Love my M2 !!!

Here, my new-ish M2 displays its own powers.... That's me with the M2, then the bandaged mannequin, then my friend Rick, and then, notice the wood column and nail. That's a CV 35mm f/2.5 Color Skopar, on [the late and very lamented] Neopan 1600, shot at EI 800 and developed in Xtol 1:1 with a shot 1:100 Rodinal for 6.75 min. Location and time is Broadway near Bleecker St., NYC, late afternoon, early April 2011.

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M2 / Summar

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Stunning image...this is exactly what I want from the owner of my old M2. You could place your photo in with a group of photo's from WW2 or before & it would fit. Congratulations, you have successfully captured the Leica "magic".

...now when you are ready to sell that M2 let me know. :D
 
Reminds me of the factoid, possibly apocryphal, that the width of the standard railroad gauge is pretty much the same as the width of roads going all the way back to the days of the ancient Persian empires due to network & legacy effects based on the size of horse & oxen-drawn wagons.
George Stephenson copied an existing NE England colliery gauge used by horse-drawn wagons. Actually, that was 4'8" and he added a bit to avoid binding on tight curves. The origin of the 4'8" colliery gauge is lost in the mists of time but (a) it was indeed necessary for a horse to walk between the rails and (b) a 4'8" internal gauge implies a 5' external gauge with the lighter colliery rails, which is a nice round number. Railway gauges were originally measured from the outside faces, as putting flanges on the inside of the wheels - at which point only the spacing of the inner faces matters - wasn't the first thing that was tried.

Brunel, of course, started from the ground up and decided 7'0 1/4" was the way to go, but standard gauge was already more common and cheaper, so Brunel's broad gauge was basically the Betamax of the 19th century.
 
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For some time I could not figure out this M2 magic, but then I got one of my own and it is really as nice as my M3! Even though mine is a beat up one (former press work horse) it still runs like clockwork.

I'm selling one for a friend of dad's but my oh my, its so nice and smooth I'm tempted to keep it myself :eek:
 
That is what most M2 owners look like, smiling happily. Particularly with a 35mm lens on it!
 
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My three M2s...

My three M2s...

The youngest one is from 1963, the oldest 1958; they were in use since half a century. All still have the "L" seals, two function perfectly but the one in the middle will go its first CLA (by yours truly) as the lower speeds started to stretch..

M2s are to live with a lifetime...

Regards,

Bob
 

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Bob, that is what I call the minimum M2 "stash". One for a 35, one for a 50, possibly one for a 21 or a 90. You can shoot 3x36 frames without reload too.
 
Am I weird for having a 50 summarit on my M2? I love the 50 on the M2. Then again, I love the 50 on the M3 as well... maybe I AM weird?
 
Go on.... :)

with a small screwdriver, remove the screw above the lens / in between the windows and, with that screwdriver, gently turn the screw underneath (it's tilted a bit) in either direction until the double image aligns properly.

ps: the cover screw is tiny/very flat, don't lose it.
 
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Bob, that is what I call the minimum M2 "stash". One for a 35, one for a 50, possibly one for a 21 or a 90. You can shoot 3x36 frames without reload too.

Tom, how about one for 35 Summilux, one 35 Summicron and one for 35 Summaron? :D

These were for the sake of the picture only... normally these M2s see through a variety of lenses from 25 Biogon to 90 Elmarit.

Bob
 
I sold my M2 to help finance a trip to Colombia. I brought it with me and shot all my remaining Kodochrome while there then sold it when I got home. We had a great last hurrah with each other and I don't regret selling it in order to travel however Im starting to miss that camera.

I think once one use and fall for the M2 (and the M3 as well), you
love them forever.

Hopefully, some time down the line I'll be financially in a position where I can buy whatever I want! LOL!
 
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Tom, how about one for 35 Summilux, one 35 Summicron and one for 35 Summaron? :D

These were for the sake of the picture only... normally these M2s see through a variety of lenses from 25 Biogon to 90 Elmarit.

Bob

Bob, I have done that too. Knew I wanted 35 focal length and had to shoot a lot of stuff - so three 35's and 3 bodies. Works quite well too.
 
Dear friends, I am VERY happy to announce, that I am joining the throng! Last night, in a box of cameras and lenses sort of given to me, I've discovered a nice, "well preserved", honest '59 M2 with what I deem is the first-year's 35mm Summilux. Can't wait to dash from my office in the afternoon and run a roll of film through it. I hope that after souping the TriX in last week's home brew of D76 I'll be able to shout "Love my M2!!!" :)
 
Mine used to belong to a German photo journalist. His name is still stuck to the bottom plate. Lots of rub marks, small dents and paint loss. The brass is showing on edges and around the rewind button and the RF window it is worn down to the nickel. I'm doing my best not to give that brass any time to go dull!

I found pictures of the original sale in Germany online and it had a Leicavit at the time which the then-buyer already sold on. It will be sporting an Abrahamsson RapidWinder for M2 shortly that I bought from Dan.
 
Just a few days into owning an M2 but it is certainly a sweet handling camera, a real pleasure to use. Teamed up with 35mm lens it makes a very useable outfit..I might have a new favourite camera.

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