M2 in need of CLA (mainland Europe)

R

RML

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I just bought a user (really!) M2 on eBay (see item 3827439709). Looking at the photos I think this camera might need a CLA.

Does anyone know of a reputable but affordable place in Holland for a CLA? A place in Belgium, Germany, or the UK would be fine. The US is probably out of the question; I fear the cost of shipping will be quite prohibitive.

Does the Leica factory do CLA's? How is their service and price compaired to other places?

Any information will be much appreciated.

Regards.

Remy
 
Congratulations on your "new" M2! It would be satisfying to restore it to perfect function and better cosmetics.

My M2 is older than this one, with button rewind and no self-timer. Hopefully you'll come to be as fond of yours!

The item description mentions the possibility this M2 has an M3 viewfinder... That will be interesting to determine.
 
Doug, I'm not so excited that I can't sleep but that's because I haven't paid for it yet. :)

The M3 vf is indeed something I want to find out. What clinched it for me, though, is the quick loading system. I had heard some bad tales of the old way of loading, and I just didn't see myself cutting leaders and such.

From the photos it's clear the leatherette isn't in very good shape. Being a bit of a Philistine I want to give it a bright coloured new look. :) But I might go for some thick, luscious cow leather to sink my fingers in. Oooh, how sensuous feelings will run from my fingertips into my hands and into my brain...! It'll be heaven. (Sorry, just fantasising out loud)

So, apart from a good and affordable place for a CLA, does anyone have some i-net links to pre-cut leatherette? I had a few links but I can't find them anymore.
 
Well, I just got an email telling me the total amount due, and paid it. Now I am getting a little giddy. :) OK, I'll just have to keep myself in check for another two weeks. I can hardly wait....
 
Rover, thanks. I've been a bit occupied lately and haven't been able to read much here on RFF. If I had I would have seen Francisco's post.
I'll take a look at the links (maybe I'll just sneak a little off my boss' time tomorrow) :)

Oh, Doug, about the M3 vf. The seller emailed me to tell that some other bidder thought it might just be an M2 vf. I'm inclined to think the same after checking Stephen Gandy's info on the M2 and the "upgrades" that can be fitted to the early M's.

But we'll just see in a few weeks time. Dangit, can't we speed up time a little?!
 
Remy, that's a great price for that M2 !!! Now I'm green with envy :D

But you're right, now the curse of the flying parcel begins, I think we all have suffered this in one moment or another :p

About new sexy black cow leather for turning your beauty into a bombshell, check this:

www.cameraleather.com and

http://www.aki-asahi.com/store/

On the second one there are no pictures for the M2 itself, but for the M3, and you have THAT specific black cow leather... :)
 
Here are some European repair placed for you: Leica FAQ by judging from the other companies listed on that site this seems to be some very reputable places!


You also have these two places that specialize in Leica:

TORSAD
Unit 8
Mount Ave
Bletchley
Milton Keynes
MK1 1LS
Phone 1908 372670


Malcolm Taylor
Upper Lye farm,
Aymestrey,
Leominster,
Herefordshire.
HR6 9SZ
01568 770542
(Leica even asked him to restore the original UR Leica!)


And Remy, I can totally relate to how you feel awaiting its arrival - the same feeling I had as I was waiting for my M3 to arrive.

It really is an amazing camera and I'm sure you'll love it.
 
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RML said:
...What clinched it for me, though, is the quick loading system. I had heard some bad tales of the old way of loading, and I just didn't see myself cutting leaders and such.
Click to expand...
Remy, it was the screw-mount Leicas that called for trimming the film leader. The M2 and M3 simply required you to clip the leader to the takeup spool outside the camera, then insert the assembly as one thing.

I put the quick-load kit in my M2 shortly after getting the camera in 1967, and it's been there since. Loading still isn't as easy as a camera with swing-open back, but I think it's better than before. The takeup spool stays in the camera, and there's a guide piece that's attached to the inside of the baseplate to keep/urge the film into the proper track.

This is supposedly a sort of prototype of the system in the M4, and some users take exception to it as not as good as the M4 setup and LESS easy than the original arrangement. Well, I'm happy with it!
 
Doug, that was useful information. And it shows how little I know about Leicas. :)

Thanks for feeling with me, people. I'll keep you posted.
 
RML,
Congrats on the M2, I just bought an M6 w/ lenses off the auction site. I can identify with your elation and feel your anticipation for the arrival, I wish they had the technology to email our purchases so we couldget them quicker!

Todd
 
Wow, Todd, congratulations to you too. There seems to be a rush of Leica purchases here, as Richard just got an M3... who else am I forgetting?

Remy, you could end up with an all-pink Hello Kitty custom Leica! How could that possibly intimidate your shooting victims? :-D
 
Doug, you're right! Seems like there's a Leica bug on the prowl here at RFF. :)
Todd, congrats! I wish I could justify the cost of an M6. For now a beater M2 is all I can afford, though an M4-P could perhaps be mine some time in the future.

Maybe a Hello Kitty cam would be a bit over-the-top but if anyone knows a place or website where they'll do such custom jobs, and show some examples, I'd be much obliged. :)
Are there any examples of far out customs jobs on the web?

Dang, the more I'm thinking about it the nicer a psychedelic 60's cam sounds. "Lucy in the sky of diamonds" comes to mind. :)

Those Bessa RF's and Russian FED's and Zorki's are bad for my wallet. :) They got me into RF's big time. Than I got a Leitz Minolta CL, and had to get a Rokkor 40/2, of course. And seeing people using and buying Leicas here at RFF (and Photo.net) made me secretly look around for one too. I had quite good self-control, though. I didn't fall for the first Leica available but passed on quite a few offers on eBay. But this one I just had to bid on. Even 12 hours before ending the highest bid was way below my maximum. I waited till the last 10 minutes, put in my final and highest bid, and won! $362... it's almost a giveaway. :)
 
Doug said:
Wow, Todd, congratulations to you too. There seems to be a rush of Leica purchases here, as Richard just got an M3... who else am I forgetting?
Click to expand...

Guiltily raises hand.

Just bought an M-3 and 50mm Summi- the former has been in the shop for so long (a local shop, they are friends, so they get patience when they need, they've been great to me in the past) that I said "to heck with it" and a couple weeks ago got an M-6TTL (black, .85) with the extra rangefinder flare and a new 35mm Summi.

It takes nice pictures. Goodbye Mamiya 645AF and lenses. I just didn't use you enough...
 
Things are going speedily for me. Amongst a flood of porn spam I also got an email from the seller of the M2 telling me he sent out the camera by USPS today! My experiences with mail sent through USPS are quite good. So, a week and a half, perhaps two weeks from now I'll have my little treasure!
 
RML,
Had some extra money laying around so I went down and bought a mint condition M2, a can of paint and a brush. Here is your Hello Kitty M2 (please save the emails, no actual Leicas were hurt during this post) ;)
 
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