Leica M2 with M3 viewfinder

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Fabio Ruffet

Fabio
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Hello everyone, this is my first post after following this forum for a while and taking in the wisdom from the distance

I have a quick question and wondering if could help me. a while ago I bought a Leica M2 but the interesting thing is that this camera has the bright 0.91 M3 finder

Considering to sell it soon though due to having more cameras than I need, do you know how much this would go for?

Many thanks

Fabio
 
Hmmm, M2 camera with M3 finder? while intriguing, I would think it'll defeat the purpose of the M2.
 
agreed :) . But the MP3 looks like an M3, and has the 35,50,90 frameslines. If I understand the OP correctly, he has an M2 with the M3 0.91RF.

That said, I'd love to own an MP3....
 
So without the 35mm framelines, you thus have an M3 with the manual frame counter. The game isn't worth the candle, I think.
 
On first glance this does indeed look like an MP2 with an M2 tag/top plate. The time is right as well (1958). Hopefully, TomA can comment. Or send Lager an email, see what he thinks.
 
Serial number indicates the first batch of 200 M2 made in 1957. I don't think it's an MP2. Would be interested in Tom A's assessment as well.
 
It's just the 3/8" tripod thread which used to be the old standard before the 1/4 x 20tpi took over. My old M2 had a 3/8" thread to which I added a 1/4 x 20 collar and locked in with some loctite.

Phil Forrest
 
Fabio, is it single or double stroke ? Also, can you show a photo of the bottom of the camera with bottom plate removed ?
 
But this one might not be an M2.

BTW, Fabio, Don Goldberg ("DAG") can give you his opinion too, his father developed the first MP motor.

Roland.
 
Many thanks guys for all your help and input. I didn't manage to take a picture of the inside before leaving for work but to my naked eye it looks identical to my other M2.

I am just wondering if given this is an early M2, Leica did a very short run of M2's with M3 finders though I couldn't find anything on the net about it. Or the forbidden word, a 'prototype'

Meanwhile someone is chasing me to sell it for the price of an M2 - I guess I should hold on?
 
It looks exactly like my ordinary M2 with button rewind
http://www.flickr.com/photos/forloren/5603929871/in/set-72157624907974064

Only difference is the RF illumination window with the same matte glas I have seen in a old M3 DS I once owned.
I know nothing about Leica collector items and you should of course verify if this is a known variation of special value, but if it is a "frankenLeica" as I am expecting, the attractiveness is lower than a real M3 or M2 IMO.
 
I would definitely hold on until you hear back from one the more knowledgeable folk mentioned above. That said, I've seen an M3 RF in an M4, and that was a definitely a retrofit job. An expensive retrofit job.

For what it's worth I think the fact it's one of the first batch of M2s makes it worth at least a little more than a regular one. Mine is one of the first 2000, still with the old tripod thread and different RF illumination window, and it was valued at +10% in a local camera shop because of it... although of course yours has the M3 RF illumination window.

You just have to find the right buyer; I'm sure there are plenty of people who'd love to get their hands on that M2 of yours, whether it's an original variant/prototype or not.
 
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