I got my M2! now some questions...

[Kozhe]

Hi everybody,

so my Leica M2 arrived today and it´s in GREAT shape. Barely no dings or scratches. The 2.8 50 Elmar is in exc condition...

So far I didn´t test it with film but shutter speeds sounds ok... up to 1/8 where it starts to make weird things. 1/4 to 1 didn´t work initially, I had to move the speed selector to B in order to close the curtains. After some fake shoots, now they close by themselves, although it seems the curtains won´t move the whole distance and a small part will remain visible when open. Is this usuall with unused leicas?

Also, I was checking serial numbers. The M2 says 1019318 DBP. According to camerquest site, this serial number dosen´t exist! What does "DBP" means? Is this a german or canadian camera?

The Elmar´s s/n is 1698919. It seems it´s comming from 1959 and for such an age, it´s really in good shape!

Thanks!

 

[rover]

If the shutter is slow in the slow speeds it probably needs a CLA. That said, at the slow speeds you should hear some wizzing which is the timer, and normal. Click Wizz I think is the sound. That is not cause for alarm.

 

[Rogrund]

Hi, congrats on your M2!

DBP stands for Deutsches Bundespatent and according to the CameraQuest serial number list your M2 is from 1961. Check the list again!

 

[Kozhe]

Thanks for the replies! I found another s/n list and found it, it doesn´t appear on one of camerquest´s lists.

Forgot to ask, the Elmar has a scale in feet only. Is this normal?

I´ll shoot an entire film and let you know how it´s working.

 

[januaryman]

When I first got my M2 I was so happy I used it alone for a month solid. Not my usual shooting habit. I like to switch up with my other cameras. You'll love it, I'm sure. Good luck.
(I like it enough to use it as my avatar!)

 

[payasam]

Older Leitz lenses had distance scales either in metres or in feet. Good luck with the first film. It should show if there are problems with the camera other than the slow speeds. I'd recommend a CLA in any case.

 

[FrankS]

I'm guessing that lenses intended for export to certain countries were marked in feet.