Missed my film Leica so got a M2

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kennylovrin

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Hey guys

Just wanted to share a little story on how I started to miss my M6 that I had a while back and started to eye a new film Leica. 🙂

When I had the M6 I thought to myself "why do I have both an M6 and an M9" so I sold it and got a Hasselblad instead for my film shooting. But then I started thinking "Why do I have two systems that are incompatible?" and I also cannot get over the poor quality of my flatbed scanner I have to use for medium format.

So anyway, I started looking at a film M body again, but didn't really want to put up the money for another M6. So after a while I had decided that perhaps the M3 or M2 would be nice, and finally settled on the M2 for the 35mm frame lines.

As it turned out, a friend of mine wanted me to buy him an M6 and a Summicron for him to give as a gift to a third person (insane gift, but happy to help him out).

Last thursday we were off to Vienna for a long weekend and I had found a shop called Leica Shop that seemed to have multiple different Ms in their store. As luck had it, it turned out our hotel was 200 meters from that shop, so I was happy about that.

I went there to buy the M6 and lens for my friend, and considered getting myself the M2 if I could find one.

I ended up looking at a few, but in the end I settled for the one that was actually the cheapest of them all because it was considered in the "worst" cosmetic condition. In reality it meant that the wear was on the chrome rather than broken vulcanite, and although the vulcanite is easier to fix, it really hurt my eyes looking at pieces of it missing and I prefer a bit of wear on the metal parts and a complete vulcanite instead. Also, I wanted a body that had seen some use so that I wouldn't baby it.

So there I was with my "new" M2 in my hands.. I had to walk into the "new equipment" part of the Leica Shop which was next door to pick up a strap and two rolls of T-MAX, then I left the M9 in the hotel room for the last two days and brought the M2 out.

The upside of getting the Hasselblad is that I am no longer afraid of the lack of light meter, the downside is that I am still quite new to it. And in fact I kind of messed up one of the rolls by not paying enough attention to the light, and many of the frames we're underexposed about a stop I'd think. The other rolls turned out quite ok I think.

It's funny in a way, I guess I did everything wrong when it comes to holiday/memory photos.. I got a camera I wasn't used to, it has no light meter, I was on holiday trying to capture memories for myself, I developed the rolls in reused developer which I am not totally sure how many rolls I've run through.. But in the end it turned out OK and it was a lot of fun!

And now I can use my actual film scanner so the scans are technically satisfactory at least. 🙂

Now I need to pick up more film as I only have 120 film at home!

Anyway, just a little story.. And here's a few pics from the trip taken with the M2 (Vienna is a beautiful city by the way!):


130915 (9) by kennylovrin, on Flickr


130915 (10) by kennylovrin, on Flickr


130915 (11) by kennylovrin, on Flickr


130915 (15) by kennylovrin, on Flickr


130915 (31) by kennylovrin, on Flickr


130915 (68) by kennylovrin, on Flickr

Kenny
 
Thanks guys, that's very kind of you. Though I didn't post all the frames I messed up completely to Flickr. 😉

I was writing the first post in a hurry so I could go to bed, but instead I am now in bed on my phone writing.

Anyway, I forgot to add that there is a lovely feeling to the M2. And while it was cheap and has its dings it seems to shoot without any issues at all and it somehow feels indestructible because it doesn't even have the light meter.

I'm not sure the price was either good or bad, but I had trouble finding one in Sweden where I live, so I quite happily paid the 490 euros for this specific one in Vienna. It's not like it is extremely worn, I actually think it looks quite alright given it's age - will post photos of the actual camera tomorrow I think.

I have one question though, I use Zeiss lenses for my M9 and used the same for these shots on the M2. I love those lenses, but I started thinking that it would be cool to get something from the same years as the M2 just for fun. Preferably something with a less clinical rendering (compared to the Zeiss lenses I have) and perhaps even with some of that Leica glow that I generally dislike on digital.

So I am happy to take tips on suitable lenses that have a typical 50/60's rendering and perhaps a bit of that glow and softer corners etc. I'd like it to be a Leica lens in this case though just for fun, but not something super expensive (if one exists that is).

I have 90mm Elmar that is a bit lower contrast and so. Something along those lines but 50mm and I'd prefer f/2 or at least not slower than f/2.8. Just thought it was worth asking for tips. 🙂

Kenny
 
Lovely shots man.

I too recently purchased an M2 along with a canon 35/2 ltm. Waiting for my 50 summicron collapsible to arrive. 😉

Ran through2 rolls so far and I just love it.
 
Just to follow up on my own question - I knew I had seen a lens somewhere that I liked and that I had in mind in my question about a lens above. And now I figured our which it was, it's the 50 Summitar with the swirly bokeh.

So I might pick one of those babies up soon if I can find one that is reasonably clean..

By the way, the collapsible lenses, is it only on the digital Leicas it's claimed to not work properly and can damage the camera if collapsed? I mean, is it possible to safely collapse a lens on all film Leicas?

Kenny
 
kennylovrin said:
By the way, the collapsible lenses, is it only on the digital Leicas it's claimed to not work properly and can damage the camera if collapsed? I mean, is it possible to safely collapse a lens on all film Leicas?
Click to expand...

You'll be fine on the M2, but as far as film M go, the M5 might have issues.
 
I bought my first Leica, a second hand M2 back in the 1970s. I used it for over thirty years. It was completely reliable as the only maintenance it required was one trip to Malcolm Taylor for CLA. It had a wonderfully smooth, quiet shutter release which the modern digital Ms cannot replicate. It was a good investment too as I sold it for nearly three times the price I paid for it if you ignore inflation.

I hope you have many happy productive years with it.

Archie
 
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