New old Leica M2

[Blank288]

After long years of very happy tinkering and shooting (in that order) with quite some FSU rangefinders I ran across a bargain '59 M2 at a camera fair and couldn't resist ... So here is my first message to this Leica-forum.
First I immediately subscribe every letter I've read about the fantastic finish, feel, solidity and viewfinder image of leica-M's. I won't sell off my suitcase of CLA'd Feds and Zorkis at once, but well ... WHAT a difference ...

My M2 was heavy used but essentially functional, and at home some outside cleaning improved the looks considerably. (Fixing the loosy shutter knob improved handling too.)
Seen against a tv-screen the shutter timing seems surprisingly okay and consistent, but I have some doubts about 1/1000. Longer times work well too, 1 sec seems a small fraction too long. But it 'hanged' one time in several dozens of firings.
The viewfinder is functional but a little bit hazy - definitely needs some inside cleaning. Fortunately the prism glueing looks okay.

Since I have no M-lenses yet, I ordered a cheap adapter to be able to use my better FSU m39 lenses for a first trial. I'm waiting for it, and here is my question to the experts here.
All cheap adapters I could find are especially for 35/135mm lenses. I know that the appropriate adapter presets the corresponding viewfinder frame. Does this mean that I'll have to keep the viewfinder lever in the 50 or 90mm position by hand when I use my Jupiter-3, -8 and -9 lenses with this 35mm-lens adapter? Or will it stay in the chosen position? (The lever is spring-loaded, I noticed.)
Another question: transporting runs well, I think, but at the end of the stroke I feel a clear, smooth 'drop' in counter-pressure. It doesn't feel bad at all, but is this normal in Leica winding?

Off course I'll start with test-shooting a slide film, but when my M2 indeed behaves as good as it seems, I consider a CLA by an expert. I even think about renewing the vulcanite on the back door; a quarter of it is missing (the ugliest part of the looks).
Since I paid € 220,- for the body of course it is all an exciting gamble, but I hope I have obtained an affordable entry in real Leica world.
I really can't wait for the adapter to arrive!

 

[blw]

Congrats on scoring one for such a good deal. I can only wish for a similar deal for me one day. I don't have anything to offer for your questions, but I just wanted to announce my slight envy for you.

Enjoy the M2.

 

[Blank288]

Thanks Barry, I certainly will! I more and more think that I've been lucky.

I forgot some other Leitz-newbie questions:
1. Are flash connector adapters still available for Leicas?
2. On the upper screw in the lens mount, there still is the black sealing with the L printed in it. Does this mean that my M2 isn't serviced in all these 48 years (or maybe only by an official Leica repair shop)?

Thanks!

 

[terrafirmanada]

Congrats; Yes you will have to hold the lever or you will only look at the 35 frame.
The winding action sounds sketchy to me ( you might need a new winding head at some point).
I have run less than perfect M's from time to time (my M6 framecounter died recently- another good reason for an M2).

 

[terrafirmanada]

Flash connectors are still avail. check e-bay. And yes the L means it has never been serviced, better send that thing in chicken wing...

 

[Blank288]

Thanks Thomas,
After I receive the lens adapter I'll first shoot a slide film. Only then I'll know what I've really got.
In my home town appears to live a widely acknowledged Leica-specialized repairman. I'll probably take it there and decide on further actions after his judgements.

 

[payasam]

I understand it's something of a gamble to buy a cheap adapter.

 

[kully]

Flash connectors are still avail. ...

What do these adapters do? I've managed to connect my M2 to studio flashes using the standard cord fine.

Well, it worked but poking my glasses into my face every time I looked through the viewfinder meant I never did it again 🙂

 

[Blank288]

Hi Payasam,
I'm aware of it - I'll mount the adapter very carefully the first time. I've also read about incorrect rangefinder readings using adapted FSU lenses on Leica's due to different register distances, but this can be easily checked in advance with a groundglass on the film rails.
Since I don't know if my M2 will be a keeper, I didn't want to spend too much on it for now, and I need an adapter for testing the body. When it really works well, and after CLA, I think it is time to go for the real stuff.

 

[Blank288]

Well, the M2 is back after CLA, and apparently I've been lucky with my impulse-acquisition. The repairman told me that the camera has had a lot of use, but everything was absolutely original and nothing appeared to be broken. He only had to remove a lot of dirt and old grease and adjust the shutter settings.
He did a fine job: the finder being crystal-clear now, the long shutter times run like a swiss clock (fast times too), transport has become quite a lot smoother and he even replaced the partly vanished back door vulcanite for some identical replacement stuff; I can't see any difference with the rest of the body. He too 'bumped out' most of a nasty dent in the top cover.
It should be a fine user for many more years now, he told me.
I'll start taking it out with adapted FSU Jupiter 35, 50 and 85mm lenses and a Canon 3.5/135. As far as I can check the distance settings with these lenses are spot-on, which I didn't expect after reading Dante Stella's article on that matter. When first results are good enough, I'll post some on my weblog.
In near future I hope to remain as lucky in finding affordable Leitz lenses for my M2.

 

[HuubL]

Hallo Erik,
I just read above that a Leica repairman lives in your hometown. Could that be Zoetermeer and is his first name Will ? 🙂. As of today, I'm an M2 owner also and mine also needs a CLA. Groet,
Huub