m2 advance lever

[ulrich.von.lich]

Hi Erik, interesting comment about the MP lever. How is it the same as the lever on the M7 (which has an M4 style plastic tip)?

Some à-la-carte M7s had the MP lever, which was an option. Even some M6 TTL cameras had it (M6 Millenium for example). I think Erik's point was Leica decided to use one advance lever for both the small and the big dial.

 

[mcfingon]

Also, I might be one of the very few people who actually like the M6 advance lever. I find it more comfortable to use than the M2/M3 lever and the M4 lever.

I'm with you there, Ulrich. I am perfectly happy with my standard plastic-tipped swivel M6 lever after using the monolithic M3 and M2 levers for some years.
John Mc

 

[Erik van Straten]

I think Erik's point was Leica decided to use one advance lever for both the small and the big dial.

Yes, indeed. My MP is a very early one.

My M2-lever does not touch the speed dial of the MP when in rest. It just touches the corner of the accessory-shoe.

The ring around the release button on my MP is not black chrome, but also black paint. I made the picture with my scanner, therefore the ring around the release button looks like black chrome. The scanner produces weird light. I did not like the bling bling bright chrome ring around the release button, so I replaced it with an old black paint one.

Unfortunately I could not replace the accessory shoe of the MP with a black paint one. This type of shoe does not exist in black paint as far as I know. However, I like the small brass black painted slider in the accessory shoe. These can be had on eBay for next to nothing.

Jon, as far as I know, the M7 and the MP had the same levers.

Erik.


Just for fun my other black paint M2.

 

[bert26]

Man, the m2 lever is so much nicer looking than the MP lever. Or maybe it’s just because it’s on an m2. I wish I could see a side by side comparison of an m6 classic with an mp lever and one with an m2 lever. Perhaps they’ll look similar on an m6. It’s hard to judge when looking at an m2 lever on an MP/m2 and an MP lever on an m6.

 

[jonmanjiro]

As far as I know, the M7 and the MP had the same levers.

Erik, FYI the standard lever on the M7 (as apposed to the ala carte MP style lever option with curve to clear the larger shutter speed dial) is as below (photo found on KR's website here).

 

[Erik van Straten]

Hmmm, Jon, I thought this was the lever of the M6TTL, but it can be a very early M7; the serial number is from before the MP.

I am sure that at times of the á la carte program the levers of the MP and M7 were the same.

Erik.

 

[jonmanjiro]

I can't find a picture to post just now, but my (now sold) standard M7 0.72 with 329xxxx s/n also had the same advance lever as the one pictured above. I'd say that 99% of the M7s I've seen "in the flesh" have had the same lever, too. Though of course with the ala carte program you could choose which lever you wanted - MP style or M6TTL/M7 style.

Edit: here's some nice pics of an M7 titanium set. Same plastic tipped lever.

http://9gazine.9days.hk/post/leica-m7-titanium-43/

 

[Erik van Straten]

Well, maybe I'm wrong, getting old, but why was the lever of the MP given this ugly form? That was because the M6TTL had this huge speed knob. Also the M6TTL and the M7 were higher built than the MP. The M6TTL and the M7 must have been Heinrich Janckes nightmares if he were still among the living.


In any case the M6TTL that was given to Václav Havel in 2000 (serial number 2 500 000) already had the MP-lever.



Erik.

 

[jonmanjiro]

The M6 TTL Millennium sets do as well, together with an M2/3 style rewind - all the parts already in the works for the release of the new MP in 2003.

>why was the lever of the MP given this ugly form?

To give you a reason to swap yours out for an M2 lever!!

 

[Erik van Straten]

>why was the lever of the MP given this ugly form?

To give you a reason to swap yours out for an M2 lever!!

I didn't know that. I'll contact Leica for that.


Erik.

 

[bert26]

I decided I’m not doing a BP lever. It’s for aesthetics and I swear my m6 lives around my neck, so I’m not leaving it on a bookshelf to simply admire, but hey, I want my setup to look sick. Looking through pictures of the m6 with an m2/MP lever, there seems to be quite the gap between the shutter dial and the lever which bugs me because I like the cluster the stock lever provides on the M6. And at least now I know that since I’d want chrome, that rules out the m2 lever and I’d look for an MP (if I changed my mind about the gap.) Personally I can’t justify $200 for it though. Most I’d pay is like $80-$100 for a used one once an inevitable deal pops up on eBay down the road (if deciding to get one.)

 

[Mute-on]

I have both (on M4 and M2/MP). Quite honestly, as much as I love the mechanical look of the M2/MP lever, the M4/M6 lever is much more comfortable in use.

In any event, you are far better off spending the $$ on film/processing/lenses/travel, and keeping your Leica externally original.

If you really want to hot rod a Leica, buy an M2/M3, and have it fully overhauled and repainted. Of course, that would also mean one less original chrome M2/M3 in existence, and they aren’t making any more of them ...

 

[WJJ3]

If you really want to hot rod a Leica, buy an M2/M3, and have it fully overhauled and repainted.

Or have M3 levers put on an M4 and have that painted 🤓

 

[Mute-on]

Or have M3 levers put on an M4 and have that painted 🤓

Yeah, ok. Ha ha. Good one 🙂

 

[Archlich]

Looks like someone in China is fabricating new chrome/black paint levers...

 

[shane_goguen]

Looks like someone in China is fabricating new chrome/black paint levers...

I got one of those China made levers, I like it!

 

[Erik van Straten]

The difference with the originals is immediatly clear: the original handle of the Leica has no slanting part between the top and the side.


Erik.

 

[bert26]

I wonder how much the markup is on MP levers.

 

[d.dulin]

I got one of those China made levers, I like it!

I also had one on my M4-2, it was nice. Much better than trying to find for and pay for a genuine piece in black.