M2 Fixed Mirror

[Tabosko]

Hello all!

I'm a M6 owner and recently acquired a M2 at a steal! The plan is to send it off for a CLA as it exhibits the norm for an old stored away Leica (gummy shutter, etc). My main concern was the fixed mirror in the rangefinder (the one you can see thru the view finder.) It's showing a yellow separation that I don't see via the back but can clearly see in the front. I reached out to a repair guy that's rather well known, and he told me that it's permanent (of course). and it's best to not mess with it. I thought that was odd as I'm pretty sure it can be replaced and he was speaking as tho there was no way to rectify the issue. But maybe I'm mistaken. Anyone have any insight on this?

Thanks!

 

[Sonnar Brian]

https://luf-jnet.b-cdn.net/uploads/monthly_2021_04/AB.jpg.085f09097c449d6de3828272dc2ee1a9.jpg

The M2 viewfinder has a cemented prism as part of the mechanism. You might be seeing the Canada Balsam Cement has yellowed. This comes with age, and is fairly normal. I would leave it as is. If the cement Fails completely, the viewfinder will black-out. That needs to be repaired. You are not there.

You might also be seeing Haze in the viewfinder that will clean out. I would send for the cleaning. Any haze on the viewfinder will clean out, greatly improving the view.

 

[splitimageview]

@Sonnar Brian is correct. Get the CLA and shoot it. 🙂 If the prism eventually separates that can be repaired by a few third party repair techs.

 

[Tabosko]

https://luf-jnet.b-cdn.net/uploads/monthly_2021_04/AB.jpg.085f09097c449d6de3828272dc2ee1a9.jpg

The M2 viewfinder has a cemented prism as part of the mechanism. You might be seeing the Canada Balsam Cement has yellowed. This comes with age, and is fairly normal. I would leave it as is. If the cement Fails completely, the viewfinder will black-out. That needs to be repaired. You are not there.

You might also be seeing Haze in the viewfinder that will clean out. I would send for the cleaning. Any haze on the viewfinder will clean out, greatly improving the view.

Got it! Thanks for the clarification. That brings me to my next question - The viewfinder seems darker on my M2 compared to my M6. From looking at details from M2 owners, they always seem to indicate that the M2 viewfinder is very bright. Is this the reason the viewfinder is dim?

 

[Sonnar Brian]

@Tabosko
It's hard to know without holding it and inspecting it.
On many other Rangefinder cameras that I own: sending in or doing my own Cleaning of the viewfinder was like night and day. The internal haze built up to the point where my M3 "was dark and dismal". After the CLA: was like Crystal Clear.

Since you were sending in for a CLA: let the technician make the call to replace parts if required. This will cost much more if it is done. Hopefully and Probably: it's just haze built up over the decades.

 

[Tabosko]

@Tabosko
It's hard to know without holding it and inspecting it.
On many other Rangefinder cameras that I own: sending in or doing my own Cleaning of the viewfinder was like night and day. The internal haze built up to the point where my M3 "was dark and dismal". After the CLA: was like Crystal Clear.

Since you were sending in for a CLA: let the technician make the call to replace parts if required. This will cost much more if it is done. Hopefully and Probably: it's just haze built up over the decades.

Thanks! Sent it off to Youxin. He said the same - he will look at it and determine if anything should be done. Swapping the window out for a multi coated one to, so hopefully that helps more.