Bingley
Veteran
OK, so there I was the other Saturday morning, minding my own business, just doing a little online window shopping (you can see where this is going already, can't you? 
), when I spied a newly arrived Leica M2 at KEH, BGN grade, for an excellent price (less than recent *bay sales). Panic immediately struck. What to do? Having been a lurker and then a member of this august forum for several years now, I have been schooled in the virtues of the M2 by TomA, ferider, thomasw, and many other members. :angel:So, in the words of Boss Tweed, "I seen my chances, and I took 'em."
It arrived Monday. I can confirm Raid's reports that BGN-graded items from KEH can be very, very good indeed. The vf is clear and bright, rangefinder patch is sharp and rf is aligned. The shutter curtains look practically new, and a roll of film confirmed that shutter speeds are pretty accurate down to 1/4 sec (I didn't test any lower). The film advance is smooth. There are a couple of small pieces of vulcanite missing, and scuff marks on the bottom plate from a tripod, but otherwise the chrome is in beautiful condition. This was a well-cared-for camera, and does not appear to need a CLA, at least not immediately (I'll be shooting some more w/ it this weekend).
So ... my Canon P has a new companion! I'll post some pix this evening. P w/ a 50 or 100; M2 w/ a 35 or 28... am I done?
My Canon 7, however, is whimpering and needs a new home. Sooooo...
FS: Canon 7, Canon 7 ERC, CV 50 Nokton.
), when I spied a newly arrived Leica M2 at KEH, BGN grade, for an excellent price (less than recent *bay sales). Panic immediately struck. What to do? Having been a lurker and then a member of this august forum for several years now, I have been schooled in the virtues of the M2 by TomA, ferider, thomasw, and many other members. :angel:So, in the words of Boss Tweed, "I seen my chances, and I took 'em." It arrived Monday. I can confirm Raid's reports that BGN-graded items from KEH can be very, very good indeed. The vf is clear and bright, rangefinder patch is sharp and rf is aligned. The shutter curtains look practically new, and a roll of film confirmed that shutter speeds are pretty accurate down to 1/4 sec (I didn't test any lower). The film advance is smooth. There are a couple of small pieces of vulcanite missing, and scuff marks on the bottom plate from a tripod, but otherwise the chrome is in beautiful condition. This was a well-cared-for camera, and does not appear to need a CLA, at least not immediately (I'll be shooting some more w/ it this weekend).
So ... my Canon P has a new companion!
I'll post some pix this evening. P w/ a 50 or 100; M2 w/ a 35 or 28... am I done? My Canon 7, however, is whimpering and needs a new home. Sooooo...
FS: Canon 7, Canon 7 ERC, CV 50 Nokton.
ferider
Veteran
Congrats, Steve
MikeL
Go Fish
Congrats Steve, although wait until ferider shows you how to use the Quick-load kit for an M2. THEN you'll be done.
feenej
Well-known
Yeah, I noticed when several bgn M2's arrived at Keh. Glad it is in nice shape.
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
Another convert obviously! Welcome to the school of basic shooting. Nothing you dont need on it - pure shooting pleasure!
Dont worry about the 1/2 and 1 sec- they usually self correct with use.
As for the Quick Loader - I always remove them! Cant stand the tiny slot you have to fed the film into and I have had several rolls not catching when using them. Look for some extra take-up spools instead and carry them "prestrung" in your pocket instead.
Now put on a 35 and burn some film!
Oh, vulcanite is highly over-rated - substitute with gaffers tape instead. Much cheaper and it does give you that "ratty" look that M2's excell at.
Dont worry about the 1/2 and 1 sec- they usually self correct with use.
As for the Quick Loader - I always remove them! Cant stand the tiny slot you have to fed the film into and I have had several rolls not catching when using them. Look for some extra take-up spools instead and carry them "prestrung" in your pocket instead.
Now put on a 35 and burn some film!
Oh, vulcanite is highly over-rated - substitute with gaffers tape instead. Much cheaper and it does give you that "ratty" look that M2's excell at.
ferider
Veteran
Internal joke about the QL, Tom .... Cheers,
Roland.
Roland.
Bingley
Veteran
You guys are too much!
Thanks for the advice, both here and in other threads. And I must also thank my local enabler, bobkonos, for setting the hook by letting me shoot w/ HIS Leicas.
Thanks for the advice, both here and in other threads. And I must also thank my local enabler, bobkonos, for setting the hook by letting me shoot w/ HIS Leicas.
raid
Dad Photographer
Congratulations, Steve. I am glad that my overly optimistic view of KEH BGN grade stuff turned out to be good.
I am now looking for a clean M2 that I can get painted black.
I am now looking for a clean M2 that I can get painted black.
Bingley
Veteran
M2 and Canon lens ... a good combo I think (Roland may agree ):
Bag Buddies:
):
Bag Buddies:
craygc
Well-known
Not the QL kit, but I couldn't recommend more having the takeup spool converted to the M4 type. Had my M2 converted by DAG. Makes the camera absolutely perfect...
jmilkins
Digited User
Congratulations, that's a lovely set up.
When you have a had a bit of time with your new acquisition, I'd be very interested to hear about your impressions of the differences from a user perspective between the M2 and the P, especially about viewfinder usability.
I'm not saying one is better than the other, but I'd like to hear where you' d pick up one over the other.
Have fun!
When you have a had a bit of time with your new acquisition, I'd be very interested to hear about your impressions of the differences from a user perspective between the M2 and the P, especially about viewfinder usability.
I'm not saying one is better than the other, but I'd like to hear where you' d pick up one over the other.
Have fun!
richard_l
Well-known
I used black acrylic artists paint (the thick kind that comes in a tube) to fill in some places where the vulcanite had chipped off an M3. I applied it with a tiny paint brush (but it could probably be done with a toothpick). It took several applications to build it up to the thickness of the surrounding vulcanite, but it is almost impossible to detect the repairs.
Congrats on getting a nice M2. It's my favorie M. (I have an M2, M3, and M6.)
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Roger Hicks
Veteran
QL (Schnellladenspule?) works fine for me -- I have it on both my M2s.
Cheers,
R
Cheers,
R
LeicaVirgin1
Established
Just ordered mine from "The Leica Shop" in Austria...
Just ordered mine from "The Leica Shop" in Austria...
Ok, ok... I was reading about what Tom A. has to say about the M2 as well, as others... Now, I have an M3, (SS with ser.#11XXX?? I forget the other numbers it is high, though.), an M4, (1967) and (2) M6's, (one is a COLLECTIBLE and HIGHLY sought after!).
I thought I was DONE, but NOOOOO! So, I invested in a B+/A condition M2 with a VINTAGE "ELMAR", (Chrome), collapsible! I am STOKED to say the least. Yes, I have a pre-asph. 35mm f2.0 v.IV & a 35mm F1.4-ASPH. Both are lovely, just lovely! My new M2 has the LEVER rewind and NOT the BUTTON.
So, I feel I am just one step closer to ALL you M2 ELITIST, (I hope I spelled that right?)
Best
DMB
Just ordered mine from "The Leica Shop" in Austria...
Ok, ok... I was reading about what Tom A. has to say about the M2 as well, as others... Now, I have an M3, (SS with ser.#11XXX?? I forget the other numbers it is high, though.), an M4, (1967) and (2) M6's, (one is a COLLECTIBLE and HIGHLY sought after!).
I thought I was DONE, but NOOOOO! So, I invested in a B+/A condition M2 with a VINTAGE "ELMAR", (Chrome), collapsible! I am STOKED to say the least. Yes, I have a pre-asph. 35mm f2.0 v.IV & a 35mm F1.4-ASPH. Both are lovely, just lovely! My new M2 has the LEVER rewind and NOT the BUTTON.
So, I feel I am just one step closer to ALL you M2 ELITIST, (I hope I spelled that right?)
Best
DMB
raid
Dad Photographer
Hi DMB,
You have a set of excellent cameras.
Which M6 model is collectible and why?
Bingley
Veteran
Thanks, John. I will follow up w/ a report after I've had the M2 for awhile. My thought has been that the M2 and P would be complementary bodies dedicated to different lenses, but we'll see how that plays out in practice...
Thanks to everyone else for the advice and suggestions. Richard, I glued a small piece of vulcanite that kept falling off back on to the body, but I'll remember your paint suggestion.
Bingley
Veteran
Hi DMB -- Welcome to the forum! (I see that was your third post). I'm happy to have found a button re-wind M2, but for me the crucial thing is that it's a good user body for a very reasonable price. I'm not a collector. You've got some nice gear!
Ronald_H
Don't call me Ron
You mean like the 'rat look' which was all the rage at the recent aircooled VW meets I went to? Primer paint, no windows and (fake) rust?
My M2 looks used but dignified, I'd rather not 'rat' it. But I do admit to the guilty pleasure of looking at http://www.cameraleather.com/ But that's not 'ratting', more 'pimping'.
Maybe if I start with my Canonet... in cobalt blue.... or my FM, in red lizard skin...
Anyway, congrats with your M2. I'll go to a big camera show tomorrow... there's no telling what I will take home... I still need a decent 90mm for my Leica and maybe I'll get lucky to find a battered but usable M3... Failing that, a second FM would be nice. And 135mm Nikkor.... Aaargh, GAS is creeping up on me!
LeicaVirgin1
Established
Raid & Steve-
M6G "Gold-Badge"-Zurich with Elmar; from the Wetzlar plant. Why? Only 100 made in the world. What does it mean for me??? NOTHING... I am a user not a collector, but people say I should.
My other M6, (Black),- "classic" from Wetzlar as well. Unique because it was made before the move to Solms, (really just down the river), & that the RED LOGO says, "Leitz", (when a LEITZ family member was still alive; I believe?), instead of "LEICA" when the company moved to Solms and was sold to another company.
Yet, like i said I shoot with all my gear. I also print traditional, ("wet"), & digital. My "wet/traditional" set-up is a Leitz Focomat V35-AF with 40mm f2.8 Leitz Focotar enlarging lens. It always bothered me why someone would invest in great glass and great camera bodies & not carry that quality & "LOOK" to the finishing stage? (Yes they, (Camera Bodies), make a diiference in sharpness because Leitz/Leica has extremely STRICT tolerances for "Flange-Focal-Depth-Distance" on ALL their bodies & those same strict tolorances are incorporated via the Lens Collimation, (goodness I hope I spelled that right?)
Steve, congrats on the M2, now let's go burn some film.
Best to you all,
DMB
M6G "Gold-Badge"-Zurich with Elmar; from the Wetzlar plant. Why? Only 100 made in the world. What does it mean for me??? NOTHING... I am a user not a collector, but people say I should.
My other M6, (Black),- "classic" from Wetzlar as well. Unique because it was made before the move to Solms, (really just down the river), & that the RED LOGO says, "Leitz", (when a LEITZ family member was still alive; I believe?), instead of "LEICA" when the company moved to Solms and was sold to another company.
Yet, like i said I shoot with all my gear. I also print traditional, ("wet"), & digital. My "wet/traditional" set-up is a Leitz Focomat V35-AF with 40mm f2.8 Leitz Focotar enlarging lens. It always bothered me why someone would invest in great glass and great camera bodies & not carry that quality & "LOOK" to the finishing stage? (Yes they, (Camera Bodies), make a diiference in sharpness because Leitz/Leica has extremely STRICT tolerances for "Flange-Focal-Depth-Distance" on ALL their bodies & those same strict tolorances are incorporated via the Lens Collimation, (goodness I hope I spelled that right?)
Steve, congrats on the M2, now let's go burn some film.
Best to you all,
DMB