Love my M2 !!!

I am now the proud owner of Mike's M2 that is pictured in the very first post in this thread. I got it from Ducky here on RFF. I had saved for an M2 for a while, and when it popped up in the classifieds, I knew immediately it was 'the one'. How? The serial number is from a batch that was released 13 days after I was born in 1966. We both had a very nice 44th b-day this year. I had cake, the M2 had some Kodak.
 
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M2 / Summar

IMG_0006-3.jpg
 
matt -- that is a stunning and important photograph. you might crop it a bit across the top to get that thingy outta there. but it's beautiful, the most compelling picture i've seen in a while. thanks for posting it.
vince p
 
and man i have to stay out of this forum because my desire for an M2 is like a fire -- as linda blair once said, it burns, it burns.... and if i get caught buying a relatively expensive new camera i will be decapitated.
 
sparrow6224 said:
matt -- that is a stunning and important photograph. you might crop it a bit across the top to get that thingy outta there. but it's beautiful, the most compelling picture i've seen in a while. thanks for posting it.
vince p
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+1 ! I would not crop it all but totally agree otherwise with Vince.
 
Vince, thank you, those are very kind words. I will try a bit of a crop when I'm in the darkroom next. Like the thread title says: I love my M2.
 
Wow...incredible photo. Do NOT change a thing. Everything in the frame is part of a piece, as far as I'm concerned.

I'm missing my long-term-loan M2 an awful lot. I'll be petitioning its owner to sell (she's thinking about it, as she's sadly dealing with failing eyesight). It's certainly my fave Leica.

- Barrett
 
sparrow6224 said:
OK all you M2 lovers. I'm sure some of you know about this already but check this baby out (oddly, it feels a little like Nazi war plunderings.... come upon during the occupation. Can't explain why. It's the lack of serial number somehow.)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290492080936&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
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This is another "Franken" Leica. Most of the big dealers or importers had stock of M-parts, top-plates, base-plates, levers etc. In theory, a camera came in with a mashed up top-plate, they replaced it and engraved the correct # on it ( they had engraving machines and templates in the store - many of which now are in private hands). and the mashed up plate was destroyed. That was the theory : in practice top-plates were switched around, engravings forgotten - or simply not applied.
A lot of times the excess of un-numbered top-plates were sold of at swapmeets etc. Not a "collectors" item by any means - just a good old M2 upon which you could engrave whatever you fancied.
 
Tom A said:
This is another "Franken" Leica. Most of the big dealers or importers had stock of M-parts, top-plates, base-plates, levers etc. In theory, a camera came in with a mashed up top-plate, they replaced it and engraved the correct # on it ( they had engraving machines and templates in the store - many of which now are in private hands). and the mashed up plate was destroyed. That was the theory : in practice top-plates were switched around, engravings forgotten - or simply not applied.
A lot of times the excess of un-numbered top-plates were sold of at swapmeets etc. Not a "collectors" item by any means - just a good old M2 upon which you could engrave whatever you fancied.
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Tom was there ever any un-engraved top plates that were totally blank? As in no Leica script etc?
 
Yea though I walk through the valley of the M2 myth, I fear not
For Tom A is my shepherd
And I shall not fall for eBay scams....

I wasn't going in for that M2 anyway; too pricey. Did you guys see the one that had never been used? Or so it was claimed. Sure was pretty.

Meanwhile, a question: what is the difference in practical terms between the button rewind and the lever? Is one better than another, more reliable etc? Or does the distinction merely signify date of production?

Thanks

Vince
 
i keep my fingers crossed. the Franken-M2 will be in my grubby hands next week... and I will post some pictures and run through a test roll. I wait with bated breath.
 
sparrow6224 said:
Meanwhile, a question: what is the difference in practical terms between the button rewind and the lever? Is one better than another, more reliable etc? Or does the distinction merely signify date of production?

Thanks

Vince
Click to expand...

The button versus the lever rewind is just a matter of ergonomics. Very early M2's had an inconvinient button that had to be held down while rewinding the film, later it had a "lock" that made it stay put. The lever stays put and is easier to handle.
 
I picked up this M2 at a photo fair a few weeks ago and I have to say I am in love with this camera.

Right now I am shooting with a CV Nokton 35mm f/1.4 and a cheap Jupiter 8 50mm f/2. Saving up for a better 50mm but not sure what to get yet.

 
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