Leica M2 in UK - bit beat but is it a good price?

[Lilserenity]

Hiya,

I have been offered a Leica M2 in good working order but it's got great signs of use and a bit dented on the top plate (not badly, more of ding) - but otherwise just fine.

I'm interested in using the camera (I'm not a collector) so its overall aesthetic isn't too much of a problem for me and if I do want it to havbe a bit of a CLA, I can go for it later.

The asking price is £200. Seems a good deal to me given the M2's reputation.

It is complete, vulcanite all in place etc. just well used 🙂

Just wanted to make sure I had a good deal before handing over any money.

I was going to get a Bessa R3a but this would be better for me with the longer EBL and 35mm frame lines (my favourite aspect for landscape, along with 50mm.)

Many many thanks,
Vicky

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

It's sounds very good.

Of course you'll check that all the shutter speeds sound right and that the rangefinder is working correctly won't you?

 

[Lilserenity]

Yes, I'm au fait with cameras and the such and with the manual C330F I'm happy to check these functions are working accurately.

It also comes with 12 months warranty so that's quite good to me!

 

[nobbylon]

Sounds like a bargain Vicky, just remember to check the focus and viewfinder clarity and rangefinder spot. Check the slow speeds work properly. Remember that any decent cla is going to be £150 which then makes it 350 and there are plenty at this price which are in quite nice condition. good luck j

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Vicky,

Sounds good to me. Especially with a guarantee.

Remember that 'CLA' is a relatively recent American affectation and that if the camera is working OK (speeds not too sluggish) you almost certainly don't need one.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[mcgrattan]

£200 with a warranty is an extremely good deal. I'd love to know where you can get that kind of a deal.

I paid about £120 for my IIIc recently.

Matt

 

[Lilserenity]

Thank you everybody, it's been really good to get some secondary opinion. I had a feeling it was a decent enough price so I'll take a look over it tomorrow and then all being well I'll be on that slippery slope of having yet another camera...

I was going to go for a Bessa R3a but at this price it's probably even cheaper than a decent condition R3a. I just need something relatively tough to weather the hikes I go on.

The EOS 3 was too heavy for the last 100 mile jaunt and the next 135 mile one will be too much, as much as I love my EOS 3. I'll let you know what happens and if I get it I'll post some photos of it here.

Thanks again!

 

[Ronald_H]

Good deal. Paid 380 euros for mine in similar condition but without warranty. It needed a CLA (another 200 euros) because the shutter speeds were way off. The finder was and is flawless. Camera is perfect now.

Maybe check Stephen Gandy's site for M buying tips as well.

 

[Lilserenity]

Thanks Ronald.
I'm now just wrestling with whether it's better to just get another lens for the EOS or take the plunge. Only I can answer that one! Hmm indeed!

 

[Ronald_H]

Thanks Ronald.
I'm now just wrestling with whether it's better to just get another lens for the EOS or take the plunge. Only I can answer that one! Hmm indeed!

Well, Leica lenses are not cheap, even if you go second hand or Voigtlaender. Your EOS system can do a lot of things a Leica M can't. But Leicas are unbeatable for 'stealthy' handheld available light photography.

The agony of choice...

 

[Lilserenity]

Ronald, the plan is I'll start with the Voigtlander Colour Skopar II f/2.5 35mm lens. I love the 35mm aspect (even at 28mm I'm not overly the keen on the distortion at the edge of the frame but I have used as wide as 24mm before.)

I have phoned the seller and they've got it in their workshop right now to make sure it is indeed all working properly and the shutter speeds are accurate but otherwise they said it's all intact, the leatherette is all tidy and not curling at the edges or missing. The main things is the dings to the top plate and the brass is showing through on the edges but call me strange but I kind of like that. It's like Kerouac musing after his well worn jumper in Big Sur, I like things that have a little wear and tear to them aesthetically. I hate new trainers as they look way too clean!

Basically I have decided, if the M2 is all as described and given a clean bill of health and doesn't look utterly attrocious (it doesn't sound it) I'll visit them next Saturday and buy it. End of. 🙂

Then I'll pick up a 2nd hand Color Skopar or maybe even the Nokton 40mm f/1.4 MC. I've thought over this hard enough and it's quite clear that with a Bessa though incredibly good for the money, I'll always wonder about the M2 and Leicas in general so best to go straight for one and be satisfied.

I'm quite good without a meter as I use the C330F meterless most of the time, just a matter of a bit of common sense, good understanding of exposure and so forth. I mean, I've exposed Velvia correctly in it plenty of times just on the Sunny 16 principle so I shan't need a meter right away.

That said they do have the later Leica CDS cell meter (not the selenium ones) that would pair nicely for £30 so I might have a mad one and do that too 😛

 

[Roger Hicks]

That said they do have the later Leica CDS cell meter (not the selenium ones) that would pair nicely for £30 so I might have a mad one and do that too 😛

Dear Vicky,

If you don't buy the meter at £30 I suspect there'll be a queue behind you who will, including me!

Cheers,

R.

 

[Ronald_H]

Then I'll pick up a 2nd hand Color Skopar or maybe even the Nokton 40mm f/1.4 MC. I've thought over this hard enough and it's quite clear that with a Bessa though incredibly good for the money, I'll always wonder about the M2 and Leicas in general so best to go straight for one and be satisfied.

That said they do have the later Leica CDS cell meter (not the selenium ones) that would pair nicely for £30 so I might have a mad one and do that too 😛

Best to get your Leica curiosity satisfied as soon as possible 😀 I bought one this year, at 36. The Nokton 40 might be an excellent choice. I find 40mm to be the most natural perspective for me. I don't have one, but my Canonet has a 40mm lens...

No experience with the Leica meters, but I use sunny 16 (wouldn't want to do that with slides though!) and a tiny Gossen Digiflash.

Enjoy your M2, I most certainly do.

Is this the time to embed yet another M2 shot I'm happy with? What the h*ll:

Leica M2, Summicron DR at 2.8-ish. Ilford HP5+ @400 in HC-110 dil B.

 

[Lilserenity]

Roger,

If I don't get it I'll happily pass on contact details for all to see and haggle with 🙂 Assuming no one buys it before me, assuming I buy it myself!

Vicky

 

[John Lawrence]

Vicky,

I'm a bit late reading this thread, but if you're talking about the M2 at MXV Photographic (the details of which I posted on another forum), I believe it has now been sold.

It may be a completely different camera you're referring to, but I thought I would post this in case it saves you a journey.

 

[Lilserenity]

It is, I put a deposit down on it first thing this morning 🙂 Cat's out of the bag everybody! 😀

 

[Rogrund]

Congrats on the M2, I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

 

[Lilserenity]

I'm sure I will, I can't see which other camera I would need after this. Well there was that Bronica ETRSi... and erm... But in all seriousness, I have the small compact Olympuses to carry as small 'notebook' like cameras, the M2 (assuming it's not totalled) and EOS 3 for general use and the Mamiya when I'm feeling strong! Certainly the M2 all being well will be a great companion when walking long distances -- something robust is definitely needed for that. (Like the time I had to use the EOS 3 as but of a mallet to get a tent peg into the ground....)

 

[John Lawrence]

Congratulations Vicky.

After posting the details on another forum (as part of a discussion over Leica pricing), I received a few messages thanking me for "alerting" them and one saying he was going to buy the camera - obviously he didn't, which was why I posted my earlier message in good faith.

 

[Lilserenity]

John, No worries. Had I dithered more then it would had gone to whoever didn't dilly dally around. I did see some sense though 😉

As I say, MXV said it was still available, I asked about condition etc. and they mentioned it was in their workshop for a good once over so I offered a small deposit and if it'd be OK to reserve it until next Saturday when it's out of the workshop and I'm free to collect. They didn't mention it was reserved etc. and I made sure it was £210 one (not the £300) so we'll see what happens.

If it doesn't work out, I'm certain that I'll stick to sourcing an M2 regardless as it does very much sound like the camera for me (35mm and 50mm aspect which I love, and 90mm a possibility for lightweight portraiture sounds a fabulous prospect) -- my EOS 3 has 35 and 50mm primes so this really is about a serious low light performer and light weight discrete camera.

Whatever happens I'll post back what happens here and alert people of any bargains I'm made aware of. MXV is a dangerous shop for me to have close to where I live (it's only 35 miles or so from here... Dangerous indeed 🙂 !)

Vicky