My God the M2 is a work of art!!

H

horosu

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I have just received my M2 that I won of the auction site...two months ago. The seller sent it to a wrong adress, but it was returned and eventually got where it belongs :).

I am...speechless! The tactile sensation is something I have not experienced beforehand. My M6 feels, well, rusty, compared to this gem from 1959. It looks in excellant shape: no dings, dents, scratches, just the tiniest mark from the Metrawatt lightmeter that came with the camera. It also has the original instruction manual, the original leather case and all the papers!!

I must say, I am in complete awe! This is my baby!

The viewfinder is very bright and uncluttered. It had a slight vertical misalignment, but guess what: It took me literally 5 minutes to adjust it! These cameras were meant for rough business...


I am....lost, speechless :D

P.S The title of this thread is in honour of Magus, the great!
 
I too received an M2 recently and experienced the same awe when I got it in my hands! I like it far more than my M3. :)

I hope the rapture continues. :D
 
Horosu,
This may have been asked and been explained before, but how does one adjust the rangefinder of an M2, vertically or otherwise, in 5 minutes?!
Takis
 
I had the same enlightenment a few months back. I've now sold my M6 and bought another M2 (for backup, colour, all that sort of stuff). They're robust, smooth and the finder is a joy. Time for you to join the M2 Nirvana group at flickr.com methinks, horosu.
 
There's an M2 Nirvana group, Mark?

It is a tough choice for me between the M3 and the M2. If only the M2 had the beveled windows, it'd be just too beautiful.
 
Terry Astor said:
Horosu,
This may have been asked and been explained before, but how does one adjust the rangefinder of an M2, vertically or otherwise, in 5 minutes?!
Takis
Click to expand...

Congrats, Horosu.

Both M2 and M3 can be adjusted vertically by removing the screw next to the RF window, and horizontally, by moving the RF roller (excentric). Easier than with any other camera I know, except for Barnacks.

Roland.
 
Alexz: it's...the feeling, the smoothness, the brass. I know it is something that you cannot see but you will surely feel :). Then, there is this sense of robusteness, the fact that whenever your rangefinder goes out of adjustment in the field you can repair it in a whim. It gives this feeling of durability, something that will endure. Then, it is the viewfinder

Terry: for vertical adjustment of the M2, M3, M4, M4-2 you just have to undo the small screw, between the frame line mask and rangefinder window. Underneath, hidden is another small screw, which controls your vertical adjustment: you turn it one way or the other until it is perfect :)
 
So, guys, would you be so kind to enlighten me what is so great about M2 that makes M6 inferior ? Do I miss something ?
 
Gabriel M.A. said:
There's an M2 Nirvana group, Mark?

It is a tough choice for me between the M3 and the M2. If only the M2 had the beveled windows, it'd be just too beautiful.
Click to expand...
Take a look at the MP3. The only thing it's missing is the self timer.
 
Thanks Hororsu, I just typed my second response while you posted the asnwer to my question.. :)
I guess it can only be sensed once in hands though...
BTW, is M2 much different in film loading from M6 ? I've heard M3 loading is more combersome then that of M6 (andn probaly M4 and upwards)...
Also, are there M2 with higher then 0.72 magnification ? (I know, M3 has 0.91 or something like that which makes it gera for long lenses, however it sacrifices wider then 50mm focal lenghts)...
 
Link to M2 Nirvana for those who haven't found their way there yet. This flickr group was started by HRH Mango of this parish.

Alex, all M2's have .72x finders with 35, 50 and 90 frames shown singly and no flashing lights (hurrah). The loading is the same as the M3 with the separate take up spool. You can get quick load kits (at a price) but we true believers shun such heretical devices :D
 
Everyone has their favorite M body. They are all wonderful. I picked up an M5 a few months ago. Now that is one amazing camera to my hands. Give it a try. It is the most underappreciated of all the Ms, and made in the fewest number. It was a commercial failure. What did they know back then? Nothin'!

/Ira
 
alexz said:
Thanks Hororsu, I just typed my second response while you posted the asnwer to my question.. :)
I guess it can only be sensed once in hands though...
BTW, is M2 much different in film loading from M6 ? I've heard M3 loading is more combersome then that of M6 (andn probaly M4 and upwards)...
Also, are there M2 with higher then 0.72 magnification ? (I know, M3 has 0.91 or something like that which makes it gera for long lenses, however it sacrifices wider then 50mm focal lenghts)...
Click to expand...

With the quickload system, due to the external film counter, the M2 is real easy to load. Almost as easy as the M6. The M3 is a bit more difficult since you have to remove the spool to reset the counter, also with the QL system. Without QL system, for both cameras you have to remove the spool. A bit more difficult than with the M6 ...

Roland.
 
Well, the M6 is the result of a couple of decades of cost cutting to start with. From the M4-2 onwards corners were increasingly cut; a process that has only recently been reversed.

It's a personal thing, but for me the M4 is the one to have (but for now I'll have to make do with an M4-2 and an M8 :(.
 
Andy Aitken said:
Well, the M6 is the result of a couple of decades of cost cutting to start with. From the M4-2 onwards corners were increasingly cut; a process that has only recently been reversed.
Click to expand...

True.
Costs were cut from the M3 on, the M2 is a result of those cost cuts as are the subsequent Ms.
One of the stated goals of the M2 was to cut cost and sell it for less than the M3.

The M3 is the rare example of getting something right the first time.:D


Andreas
 
LeicaM3 said:
True.
Costs were cut from the M3 on, the M2 is a result of those cost cuts as are the subsequent Ms.
One of the stated goals of the M2 was to cut cost and sell it for less than the M3.

The M3 is the rare example of getting something right the first time.:D


Andreas
Click to expand...

Yes, the M2 was a cost cutting endeavor. However, they cut costs at the expense of unnecessary features such as self-timers and automatically resetting frame counters. The M3 would be perfect if it had 35mm framelines.
 
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