Leica M-A vs M2 advance

[brothernature]

Advancing film on my M2 is buttery smooth, with no resistance, it feels as if there's no film even in the camera. My M-A has resistance and you can feel and hear the gears turning. I have had no issues with it, but is this normal or expected?

Thanks.

 

[Bill Blackwell]

Advancing film on my M2 is buttery smooth, with no resistance, it feels as if there's no film even in the camera. My M-A has resistance and you can feel and hear the gears turning. I have had no issues with it, but is this normal or expected? ...

It's normal. Some of the gears are steel in the M-A (exactly like an M6) while the gears in an M2 are all brass. You would never know the difference unless you had the two cameras to compare side-by-side.

 

[Huss]

The M2 will also have more miles on it which lets things get smoother.
My MA feels 'tight' and new compared to my other Ms. Which is to be expected.

 

[giganova]

Give it 50 years and they will feel the same.

 

[brothernature]

Makes sense. Thanks everyone. I love the M-A, just wanted to make sure it wasn't something to be concerned about.

 

[Erik van Straten]

I have my MP for about 18 years; it now starts to smoothen out.

Erik.

 

[Mute-on]

My MP became noticeably smoother after only 10 or 20 rolls. My M2 is still smoother, but I’d expect it to be with brass gears and another 40 years of use.
My Kanto overhauled BP M4 feels more similar to my MP than my M2. I think I just need to use it more ... 🙂

 

[Rob-F]

Give it 50 years and they will feel the same.

No, I think the M2 will be even smoother by then! 🙂

The reason for changing to steel gears was to withstand the forces of a motor drive.

 

[giganova]

I don't think brass vs steel gears makes any difference.

 

[steveyork]

Definitely use will smooth out a camera. Once had a Nikon F black 64, well brassed -- must've been owned by a journalist -- but buttery smooth. The shutter too. It didn't survive 'the Great Camera Sell Off of 2018,' and I still regret parting with it.