Questions when buying M2

[digitaldave]

Thanks to all the helpful people on here, I think I'm going to look at getting an M2 in the near-ish future. I've seen one on ebay at a nice price, and I've asked the seller a couple of questions (condition of VF, has it been serviced recently, are there any dents or scratches etc), but I'd like to know if there are other things to look out for? Some things I've thought of just now:

1) Button vs lever rewind? Any reason to go for one over the other?
2) Serial number? Is there a preferred range to look for? Cameraquest mentions above 1000000 as being desireable on M3s, so I assume this applies to M2s as well? Also, why are the higher numbers preferred? Should I avoid ones below 1000000?
3) Self-timer? I'm not bothered about this really, as I doubt I'll want to take pics of myself 😉. Would it be worth thinking about one without a timer as it's one less thing to go wrong?

If anyone can think of anything else I should look for, that would be great 🙂>

Thanks,

Dave.

 

[Kim Coxon]

Try this link from one of our sponser's http://cameraquest.com/mguide.htm

It will save a lot of typing 😉

Kim

 

[Kyle]

I'd say jump on whatever one you can get your hands on from a seller you can trust. However, I'd go for a lever rewind as I've heard they're less finnicky to use than a button rewind (my M2 is lever rewind, and its great, but I've never used a button rewind). I haven't heard of any serial number range being more or less desirable for M2s.

Hopefully that helps a little. Other than that, just keep browsing CameraQuest, there's a lot of good info!

 

[digitaldave]

Thanks for the advice so far 🙂.

Here's a link to the one I'm looking at. I've emailed the seller and he's sent me some more pictures. It looks in pretty good shape to me, apart from what looks like a ding on one corner, near the frame counter. There's a chip out of the vulcanite on the back and a little bit of wear around the edge of the door on the back. The seller has said it's ok for me to go to have look before buying. Sounds ok to me, but then I've never bought a used Leica before, so I have no idea what I'm looking for. Any comments would be gratefully received 🙂.

Thanks,

Dave.

 

[ERV]

I have the same early model as the one your interested in with a push button rewind, no self timer, and a serial number of 9420xx.
The push button rewind is fine. Some say that the button can pop out while rewinding however I've never had that happen.
You also have to remember not to push it in while holding the camera, which is not a big deal.
Overall, the M2 is the quietest of my Leica bodies. (M6,M5,M4-2). It is almost silent. The price is about right. (around 611.USD).
I owned a M3 at one point but sold it for the M2 because I didn't like the .92 viewfinder. No room outside the framelines for composing and no 35mm lines were not for me.
I don't think the M2 had a preferred serial range. Mine is from 1958 and it is solidly built with a great finder and classic Wetzler design. The over size self-setting film counter is really cool and reminds me of the shutter dial of the M5, 15 years later.
If it looks nice, go for it!

 

[pvenables]

Dave

If you can deal with the lack of a in-camera meter, you will enjoy the M2. Mine is from 1960 and as mentioned previously is very, very quiet. The finder in mine is a bit dark, and there are some dents on the back door, but all the speeds are dead-on and it looks so classic.

You might ask the seller whether he will take the camera back and refund your money or pay for the repair if something major isn't working. If they are happy to do this, I'd go for it.

Paul

 

[digitaldave]

I've decided to pass on this one for several reasons.

First, I suspect that I was looking at this particular one as it was the first time I'd realised I could afford an M2.

Second, I think I'd rather buy from someone on here 🙂.

Finally, if I wait until the new year, I'll have some more money available, meaning that I might be able to afford a more expensive model (M6 possibly, although I'm likely to go for an M2 of some sort - they just look so much cooler than the M6 😉), and also I'll have more idea about what my total budget is for body + lens.

Anyway, thanks for the advice 🙂.

 

[Ken Ford]

I love and have lusted for M2s for thirty years, but when I got back into Leica RF I went with an M6. I really like having an internal meter - my eye for exposure ain't what it used to be.