M2! M2! M2! M2!

[Nokton48]

Payasam,

I have a 21-35 M2 Adapter I'm using on my Bessa-T with winder, and I'm looking for a 50mm M2 adapter, so I can use my CV Nokton, and Canon F1.2, on the Leica.

Have fun with your new M2! 😛

Merry Christmas Everybody, :angel:

-Dan

 

[Nokton48]

Hi All,

Eagerly awaiting my new main RF body.

Can anybody point me to a used Rapidwinder for the M2? And, I am ordering an eyepiece cover and PC plugs from Don Goldberg. Also I'm looking for a Rapid-Rewind Crank of some sort. Are there any -cool- M2 accessories I am not aware of, when it comes to "hot-rodding" my Leica?

 

[BillP]

Rewind crank and Rapidwinder:

http://www.mwclassic.com/acatalog/MW_Classic_Cameras_LEICA__NEW_ITEMS_ADDED__6.html

Regards,

Bill

 

[laptoprob]

I had a rewind crank for some time, but it sticked out too much for me. I do like the rapid load kit.

 

[Nokton48]

My -new- M2 has now been shipped from the Netherlands. 7-10 day timeframe.
Don Goldberg has sold me two PC plugs, and an M2 eyepiece cover.
I'm in the process of buying what I think is, one of the Schwartreich aluminum M2 rewind levers, from the RFF Classified ads.

Still looking for a Rapidwinder at a -used- price.

Anything I'm missing, guys? I know about LeicaGoodies' stuff, have a STEER on my Canon F1.2

 

[Doug]

Dan, congrats on returning to M2 ownership! I've had my bought-used button-rewind for 40 years. I'd think you just need those sync covers, a quick-load kit, and a period lens or two. Have fun! 😀

 

[Nokton48]

Hey Doug,

Nice to know I'm not alone, when it comes to how I feel about this M2.

Original Instructions:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150199822214&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=005

And I think I may have a line on a nice, used Rapidwinder 🙂

 

[Nokton48]

Tom Abrahamsson emailed me, and offered to sell one of his Mint-Minus used M2 Rapidwinders, for $400. I'll take it, and a chrome Classic Softrelease, as well 🙂

Soooo, I think I am -just- about done (already)!

-Dan, emailing Tuulikki with the final payment details.

 

[Nokton48]

OK,

So now I have a nice used M2 Rapidwinder from Tom A. coming 🙂 And I just bought this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=140194292400&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=004

This is the correct one, right, Guys??

While I'm at it, is anybody here using Heavystar's Vented and Tilted lenshoods on the Cosina-Voigtlander lenses? BTW I just put a Leicagoodies STEER on my 28mm Ultron, and I was thinking about adding this Heavystar Hood, but does it vignette wide-open with the 28mm Ultron??

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=140193018479&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=004?

-Dan, I see he has 39mm, 40.5mm, 43mm, and 46mm sizes. Work AOK with CV lenses?? Anybody using these?

 

[Nokton48]

Hi All,

Got a parcel today from Tom Abrahamsson at Rapidwinder.com. Inside is my (like new) now out-of-production M2 Rapidwinder. It's a true thing of beauty, and worth every penny paid. I'm still waiting for my new button-wind overhauled M2 from the Netherlands, but I've been getting good communication, and it should be here early in the week, according to the tracking. DAG sent his package with the eyepiece cover and PC plugs in just a couple of days, how can you beat that? And I've got a 5cm Leitz adapter for my Nokton and Canon F1.2 , and four of the new-style vented/angled lenshoods coming from Heavystar. All should be here shortly.

Here's another question: Which to get, the Leica MC meter, the MR, the MR4, or the CV Voigtlander II? Are the early meters worth having?

-Dan, defrosting 100' of Presto 400 in anticipation of next week.

 

[Doug]

Here's another question: Which to get, the Leica MC meter, the MR, the MR4, or the CV Voigtlander II? Are the early meters worth having?

Dan, sounds like you'll be all ready when she comes! She'll be comin' round the mountain... Um. Regarding meters, I may be odd but if the meter isn't built in and providing AE then I prefer a hand-held incident meter. I've "always" used an old Gossen Super Pilot SBC with my M2, and it just makes good sense to meter the light falling on the scene rather than what's reflected from it. The newer Gossen digital meters are pretty nifty, yet the M2 just calls for an analog readout. 😀

 

[HuubL]

The voigtlander meter is probably the best meter, but the M() meters couple to your M2. I have an Mr and an MR4 and they're fine as long as you put Wine cells in. OTOH, shooting sunny 16 works wonders with most B&W films and take a lot of work out of your hands (= bring spontaneity in your shoots).

 

[Tom A]

Dan, great to hear that the winder arrived safely. Only 100 feet of film defrosting - that shoud last for a week or so. M2's are addictive and film goes through quickly.
I would go for the VC meter II and even if you mount it on the camera initially you will soon just stick it in the pocket and do occasional readings rather than fiddle with it for every couple of shots.
I find that I shoot faster with nonmetered cameras! The blinking lights in the viewfinder does distract and pulls the eye away from focus and framing. So, occasionally I screw up exposures, but I stand a better chance of getting "the moment" without trying to get two diodes to glow equally!

 

[Nokton48]

"Only 100 feet of film defrosting - that shoud last for a week or so. M2's are addictive and film goes through quickly."

Hi Tom,

Well I tried to stock-up on Fuji Presto bulk films, when it was being discontinued. I still have five 100' rolls of Presto, and five rolls of 1600EI Super-Presto. But I know that will not really hold me for that long. Where in the world did you find all that Kodak Double-XX? Is that 1000' movie film? I need to find something like that.....

Regarding meters, I've been thnking about it, and I agree with you, that the Voigtlander will not stay on the body for long, so really I should get an incident meter. When I had my first M2, I used it with a Minolta (whir-whir) Autometer, of the incident type, and that was a great combo. I've picked up three or four of these on ebay, and none of them work right. Soooo, maybe I'll buy another Minolta Autometer IIIF, with the LED panel. Those have served me well in the past. Or, maybe a Sekonic, but I suspect that the Minolta will read lower light.

-Dan, Oh great, another Addiction 🙂

 

[Pherdinand]

Nokton, i can suggest a quantum calculight xp as incident+reflected meter. Very good meter that still fits in a pocket, and measures every available dark you can imagine. Uses small, modern batteries; i bought mine about 3 years ago from a group member here, came with batteries and i never had to change them yet!

 

[Nokton48]

"now you need a few m3's"

Let me know if you need to sell that fat collapsible 90mm Elmar.

 

[Tom A]

But if you have M2's, you dont need M3's (OK, maybe one). The 90/2.8's are nice, but the collapsible 90f4 is a thing of beauty. Wonderful mechanics to it and not a bad lens. I have an affinity for them and usually buy them at swap meets and then friends beg them off me. The record was last years mini swap in a snowstorm. I found this great 90f4 Collapsible for $230 (mintish and with the plastic keeper), Of course I bought it, though i already have one (dont ask, it made sense at the time). Five minutes later a friend saw it and decided that he needed it and I passed it on (for the same price too). It was a short moment of dual 90f4 Collapsible ownership!
At the moment I am shooting with a couple of M2's and XX. One has a 40mmf1.4 MC on it and the other a 50f2 Planar ZM. probably should load up a third body with something wider (21 or 25). weather is too grey for the 90f4 as it is 1/250 f4 outside with 250 asa.
Dan, the Double XX is available from Kodak's Motion Picture Division in 400 ft rolls (or 1000 and 3000 ft rolls). I dont know the current price on it, but it was something around $130-140 for 400 ft a couple of month ago.

 

[Nokton48]

Hi All,

Well according to USPS tracking, my M2 from the Netherlands arrived in Chicago Sunday 5:00, so I guess it was in Customs. Meanwhile, my original instruction books, 1962 Leitz dealer catalog, M2 5cm adapter, and newstyle vented/angled lenshoods (from Heavystar) arrived. And I found an original M2 black leather strap. What do you guys think, is this original?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=130187091232&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=003

Tom, I bought 400' of Double-X 5222 from Photo Emporium in NYC, for $80US plus $10 Fedex. That is also on it's way.

-Dan, I'm -about- set.

 

[Tom A]

Dan, depending on what you are going to shoot -Oh forget that, with the new M2 you will shoot EVERYTHING that can be exposed.
I just tried out XX in HC 110, rated at 250 (make Sunny f16 easy as with Tri X you always had to ponder, hmm should the speed be 1/250 @16 or 500@16), The M2 you just put at 1/250 and start shooting, bright sun f16/bright overcast f11/ good light f8/ gloomily overcast f5.6 or even f4. You will soon get the hang of this estimating exposures thing. There are not that many variables anyway.
If you want to get nice mide range tones, try HC 110 1:60 (from raw syrup) for 10.5-11 min (30 sec initial and then 10 sec every 60 sec). Seems to work. Otherwise go to classic D 76 1:1 for 9-9.5 minutes. The trick is of course to shoot all 60-70 rolls from the 400 ft can and use the same developer. One variable less to contend with.
looking forward to seeing your stuff here.
Tom

 

[Nokton48]

Hi All,

My -NEW- button-wind M2 just arrived, and it's georgeous! Put evrything together, It works great with Tom's Rapidwinder, it has strap lug rubs, -slight- scuffing on the top and front plate, and a few teeny taps. The eyepiece ring is badly marked up, but that got covered up by the eyepiece cover from DAG. Yesterday the M2 rewind lever arrived from Boulder (from the RFF classifieds). The camera operates -SMOOTHLY-, shutter speeds sound great, has a great, quiet, Snick. I love it! Better condition than my original M2 (identical to this one). Some would no-doubt say that this camera is "Mint-Minus". I'm a user, Bah, I don't care. 🙂

Right now, she has a Leitz M2 5CM Adapter, with Canon F1.2/Leicagoodies STEER, Tom's M2 Rapidwinder, Silver Soft Reease (also from Tom), and original Canon F1.2 hood attached. Awesome Combination! Awaiting the original M2 neckstrap I bought recently. Also received the original M2-era Leitz Dealer Catalog today. Very Cool stuff.

-Dan, loading the first roll of Eastman Kodak Double-XX 5222 movie film. How's that for retro, that film was introduced in 1959, just like my new M2 body! Before there was Tri-X, there was Double-X.