M2 - does the frame counter bother you?

[JNewell]

I've owned at least one of just just about every M that has a rangefinder since I started using them in the early 70s. I'm looking at an M2. It's an attractive camera...I'm wondering, in real life, does the manual reset on the frame counter both you?

I am guessing it wouldn't bother me much in practical terms. I don't use them much, and can't read most of them anymore anyway (I shoot w/o glasses and use correction lenses on the eyepice). However, since I've never owned a camera without an automatically resetting frame counter, I'd be interested in M2 owners' feedback on how they feel about that. Thanks!

 

[former member]

I have an M2 and M3, the manual reset does not bother me. On the M3 with the "quick-Load" kit, I have to remember to pull the spool to reset it. I've loaded it, closed it up, then remembered. Maybe I should put the Quickload into the M2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That would solve that problem!!!

I am also used to Kodak Retinas and their crazy countdown, lock the camera at "1". Now those have cost many an EBay seller a lot of money Listed as "This camera worked when I got it, but now it is Jammed."

 

[Film dino]

Nope! I've more or less got into the habit of resetting it to "2 below zero" each time a new roll goes in.
I guess it could be a problem if you forget to reset, the roll is left unfinished for some time, you don't remember your starting frame number & approx how many shots you took at the last session.
For me the clean clear M2 finder with only 1 set of framelines visible at a time- outweighs having to manually reset the frame counter. Happy M2 hunting!
David

 

[FrankS]

Yes it does, but it is just a very very small bother.

 

[thmk]

It does not bother me at all. I got used to it and forgetting to reset for a new film does not take me that far from reality since I exclusively shoot films with 36 frames, get 37 or even 38 out of it and the counter only counts up to 40 before restarting.

 

[Doug]

Doesn't bother me either; indeed a rather charming eccentricity! And it was actually an advantage the time I tried a roll of that new (in the 80's) Ilford 72-exposure roll of (very thin) film... The frame counter just kept rotating after passing 40 so it was easy to keep a count of the higher numbers... 🙂

 

[richard_l]

What's the big deal? Resetting the counter is just one more trivial step in addition to the multi-step ritual of reloading. How about the bother of advancing the film after each shot, or setting the aperture and shutter speed, or focussing, or rewinding the film? Lots of people don't like those chores, so they use fully automatic cameras. That's okay too.

 

[Alec]

As others have said before : not much of a problem after you've been through the whole rigmarole of properly loading a film !

I suspect, though, that the counter unduly advanced at least once when the M2 was stuffed into (or pulled out)of a tighty packed bag.

But the M2 is sooo smooth...

 

[Roger Hicks]

There seems to be a consensus on this one: I'm yet another it doesn't worry -- but no 35 frame on an M3 really does worry me.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[Mike Richards]

No problem with the M2 manual reset, but several times I've fumble-fingered the wheel on a loaded camera when putting the M2 in the bag or taking it out, thereby losing track of the number of frames exposed. If you're a klutz, you will probably have this problem. As far as M2 vs. M3, the viewfinder magnification is different -- .72 for the M2 and .91 for the M3, as I recall. So the M2 has 35mm frame lines, but the M3 has more accurate focusing for 50mm and longer lenses. The M3 needs goggles for 35mm lenses. It all depends on how you intend to use the camera, and to some extent, how good your eyesight is.

 

[aizan]

i think i'll fill in the 38 mark yellow-orange when i repaint it black. sometimes i hit 39.

 

[richard_l]

No problem with the M2 manual reset, but several times I've fumble-fingered the wheel on a loaded camera when putting the M2 in the bag or taking it out, thereby losing track of the number of frames exposed.

Maybe the wheel could be tightened or a stiffer lubricant used. Mine is tight enough that it doesn't seem possible to turn it accidentally.

 

[existrandom]

hello JNewell,

i don't have an M2, but my Canon L-1 have a similar mannual exposure counter, it never bothered me except the first few times, and then i got used to resetting it to "2 below zero" as previously mentioned; when i am not sure whether the camera is loaded i can probe-test it with the rewind knob

there had been times when i was not sure about how many frames left, but then i always have one or two new rolls of film with me, so it never bothered me

hope this help

cheers

lee

 

[x-ray]

Doesn't bother me at all. I've been using the M2 bodies since 68 and find them to be my favorite with the exception of the M6 due to it's meter.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=5045

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Yes it does, but it is just a very very small bother.

Ditto. Besides, it's not a big issue if you use a neverready case.