M3's and M2's

How intersting a thread for me to read at the moment: A client of mine, who was into photography big-time in another life, mentioned having an M2 that she hadn't touched in years. This was about two years ago. Last year, I approached her about buying it, and was gently but firmly rebuffed; yes, she said, she scacely touches it, but "you know how it is with Leicas." (Yeah, don't I!).

Yesterday afternoon, I get a call from her. She needs some digital photos taken of a bunch of things she'd like to put on a Certain Auction Site. In return for helping her with this, she'll loan me her M2. Just how long a leash this loan has, remains to be seen. But I'm going to take her up on it, provided she's serious. Maybe then she might loosen up a bit about letting it go...but I'm forgetting how it is with Leicas...


- Barrett
 
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Barrett, don't fool yourself to believe you're making a change to get it. She'll never part from it!! You know how it is with Leicas!!
 
Just thought I'd revive a fine old thread...

Something lost in all this nostalgia over the M3 and M2 is the film loading issue. It's a royal pain in the @$$ with those two cameras unless the rapid load kit is installed. The M4 is much better/simpler in that regard.

Ron
 
It's been so long ago that I put the quick load kit in my M2 I don't even remember what it was like before. If you want to be totally spoiled by easy film loading, then there's the Hexar RF and Contax G1/2, putting a new complexion on nostalgia... :)
 
visiondr said:
Just thought I'd revive a fine old thread...

Something lost in all this nostalgia over the M3 and M2 is the film loading issue. It's a royal pain in the @$$ with those two cameras unless the rapid load kit is installed. The M4 is much better/simpler in that regard.

Ron
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Loading the M2/3 is not that bad. I agree though that it goes against the spirit of 'less features means there are less reasons for things to go wrong', esp. if you happen to lose the spool. OTOH I 've never misloaded an M2 - once you insert the film in the spool, you 're set. I find the M4/5/6/7/P rapid load mechanism not as secure and I always double check. You win some, you lose some.
 
telenous said:
Loading the M2/3 is not that bad. I agree though that it goes against the spirit of 'less features means there are less reasons for things to go wrong', esp. if you happen to lose the spool. OTOH I 've never misloaded an M2 - once you insert the film in the spool, you 're set. I find the M4/5/6/7/P rapid load mechanism not as secure and I always double check. You win some, you lose some.
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I *STRONGLY* prefer the M4/M6 loading, but I also totally agree with you. M4/M6 goofs are much, much easier than with the M2/M3, where my experience has been the same as yours.

BTW/FWIW, I think the M4/M6 spool loaded more reliably before the film mfrs started shortening the leader.
 
I always thought loading the M2/M3 was fairly simple. But then I learned loading film on a IIIa.

I only had a film loading goof once with an M2 - I dropped it on to concrete.....

I actually have more trouble loading film into SLRs than I do an M2. I certainly have had my share of goofs with them.
 
FrankS said:
The M2 is a more versatile camera given the 35mm framelines, but the M3 with a 50 is perfection.
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More versatile than perfection, eh?

I sold my last M3 because the M2 is far more use to me -- but I've had (I think) three M3s, and they were the smoothest, best-built Leicas I ever had.

Even so, I'd rather have my MP than any of them.

Cheers,

R.
 
The Quick Load kit is pretty much useless in the M3 as you have to remove the spool anyway to reset the counter. I had one but went back to the regular spool. Stu
 
My only M3 loading problen has been that sometimes I just can't get the bottom plate to go back on, and I've yet to figure out why. I assume it would be the same with any M. Sometimes I just can't get it to line up properly! I just have to pull the film out (a royal pain) and start again. Doesn't happen often bet when it does...
Vic
 
I know how it is with Leicas... since a couple of months I do, at least.

Mine is a 1955 DS M3, glass pressure plate, preview lever, ser. no. 804xxx. No DOF notches, but I never figured those out anyway. I strive to shoot it without any light meter, always loaded with Kodak E100G or 100Tmax. I have a small aluminium exposure calculating aid (rotating wheel type) which suffices.

I chose the M3 over any other model M since I wanted to use my Canon 50mm 1.2 on it and needed the 0.91 viewfinder magnification and the long rangefinder base to do so properly.
X-mas bonus has resulted in buying a Summilux 50mm 1.4.

I own and use a busload of cameras but the M3 guards my right side at night, I cannot stand to have it downstairs while being in bed.

Nice to read all this. The fancy stuff about the M2 makes me greedy, but I have no excuse buying one, I like the 50mm focal distance most, with the M3 even my (D)SLR cameras stand by idle... no M2
 
I love the M2 without the selftimer lever and with a lever rewind; if I can find one in good condition for around 750 loonies, then I will snag it and put it to use.
 
Funny, I wonder how many Leica owners ever used the self-timer feature? I've actually considered removing it from one of my M3 bodies but didn't have the guts. I just think the camera would look better without it. Stu
 
The M2 is simply a better all round camera. It has a much more useable set of framelines, for general RF usage and the absence of those hideous M3 gothic window surounds makes it aesthetically much more attractive. In my opinion of course.

I can think of no reason why the M3 would be a better choice for everyday use. How many people never need wider than 50mm? However, if that's the case (and I'm really not convinced) then the less attractive M3 may well be for you.

Ernst
 
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I've been out shooting XX today with M2 (button rewind) and my 50/1.2 Canon. Incredibly smooth and flawlessly straightforward to use, especially with Tom A's Rapidwinder. An utter joy :)

I prefer the 50 framelines as displayed in the M2. I'm used to them, and I like having the "room" around the frame. And I often use the 35 set, which is a no-brainer.
 
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Great to hear that the M2 Rapidwinder gets a workout! I am in M2 "mode" at the moment and have three of them loaded. One has a VC 50/2,5 on it, the other a 35/2.5 VC II and the third one a mid 90's Summilux 35/1,4 - all are loaded with Double XX. Just dug up another can of 400ft XX for February and I have to load that in IXMOO's next week. No meter, 250 asa and M2's - about as simple as it gets. Hmm, if I could get off my butt and develop the stuff piling up in the darkroom I would be ahead of the game though. Promise of crappy weather over the weekend could help here.
 
well...

well...

ernstk said:
I can think of no reason why the M3 would be a better choice for everyday use.
Ernst
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I can:
  • Better viewfinder. No other Leica c/t the M3's VF.
  • Better rangefinder. No Leica is easier and more accurately to focus in low light.
  • Self resetting counter.
  • Build quality.
Currently I use M2, M3, M6TTL, MP. The M3 is my goto camera for low light, wide open - just love it. Feels best, most solid, most inspiring.
Like the M2 as well, but every time I use it I wish for the M3s VF and RF.

M2 gets use with the 35 (for me 40 CLE), but when I borrowed a Nokton 35/1.2 and used it wide open the M3 worked better for me (better RF, better focusing). Waiting for the Nokton 35/1.4, but I am suspicious that once again the M3 will get the most use.

YMMV. M2 is a great camera. The M3 is the rare event of a company getting it right the first time.
 
Stu W said:
Funny, I wonder how many Leica owners ever used the self-timer feature? I've actually considered removing it from one of my M3 bodies but didn't have the guts. I just think the camera would look better without it. Stu
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The lever makes a useful finger grip. I've never used the self timer itself, though.

As for M3 v. M2 - I have a SS M3 and a button-rewind M2 (there's an M4 knocking around too, but that's by the by). The M2 is a fine body for 35mm, but for 50mm lenses the M3 beats it hands down. I love the high-contrast viewfinder and the thick 50mm frameline.

Oddly enough, I find it easier to load the M3 and M2 than I do the M4. Suppose it helps that I'm never in a hurry.
 
I think this question is a lot like the 35mm vs. 50mm question. Most of the answers seem to be either/or, with little compromise.

I myself only own one lens wider than 50, a super-wide 15mm, so the M3 is a great fit for me. Then again, I've never used the M2, the M3 is the only M I have. The only functional differences I see between them are the framelines, and the film counter.

Obviously, the only answer is to get one of each. :D
 
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