Melancholy
To grain, or not to grain
Hello fellow rangefinder members!
I got some questions regarding a M2 I want to share with you and get some more informations about. It's a black M2, I've checked the serialnumber, and it's supposed to be a 1958. Problem is, all the paint seems to be removed, and the crank looks replaced with a chrome one, or should it be like this? My search on the net so far indicates that the serial number and model should be correct, but again, I know there's been some copies around...
I got this two pictures of it, what do you think, is it a real one, or could it be a copy? I don't know why the black paint is gone, but I guess it can't be used so much that all the paint is gone like this?
Would be great if I could get some feedback and advice about this one, if I should by it or not, and some estimate on a good price? I'm going to take a closer look at it tonight, so it would be nice to have more information.
Thanks
I got some questions regarding a M2 I want to share with you and get some more informations about. It's a black M2, I've checked the serialnumber, and it's supposed to be a 1958. Problem is, all the paint seems to be removed, and the crank looks replaced with a chrome one, or should it be like this? My search on the net so far indicates that the serial number and model should be correct, but again, I know there's been some copies around...
I got this two pictures of it, what do you think, is it a real one, or could it be a copy? I don't know why the black paint is gone, but I guess it can't be used so much that all the paint is gone like this?
Would be great if I could get some feedback and advice about this one, if I should by it or not, and some estimate on a good price? I'm going to take a closer look at it tonight, so it would be nice to have more information.
Thanks
Last edited:
Nugard
Elvis lives!..
Paint didn't gone in natural way... But... Maybe it was in the sea for a long time?.. Then, you need to check out the shutter...
Don't know about the price... It's too special camera...
Don't know about the price... It's too special camera...
Mudman
Well-known
nifty looking at least. But man, you'd need to do some sort of restore job. Brass doesn't like to sit by itself without oxidizing
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
I'm sure it is a real M2 and not a copy. As to the paint, someone has removed it, perhaps with steel wool or by some other means. You can see where the paint remains over the lens mount and over the rewind button--places where it was too difficult to remove. Someone must have wanted to repaint it or chrome it. Or maybe they liked the look of brass.
payasam
a.k.a. Mukul Dube
It is a button rewind M2 with frame-line preview. This cannot be faked. The paint seems to have been removed. There is a Leicavit winder fitted, and the original flash sockets have been replaced with the Prontor-Compur kind.
Vickko
Veteran
The flash receptacles are not correct; they are the M4 version , not M2 version.
Fuchs
Well-known
Looks like a real black paint M2. Perhaps prepared to be repainted. The advance lever should be black paint too, so it has been replaced with a chrome one, as both flash sync sockets, that are from a later camera (M4, M4-2, M4-P?). A black paint Leicavit MP is a very interesting collectors item. If the price is right and if the combo is mechanically/optically (RF, VF, etc) working, grab it. I think a user condition BP M2 + BP Leicavit MP in original conditions (that is with the paintwork still on it, but heavily brassed) should be around the US$3500-4500 price point. A restored and repainted combo with the right serial numbers on it, maybe a little more, but restoration and painting can be expensive and timely. If you are looking for a camera to use, this might not be the best of M2 options: there are plenty other plain chrome M2 in far better conditions. If you are thinking of it as an investment or as a collectors items, convenience is dictated by the price they are asking for it. Just my opinion, obviously.
BTW, may I ask how much is the asking price, or at least the price range in which the camera is?
BTW, may I ask how much is the asking price, or at least the price range in which the camera is?
januaryman
"Flim? You want flim?"
I have an M2 that, according to the serial number, should have a button rewind and no self timer. Clearly it was constructed of parts from other cameras. It works and works well. Call it a "Franken-Leica" but I love it. Unless you're a collector, what difference does it make, really? It can't be a fake, because there are no cheapo FSU cameras or Chinese that operated like the M series. I say go for it.
squirrel$$$bandit
Veteran
That M2 is a stunner.
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
There was a small series of "Button rewind" M2's made in black. Your's look authentic - the paint on the back plate dial looks like it was the real thing. However, depending on how much you are paying for it - have it checked. A lot of M's have been cannibalized for parts and weird versions assembled from it. Things like rewind knobs and advance levers are easy to replace and are not an indication of authenticity.
Flash sockets were often replaced as the adapters always catch on the straps!
The Leicavit is worth a fair bit, even in this shape it should go for $2000+ - if it works well (no parts available for them anymore). Lot of original MP's are missing them.
If the price is right, snap it up and have it serviced and use it. At some point you can have it painted - and use it even more! Just find a 35 and stick it on it and burn some film.
Flash sockets were often replaced as the adapters always catch on the straps!
The Leicavit is worth a fair bit, even in this shape it should go for $2000+ - if it works well (no parts available for them anymore). Lot of original MP's are missing them.
If the price is right, snap it up and have it serviced and use it. At some point you can have it painted - and use it even more! Just find a 35 and stick it on it and burn some film.
Vickko
Veteran
Any chance that this puppy is an MP? Didn't all MP's come standard issue with a Leicavit? If it is an MP, then doesn't the value sky-rocket?
Vick
Vick
Rogrund
Antti Sivén
According to the serial # it's an M2.
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
The original MP had a M3 style top-plate. Many were converted to M2 type top to take the M2's 35 finder - but the original MP designation was retained.
The # number looks to be correct for a black M2 with button rewind. Somewhere on the inside there should be a matching number engraved (sometimes on the rangefinder assembly, sometimes on the body casting and in some cases scratched into the film holding well.
Nice camera anyway and it deserves to be used.
The # number looks to be correct for a black M2 with button rewind. Somewhere on the inside there should be a matching number engraved (sometimes on the rangefinder assembly, sometimes on the body casting and in some cases scratched into the film holding well.
Nice camera anyway and it deserves to be used.
ferider
Veteran
Somebody should check with Vladimir, maybe it's one of his. Check Brad's blog http://www.citysnaps.net/blog/?p=1916.
ItsReallyDarren
That's really me
A brass M sounds like one of Vladimir's cameras, he's given the story about each of his cameras names and the cartoon stickers he uses to help keep track of them.
Melancholy
To grain, or not to grain
Thank you very much for all your comments, answers and informations!
I just came back from a visit to the owner, been looking at and checking the camera, and everything you have mentions about the camera seems to be correct. Also, I learned some more about the M2 from all your feedback, and to end an important question; I didn´t by it, will come back to that decision.
The black paint is removed with some steelwool or something like that, the owner don´t know why. All shuttertimes was more or less correct (checked with my M4), but one of the curtains should be replaced. Viewfinder looked very bright and nice, also the internal film parts. Leicavit worked very nice, and it looked to be in the same good condition as the M2. All in one, the camera looks very nice and to be in a very good technical condition, except the paint.
The owner don´t know much about the camera, or Leica. Still, almost 20 persons called him the first hours, and one of them told him what it could be worth, and the estimate are between 3500-4500 dollars as Fuchs suggests. I recommended him to talk with some Leica dealers/repair shops about a more certain price, or put it on Ebay. I also recommended him not to sell it! The camera is from a relative of him who was a photographer, and probably knew how to take care of it, and the more I told him about Leica, teached him how to use it (he is skilled in digital SLR), the less he wanted to sell it. So, he is probably going to send it for a CLA and use it with the 35 summilux f/1.4 who belong to the camera, a fantastic combo!
So, that was my story about this M2, I really whish I could have bought it, but it´s to expensive for me just to have (one more...) M2 to enjoy, so I´ll stick with the M´s I got so far.
Again, thank you very much for all your feedback and information, I really appreciate your help! I will be in contact with the owner, and I could give you some updates regarding the price estimate and what he decide to do with it in the future.
I just came back from a visit to the owner, been looking at and checking the camera, and everything you have mentions about the camera seems to be correct. Also, I learned some more about the M2 from all your feedback, and to end an important question; I didn´t by it, will come back to that decision.
The black paint is removed with some steelwool or something like that, the owner don´t know why. All shuttertimes was more or less correct (checked with my M4), but one of the curtains should be replaced. Viewfinder looked very bright and nice, also the internal film parts. Leicavit worked very nice, and it looked to be in the same good condition as the M2. All in one, the camera looks very nice and to be in a very good technical condition, except the paint.
The owner don´t know much about the camera, or Leica. Still, almost 20 persons called him the first hours, and one of them told him what it could be worth, and the estimate are between 3500-4500 dollars as Fuchs suggests. I recommended him to talk with some Leica dealers/repair shops about a more certain price, or put it on Ebay. I also recommended him not to sell it! The camera is from a relative of him who was a photographer, and probably knew how to take care of it, and the more I told him about Leica, teached him how to use it (he is skilled in digital SLR), the less he wanted to sell it. So, he is probably going to send it for a CLA and use it with the 35 summilux f/1.4 who belong to the camera, a fantastic combo!
So, that was my story about this M2, I really whish I could have bought it, but it´s to expensive for me just to have (one more...) M2 to enjoy, so I´ll stick with the M´s I got so far.
Again, thank you very much for all your feedback and information, I really appreciate your help! I will be in contact with the owner, and I could give you some updates regarding the price estimate and what he decide to do with it in the future.