Looking at a Leica II. Any reasons not to get it?

[Pirate]

Plenty of Leica III's out there, but I like not having the low shutter speed knob on the front. I was thinking of having this for a limited use camera to fit with an old Summitar 50mm F/2 lens. The lens is off focus just a little so I would have the camera set just to this lens. I use an M3 and M2 for everything else.

Are there any reasons NOT to get a II that's in good shape and working?

 

[ErnestoJL]

Why not?
I have a Zorki 1 which is a close copy of the Leica II (or D), and it´s perfect as long as you don´t need slow speeds. Better if your lens collapses making it pocketable.
Cheers
Ernesto

 

[direwolf101]

No. They are neat little cameras. I have two (one chrome, one black). Very pocketable, especially with a collapsible lens. Good luck.

 

[Keith]

I love my little Leica ll ... I can definitely recommend it. I had quite a few screwmounts a while ago and sold the lot except for this one camera.

 

[helen.HH]

Why Not...though it is ADDICTIVE
There is something Tres Special about barnacks
so easy to shoot , tres retro sex appeal
Eceryone will stop and chat with You Intrigued ...

I saw recently a Beautiful Black IId ( * SIGH)

but I'm broke having just gotten a IIIa amd a Black chrome M4
28 elmarit Asph, and a 50 color skopar

DO IT ^ Congrats ...there is no Turning back

 

[Roger Hicks]

Well, I'll go against the grain and ask: why? You already have the Ms. Is the II going to get you better pictures?

Sure, they're very pretty. So's the Ultra Fex Himalaya sitting on my desk. But if you already have other cameras that you're happy with, and that take good pictures, why buy another? What are you unhappy about with the Ms? That's the real question.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Keith]

Well, I'll go against the grain and ask: why? You already have the Ms. Is the II going to get you better pictures?

Sure, they're very pretty. So's the Ultra Fex Himalaya sitting on my desk. But if you already have other cameras that you're happy with, and that take good pictures, why buy another? What are you unhappy about with the Ms? That's the real question.

Cheers,

R.

Roger ... have you not being paying attention to the way things work around here? 😀

 

[Roger Hicks]

Roger ... have you not being paying attention to the way things work around here? 😀

Dear Keith,

Fair comment. Co-dependency, faciliators and all that good stuff. But just the occasional dissenting voice makes a change.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Keith]

Dear Keith,

Fair comment. Co-dependency, faciliators and all that good stuff. But just the occasional dissenting voice makes a change.

Cheers,

R.

Yeah ... like a fart in a force ten gale! 😀

 

[Roger Hicks]

Yeah ... like a fart in a force ten gale! 😀

Dear Keith,

A magnificent simile!

Cheers,.

R.

 

[L David Tomei]

Why not get IIf RD that came without the slow speeds? Late models (c1954) even give you a 1/1000 top speed with the improved shutter.

 

[je2a3]

Plenty of Leica III's out there, but I like not having the low shutter speed knob on the front. I was thinking of having this for a limited use camera to fit with an old Summitar 50mm F/2 lens. The lens is off focus just a little so I would have the camera set just to this lens. I use an M3 and M2 for everything else.

Are there any reasons NOT to get a II that's in good shape and working?

You've stated all the good reasons to get one...go for it! 🙂

 

[je2a3]

BTW, @ Keith, beautiful Leica II there!

 

[jsrockit]

One of the nicest barnacks out there IMO. The black paint is beautiful.

 

[Keith]

One of the nicest barnacks out there IMO. The black paint is beautiful.

And resilient too IMO! When you see these M9s and MPs with brass showing after just a few years and then consider that my Leica ll is seventy eight years old and only has very minimal brassing, it makes you wonder about the paint they're using now compared to what they used back then!

It's the simplicity of the Leica ll that I like. No low speed mechanism to gum up and no erratic 1/1000 shutter speed to worry about. I also like the distinct separation of the rangefinder and viewfinder windows!

 

[Roger Hicks]

And resilient too IMO! When you see these M9s and MPs with brass showing after just a few years and then consider that my Leica ll is seventy eight years old and only has very minimal brassing, it makes you wonder about the paint they're using now compared to what they used back then!

Dear Keth,

A large part of the answer, I suspect, lies in vastly greater use of ERCs in the past. I've seen some pretty scabby black paint on pre-war Leicas. BP Nikon Fs are what amaze me for durability.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Keith]

Dear Keth,

A large part of the answer, I suspect, lies in vastly greater use of ERCs in the past. I've seen some pretty scabby black paint on pre-war Leicas. BP Nikon Fs are what amaze me for durability.

Cheers,

R.

Of course there was no real point in having a brassed Leica back then ... there was no internet on which you could post a photo of it! 😀

 

[jarski]

II's shutter is a bit louder than on III's, but not that much.

 

[Pherdinand]

a quirky bottom-loader design and a separate rf/vf is good enough 2 reasons for me

 

[Frank Petronio]

They are the least expensive way to get a black paint Leica and it's satisfying to use something over 70 years old. I'd get a Nickel Elmar to go with it though, they are very pretty.