M2 Rewind release...

[mike goldberg]

Hi... I noticed on Frank S' beautiful leather covered M2, a button to be pressed inward for rewind. It's just under the shutter button on the front of the camera. My M2 with S/N 1132046, has a little lever flipped downward towards the lens for rewind.

So, I'd like some help with our Leica buffs in understanding the difference... Probably has something to do with different production runs.
Thanks & ciao, mike

 

[kully]

It seems only the very early M2s had the button rewind, already by 1959 the lever was present.

My 1963 model has the lever.

 

[markinlondon]

This page explains the variations. My 1959 M2 (left) s/n 970xxx is a lever rewind without selftimer.

http://www.kbcamera.com/m2profile.htm

 

[Xmas]

Mark

I thought they introduced a chepo/down market m2 variant about '58-60 without the self timer, to enhance sales. But may have another memory fault

Noel

 

[LADP]

I'm curious which is generally thought of as more desirable? I like the button rewind myself, just for the difference from most M models in the lineup.

 

[Terry Astor]

The rewind button was replaced following complaints from pro-photographers who would occassionally and inadvertedly press it in "the heat of the action" so to speak, thus disabling ( once) their next wind on frame.
Terry

 

[markinlondon]

Mark

I thought they introduced a chepo/down market m2 variant about '58-60 without the self timer, to enhance sales. But may have another memory fault

Noel

Careful, Noel you could start one of those internet myths like this 🙂
The selftimer was also offered as an option on the M2 from the earliest production. woe betide the "expert" who states that Leitz/Leica never made a certain model with a certain option because someone somewhere is bound to own one.

 

[mike goldberg]

Thanks guys,
I guess I'm lucky; I've got the little lever for Rewind AND a self-timer ;-)

 

[xayraa33]

the rewind button is found on the earliest M2's.
it is a PITA, and the lever is much better in use.

 

[Dougg]

The rewind button was replaced following complaints from pro-photographers who would occasionally and inadvertently press it in "the heat of the action" so to speak, thus disabling (once) their next wind on frame.
Terry

Yes, I had unexpected double-exposures with mine too, and it did take some time to figure out that it was the rewind button causing it. Once known, I just made sure to keep my finger OFF the rewind button until I intend to rewind, and the "problem" went away! I expect a clumsy finger could accidentally shift the later rewind lever too, but I don't recall hearing any outcry over that...

 

[ffttklackdedeng]

Mike, note that there seem to be 2 button rewind versions: the earlier ones needed to be consistently pushed during rewind, while the later ones (e.g. mine 949xxx) stay pushed until the wind lever is moved again.

The button rewind M2s also have a different pattern on the frame illumination window than the lever rewind M2s, with a fine grid and not so transparent material.

Imho the lacking selftimer lever adds to the M2's simple lines - so this one is my favourite.