M2 or M4-2?

[maddoc]

Finally, as a minor bias...I've heard that some of the internal parts of the M4-2 are plastic...and who wants that?!?

... some of the internal parts of the M4 are also plastic.

 

[Bill Blackwell]

... The only thing that brings down these older cameras is the lack of meters, but hey, that is extremely minor. On top of that, if I were more conscious of my settings I probably wouldn't need a meter at all...

Who says [all] M2's are meterless?

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Finally, as a minor bias...I've heard that some of the internal parts of the M4-2 are plastic...and who wants that?!?

I would think - a few!, as engineering plastic components are more suitable for certain applications than metal.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

The M2 got here on Tuesday and I've run a roll of film through it. Man, it's nice! Also, it's the same age as me; it was meant to be! Here's one of the first shots from that roll, taken with my '51 Summaron 35/3.5 LTM:


Black & White conversion in LightZone from a bad Walgreens' scan of some old Kodak color print film. But hey, it's the M2!

technicaly good.....but a shot of some old guy in his bathroom!....WHY?

 

[Harry Lime]

I have the M2 and M4-2

The M2 has been totally bullet proof for the past 9 years. Got a CLA for it when I got it and ever since it's been as reliable as a hockey puck.

I picked up the M4-2 cheaply and Sherry performed a full CLA on it. It broke down completely after 3 months of use.

I know another person who had the same experience.

Neither Don or Sherry seem to be convinced that the M4-2 was a high water mark at Leica in regards to reliability. Only 12,000 were made. Most of them in Canada, where Leica had to retrain a whole new workforce, after the M5 disaster. By the time the M4-2 was replaced by the M4-P things were back to normal.

There are some people out there who have been shooting their M4-2 for 20 years without a problem, while for others it's been a more troubled relationship. As I mentioned mine was a disaster, as was the camera of a friend. And this is after a CLA by none of the best shops in the business.

I have several M bodies that are used daily on a rotating basis. The M4-2 is the only one that has completely given out on me (total shutter failure).

 

[Mr G]

technicaly good.....but a shot of some old guy in his bathroom!....WHY?

dave, you kidding right?
sweet shot maggie.
g

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

dave, you kidding right?
sweet shot maggie.
g

well......could have waited while he was 'seated'!

 

[M4-I-Love]

well......could have waited while he was 'seated'!

Now I know why some lens gets the haze/fog thing . (and in some extreme cases, cracks in the glass. )

 

[maggieo]

1. It's not an old guy.

2. It's not her bathroom.

3. She's cleaning it.

Oh, internets.

 

[maggieo]

dave, you kidding right?
sweet shot maggie.
g

Thanks, G!

 

[mhcfires]

Congratulations on your new M2. I have been using a IIIa and a IIIf, love them both, but came across this wonderful M2. When I am able, I want a 35mm Summicron for the M2, but until then I have been using an LTM 35mm Summaron.

 

[maggieo]

I've got a 35/3.5 LTM Summaron on my M2, too!

 

[helen.HH]

I quite LIKE the shot and HER being viewed through the Mirror
There is something You are privy to & wouldn't expect
which to me gives it an EDGE
well done Maddie !!

like the processing too !

 

[thomasw_]

Congrats on the M2, Maggie! I like the mirror shot Best, Thomas

 

[maggieo]

Thanks, Thomas and Helen!

I'm waiting on a shipment of Rodinal, so once that arrives I can develop the Tri-X and HP-5+ that I've run through the M2. I've got another roll of expire Kodak Gold 200 in it now. I'll probably take it to Walgreens for more abuse.

 

[maggieo]

I'm still waiting for some Rodinal to be delivered, so no B&W film pix yet, but I do have some pix from the M2...

Leica M2 + Jupiter-8 LTM f2 50mm on expired Kodak Gold and a Walgreens' scan:

 

[helen.HH]

FAB WORK, Mag
that J-8 is no slouch....
LOVE IT !!!!!

 

[maggieo]

FAB WORK, Mag
that J-8 is no slouch....
LOVE IT !!!!!

Thank ya!!

You know what's funny about the J-8? The LTM-to-M adapter cost twice as much as the lens!

 

[Frontman]

How quickly does one normally need to load a film in reality?

I personally chose the M2 over an M4-2 based on less cluttered VF and better/classic Leica build. Film loading times are no deal breaker for me nor are 135mm lenses but it's all personal of course.

Scanners? I use an Epson V700 myself, great for BW & C41 BW, also scans print film like Kodak Ektar beautifully but Velvia? Arrrgggghhhh!

In some cases reloading film quickly is vital. Getting a good picture requires you be at the right place at the right time (which can be only a second or two), and more than once I've missed something while reloading film. Perhaps that's another excuse to go digital, but I can load an M4 (or later M camera) in moments, while walking or climbing stairs or whatever.

I agree on the scanner, I use an Epson myself, and I love how it works.

 

[Bogotron]

I agree with Frontman, the ability to load quickly is important (though I guess it depends on the person! It is for me). It's one of the reasons why I stretched my budget to get the M4 instead of the M2. However, one of the reasons I went for the M4 rather than something like the M4-2 was that "classic Leica build" that you mentioned, so I certainly understand the reason for going with the M2. I almost bought one on several occasions. Enjoy!