical shutters, long-term storage, and the likelihood that the camera might be due for a CLA. (I also have a client with a mint M4 with a stuck shutter, whom I mentioned some time back. I need to check in on her, since there's a Super Ikonta with my name on it if I help her get all her gear fixed up and appraised.) I casually mention the idea of taking it in myself for a CLA, and possibly covering the bill if she might reconsider selling, or at least extend the camera loan somewhat longer (which is silly for me to ask, since the loan is thus far open-ended). She's thinking about it.
Back home, the pretty paperweight in my hands is just enchanting. Looks like a prince, but at the moment it's a frog. Always fancied having a "real" M of some sort, and in recent years got over the M2's lack of an auto-resetting frame counter. And it's likely cheaper than most any other standard-issue M. Played with the shutter-speed dial for a bit, remembering something a repair tech told me regarding horizontally-traveling shutters. Sure enough, the M2's cloth shutter emerged from hiding...at least, 3/4 of the way. I'm thinking what to do next: the trailing curtain looks a bit warped...possibly on account of the camera being left "wound" for so damned long?
And, I feel the urge to get a hood for that Summicron...but none 'o this is mine (yet...). :bang:
(Is this a sort of GAS-by-proxy?)
- Barrett
Trouble was, she couldn't find the thing. In fact, her entire Domke bag, containing the Leica, a few lenses, flash and so on, couldn't be found in her apartment. Stolen? Unbelievably misplaced?
Turned out it was the latter. (Don't ask where.) After dropping by at her place for a free follow-up to a job I did for her several weeks back, I come home with this:
"M2 the Moon, Alice!"
So, I have my little yippee-ti-yay! moment. Don't have the slightest clue what generation (Canadian) Summicron I'm dealing with here, and the M2 itself is kind of worn 'round the edges, but, to quote a MINI catalog blurb, that just means that the thing was being used as intended (for a change). It even has a rapid-rewind accessory knob. I fondle the focusing tab (after unlocking it...forgot that's how things are done here...).
Then I try and stroke the film-advance lever. Not budging. Shutter's already cocked, generally not a good thing for any long-dormant mechanical shutter, and probably Leicas in particular. I punch the shutter release: nothing.
Damn. I was all set to load the thing up with Kodak BW400CN.
I explain the matter to my client. She said "It certainly worked the last time I used it." (Spoken like a true non-Leicaphile. 😉) I explained the idea of mechanical shutters, long-term storage, and the likelihood that the camera might be due for a CLA. (I also have a client with a mint M4 with a stuck shutter, whom I mentioned some time back. I need to check in on her, since there's a Super Ikonta with my name on it if I help her get all her gear fixed up and appraised.) I casually mention the idea of taking it in myself for a CLA, and possibly covering the bill if she might reconsider selling, or at least extend the camera loan somewhat longer (which is silly for me to ask, since the loan is thus far open-ended). She's thinking about it.
Back home, the pretty paperweight in my hands is just enchanting. Looks like a prince, but at the moment it's a frog. Always fancied having a "real" M of some sort, and in recent years got over the M2's lack of an auto-resetting frame counter. And it's likely cheaper than most any other standard-issue M. Played with the shutter-speed dial for a bit, remembering something a repair tech told me regarding horizontally-traveling shutters. Sure enough, the M2's cloth shutter emerged from hiding...at least, 3/4 of the way. I'm thinking what to do next: the trailing curtain looks a bit warped...possibly on account of the camera being left "wound" for so damned long?
And, I feel the urge to get a hood for that Summicron...but none 'o this is mine (yet...). :bang:
(Is this a sort of GAS-by-proxy?)
- Barrett
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