More navel gazing - M2 content this time

Ken Ford

Ken Ford

Refuses to suffer fools
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I was first introduced to the world of Leica in the mid 70s by a mentor at one of the papers where I was working as a stringer while still in high school. He had a couple of M2s with a holy trinity of 35-50-90 and I thought they were the neatest things around if a little quaint. I was already committed to the Nikon system by that point, but I told myself that some day I'd have an M2.

In 1984 I bought a used kit consisting of a M4-P, M4-2 Coffee Grinder (winder), 35 Summicron, Noctilux and 90 Summicron while I was still working as a PJ. I loved this kit, but sold it all off after I got married and left the field a few years later.

Flash forward to 2006 or so. I was working with a Bessa T and a 40/90 combination but still missed my M. I strongly considered getting an M2, but I fell into a decent M6 body and I've been happy. I really do like having a built-in meter for everyday use. But... I still missed that old-fashioned unmetered goodness for some days.

Then Francisco let me astray with his M3DS - I don't think it took a week for me to find a nice one at KEH. I like it very much, particularly with my 40/90 combination... but it's not an M2.

I'm seriously thinking about finding a decent button rewind/no self timer M2. I already have a nice ungoggled 35/3.5 Summaron that would be great to leave on an M2 body, so why not see what I've been missing?

Talk me into it or talk me out of it.
 
About 15 years ago, I bought a used M4-2 with summicron. I wasn't "ready" for it, and traded it for a new Nikon 801s with 35mmf2 Nikkor, to fill out my Nikon SLR kit. (I sure wish I could do that over.)

About 5 years ago I bought an M3, then a year later an M2. A couple of years ago I traded a Rolleiflex for an M6. A year ago, I traded a Bronica RF645 for an M5. Then I sold off the M2 and M3 and other gear for some MF purchases, including 2 Fuji 6x7 RFs and a Plaubel Makina.

Last year, I sold the M6 and M5. Based on my previus experience with the various bodies, I found that the M2 was my favourite camera, mainly due to the framelines. So I recently bought 2 M2's from ebay and had them CLAed. That's what I've got now, and I'm satisfied that I've found my ideal kit. (There is also a CL, a Hexar RF and a IIf in 35mm RF.) For lenses, I've got a CV 21, Summaron 3.5, Summaron 2.8, CV 40 for speed, several 50's, and an Elmar 90.

Based on my first hand experience, the M2 is my ideal 35mm RF camera. I guess I'm talking you into it, Ken.


I should add that 3 Bessa R cameras and an R2 came and went during this time as well, and a bunch of Japanese fixed lens RF cameras.
 
Last edited:
Value question: would a button rewind/no self timer version generally be cheaper than a lever rewind/no self timer? Any difference in reliability?

I didn't remember that lever rewind/no self timer was a valid combination until a little while ago.
 
FrankS said:
About 15 years ago, I bought a used M4-2 with summicron. I wasn't "ready" for it, and traded it for a new Nikon 801s with 35mmf2 Nikkor, to fill out my Nikon SLR kit. (I sure wish I could do that over.)

About 5 years ago I bought an M3, then a year later an M2. A couple of years ago I traded a Rolleiflex for an M6. A year ago, I traded a Bronica RF645 for an M5. Then I sold off the M2 and M3 and other gear for some MF purchases, including 2 Fuji 6x7 RFs and a Plaubel Makina.

Last year, I sold the M6 and M5. Based on my previus experience with the various bodies, I found that the M2 was my favourite camera, mainly due to the framelines. So I recently bought 2 M2's from ebay and had them CLAed. That's what I've got now, and I'm satisfied that I've found my ideal kit. (There is also a CL, a Hexar RF and a IIf in 35mm RF.) For lenses, I've got a CV 21, Summaron 3.5, Summaron 2.8, CV 40 for speed, several 50's, and an Elmar 90.

Based on my first hand experience, the M2 is my ideal 35mm RF camera. I guess I'm talking you into it, Ken.


I should add that 3 Bessa R cameras and an R2 came and went during this time as well, and a bunch of Japanese fixed lens RF cameras.
Click to expand...


what? did i read that right?

frank bought something from ebay??

shock and awe!
 
For a number of years in the sixties Leitz offered an M2X and an M2S. That wasn't engraved on them, but the catalog referred to the X without the self timer for $200 and the S with a self timer was about $250.
 
Ken, this is not going to help! The M2's are in mine estimation the perfect Leica. A 21,35,50 and possibly a 90 - it is really all you need - well, OK two M2's is better as you dedicate one to the 35 and the other for the rest of the lenses.
There is no functional difference between the "Press" button and the later M2's. There was some minor fiddling with coating in the finder in the later versions, but not enough to worry about. I prefer the lever rewind, but as long as you stay away from the version that you have to hold the button in, when you rewind (#926000 to about #940 000) you will do well.
 
Hmmmm.

I don't see M2s becoming my main shooters - I like the M6 too much for that. I rarely even carry a meter with the M6, but I do occasionally enjoy sallying forth with an unmetered body and a handheld incident meter. As a matter of fact a few of my favorite recent RF photos were out of the M3 with a Pilot 2 meter. I never used TTL metering back in the day, I lived and died by the God of Gossen. (My old Luna-Pro is still attached to the retractable belt keychain I used for years!)

I think I need to scratch this itch.
 
Stay with the M6. If you have an itch for something else the M6 will work with a 28mm. Think about another lens. I have cameras without meters but I gravitate towards the M6 because of the meter and the multiple framelines.
 
aww just do it, ken.

i did a little while ago, fwiw. and it was gear-piphany. i bonded with the thing in no time. yes to the special smoothness, the external counter, the film-loading, the simple finder. mine's kinda beat up, crumbly vulcanite, needs a new cover. which i'll get to. i swear it feels better in my hands than any other M i've used. what IS it about the M2 anyway?
 
Try borrowing one and using it for a bit, and then, you'll really be itching. It is the best M I've ever used, something very special about how it feels in the hands and operates, and quite liberating, to not worry about exposure (I guesstimate). It's a piece of cake, and you'll love it, I'll bet. If not, sell it and get something else (but I'm guessing you'll be with the rest of us, and be happy as a clam).
 
Ken Ford said:
Value question: would a button rewind/no self timer version generally be cheaper than a lever rewind/no self timer? Any difference in reliability?

I didn't remember that lever rewind/no self timer was a valid combination until a little while ago.
Click to expand...

FWIW, button rewind/no self-timer M2s in good user condition seem to be going in the $500-575 range, w/ occasional good buys for under $500. I got mine from KEH for just over $500 ("bargain" grade), and the chrome is in great shape; some small pieces of vulcanite are missing; functionally the camera works like a dream. I love the simple, useful framelines, and have had no problems using a 28 by framing w/ the entire vf. What's not to like?
 
This is going to help even less - I got into Leica through an M8 (sorry!), then moved to the MP, got two of them, and was a happy camper until I got my hands on a M2... Now, I got two of them, and am selling one MP for sure, maybe two if I get crazy enough to get a M6J instead 😀

The M2 is, IMHO, the best M.
 
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