M2 as smooth as butter

lxmike

lxmike

M2 fan.
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Jun 28, 2008
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I'm sure youve seen this infection many times before, 'the love bug' when a chap new to Leica M, (but not new to rangefinders), discovers the Joy of owning an M. I cannot belive how tactile the M2 actually is, I am simply stunned and blown away by the sheer quality of this camera, the wind on action is so smooth, the smoothest camera I have ever owned, (and belive me I have had a few since my first camera in the mid to late 1970's). However, and there is a however, I feel there may be no cure for my Leica bug infection:)
 
@ lxmike --- You'd better get innoculated pretty damn quick, because if you get seriously infected by the Leica lust bug, your bank account will suffer terminal damage.
Trust me, I have suffered... !
 
dabick42 said:
@ lxmike --- You'd better get innoculated pretty damn quick, because if you get seriously infected by the Leica lust bug, your bank account will suffer terminal damage.
Trust me, I have suffered... !
Click to expand...


I foresee a divorce comming on, it reminds me of the time I went to a seminar held by a famous fisherman, during the Q and A at the end he was asked, 'how much has fishing cost you in your life time', 'three wives', he replied:)
 
Richard G said:
Is an MP really even as good as a properly serviced M2. I find that hard to believe.
Click to expand...

Another 30 years they might be ... well as good as those with steel gears, they'll never be as good as the m2's with the brass gears

Mike; you'll feel differently when you have to pay for the repairs ... and when you drop it, well, don't ask about the cost ;)
 
I tried an MP in a shop and found my M2 and M3 (both serviced) better. But there was no film loaded of course.

The MP is nice though. But I prefer the old ones. :)
 
I had an MP and went to an M3, I'd say build felt almost exactly the same. The MP sported more plastic though, for the ISO dial. Both beautiful cameras.
 
Richard G said:
Is an MP really even as good as a properly serviced M2. I find that hard to believe.
Click to expand...

Mine is far from it.
The M2/M4 wins by a good measure.
The winding is smoother, and the release, without the half way stop for measuring is just perfect.
Not to say that the MP is a bad camera. I love them all...:)
 
Hi,

If she'd only divorce and then kill you, you should start thinking how lucky you are.

A Leica M2 with a 135mm lens on it makes a very good weapon, btw...

Regards, David
 
When Leitz made M3's and M2's, the world was a different place and cost of manufacture was secondary to quality and workmanship considerations.
With today's MP and their digital offerings, Leica have had to cut their cloth (and their metal !) to a style dictated by bean-counters and market forces.
Still the world's best rangefinder, though...
 
Lxmike, your right when I first got my Leica M3 there was nothing like it in
the world the advance with and without film was so smooth I was hooked,
but sad to say when the transport became shot and I got it fixed by Leica
it was never the same again, so I sold it for a M6, one day I will return to
Leica!!. I was told once by a Leica expert the the newer stuff while good
can't compare to the old stuff.

Range
 
At one point I had an M4P, and M6 and an M2. All these were properly maintained.The M2 was much smoother and had the nicest shutter sound. The M4 and the M6 are gone but the M2 will be the last to go of any film camera I own... mine is a gem and BTW its the simplest i.e. the button rewind version.
 
Yes mine's a button rewind. It's almost identical in form to the MP except for that wonderful uncluttered viewfinder.
 
I'd been shooting with my Nikon F for a few weeks then when back to my M2. Almost startling the difference in shutter sounds. CLUNK v. snick. And such a smooth advance.
 
If Leica made sniper rifles, they'd have the mechanical attributes of the M2.
If Leica made AK47-type assault rifles, they'd have the attributes of the Nikon F.
Horses for courses.
The former is as smooth and flawless as a fashion model, the latter as rough and tough as a Marine Corps drill sergeant...
 
Has anyone compared the R series with the F series or is that teetering on the edge of Geekdom? Actually, I think we fell off long ago, but what a wonderful experience :D
Pete
 
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