Leica M2 Framelines

S

skes16

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Feb 17, 2013
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Hi everyone,

I recently purchased an M2 (my first rangefinder) in near mint condition.

Everything works fine, and I've run a few test rolls through the camera, but the problem is, part of the 90mm frameline appears in the 50mm frameline.

It is like a faint streak, and it can be made to go away with the frameline selector, but It always comes back.

I was wondering if this is a problem that can be fixed by myself. If not, does the camera need a CLA?

If it matters, I'm using a 50/75mm Voigtlander Type II adapter with a Jupiter 8. Could the adapter be causing the problem?

Thanks in advance!

-Sam
 
Exercise the frame line selector lever a bit. It may simply be a little sticky. If the frameline selector is out of adjustment or doesn't get better, it probably means time for a CLA on the viewfinder.

My M4-2 was like that when I got it, it sorted itself out in a week's worth of using it. Unfortunately, the rangefinder itself was out of alignment and a little sticky too, so I had a CLA done anyway. That wasn't too expensive, and it works beautifully now.

G
 
I've wiggled the frameline lever a lot, but nothing has changed. I guess It's time for a CLA then. Thanks for responding so quick!
By the way, if I don't completely click the lens into place, it works perfectly, is that okay?
 
Yep, there is gunk gumming up the works. Could be at the lever and inside the body, or could be at the rangefinder. Not hard to fix but the camera needs to be opened up.
 
Many years ago I purchased an M2, that had the same issue when I took delivery of it.

I ended up sending it to Sherry at Golden Touch and she found two issues.

First off it hadn't been cleaned, lubricated and adjusted since it left the factory more than 30 years earlier. The lubricants had turned to glue and the internals were gummed up. Also the spring that works with the frameline selector had weakened and needed to be replaced.

I would send it to Yye for a CLA and service.

http://www.yyecamera.com/index.html

His prices are very reasonable and a lot of people here on RFF seem to be satisfied with his work.
 
I would stop wiggling the frameline selector. You're putting a lot of stress on the spring and it may give out from metal fatigue. It really sounds like the lubricants are totally gummed up in which case the only cure is a CLA.
 
If everything else is fine, why not just leave the camera as it is? bear in mind that most newer Ms have two sets of framelines in the VF.
 
Lens is screwed into the adapter too tight. Happens on my M2 and Nokton 50/1.5 from time to time. I bet the 50 framelines are showing up thinner than they should be as well.

Do this: Look through the viewfinder with the lens is attached, and then unscrew it while you're looking through the viewfinder. I bet the lines go away. If the lens is too tight to do that, then do it in reverse. Unscrew the lens (no need to do it all the way, just so it's loose), and screw it in while looking through the viewfinder.

If you overtighten the screwmount lens into the adapter, then it pushes the arm back too far (albeit slightly), and messes with the way your framelines look. The lens should mount just to tight--you shouldn't need a vice grip to get it off.

If that doesn't work, then there may be some other issue, but I just bet it's because of the screwmount--I bet it would be fine with an M-mount lens.
 
@JMQ Haha, that's actually a really nice way to think of it :), maybe your right. As long as it doesn't hurt, I'll wait until something else goes wrong and then i'll get my CLA.
 
wilonstott said:
If you overtighten the screwmount lens into the adapter, then it pushes the arm back too far (albeit slightly), and messes with the way your framelines look. The lens should mount just to tight--you shouldn't need a vice grip to get it off.

If that doesn't work, then there may be some other issue, but I just bet it's because of the screwmount--I bet it would be fine with an M-mount lens.
Click to expand...

I've tried that, but the only way it will be fixed completely is if the adapter doesn't even click into place. Will that hurt the camera or the pictures?
 
Will what hurt the camera/pictures? If the adapter is clicked into place? You want to make sure that is secured. I'm not sure if it will hurt the camera (don't believe so), but you want it clicked in.

Although that's not a hugh issue as a far as essential functionality goes, I understand how that can be irritating. If it's just going to ride on you, best to get it fixed.

Send it to Youxin Ye. Have him do a full CLA. Send the lens and adapter. He'll have it back in 2 weeks or less. I'm not sure what his rates are these days.
 
To be honest it's not that bad, so I won't have a problem just waiting it out until I actually need a CLA. I was just wondering if this was something that was simple to fix myself, but seeing as it's not, I I'll have a problem just ignoring it.
 
skes16 said:
I've tried that, but the only way it will be fixed completely is if the adapter doesn't even click into place. Will that hurt the camera or the pictures?
Click to expand...

Having the adapter unsecured will not hurt the camera, but when your lens falls off and hits the ground, it will hurt. :-o

G
 
Others have already warned you of having the lens fall off.
But you can also affect the rangefinder focus accuracy, as you would have altered the angular orientation of the lens cam, and thus, the detected focus movement.

Bottom line, click the lens in firmly.




skes16 said:
I've tried that, but the only way it will be fixed completely is if the adapter doesn't even click into place. Will that hurt the camera or the pictures?
Click to expand...
 
the adapter is equally as tight unclicked as it is clicked, as it is very barely shifted, but I haven't risked shooting with it like this. Better safe then sorry, I agree.
 
if you can pop out the top cover there are 2-3 screw just on the side of front viewfinder window to set the frameline. I fix/set it my self on all my M

Try to find an easy way :
get a cheap adapter, google on the net for differences of adapter part which triggers the frameline, file that area a little bit so when the 50mm lens clicks 90mm frameline will not show up.
 
Do the framelines appear normally when the lever is pushed either way slightly? If so, it could be the alignment of the stop surround on the outside of the camera. I've had it once and fixed it by taking the preview lever off, unscrewing the inner holding screw just enough to turn the outer piece with the cut out just a fraction left or right as required. Re tighten the inner screw and refit lever.
 
I just picked up an M2 (106XXXX) as well recently... It looks like the viewfinder has a 28mm frame line upgrade. Is this the M6 finder then?
 
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