sweet new M2

FrankS

FrankS

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I picked up my new M2 this afternoon after work and took it out to the coffee shop this evening. I got a few interesting shots I think. What a joy to USE! Photos made by this camera are coming soon, in the meanwhile, here is a picture of this camera. I guess it looks pretty much just like every other M2, but this one is mine. Just some meter marks on the top plate. Otherwise sweet, but this is a user, not a display princess!
 
RE: Sweet New M2

RE: Sweet New M2

Frank,

I have an M2 as well and it is my favorite camera to shoot with. When I want to take off and wander around just shooting I always wind up with the M2. The simple, uncluttered viewfinder combined with the solid build makes it a joy to use.

No doubt you will enjoy yours. I'm looking forward to seeing some results!

Best Regards,

Bob
 
Nice.
I've certainly enjoyed using the M2 I've had on loan. But, I'm not tempted to trade the M6 for one!

tim
 
RubenBlaedel said:
what was the diffence between the M2 and the M3
Click to expand...


The M2 shows 35mm framelines - but leaves out the 135mm so it has 35,50 and 90mm framelines in the viewfinder - It also has a few other little differences (such as a manual film counter + a few others I can't remember)

A lot of people seem to like it for it's more "simplistic" approach

Maybe somebody that actually owns one will chime in.

Congrats Frank! - looks great!


/Meakin
 
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Congratulations on the new M, Frank! Looks just like mine... A sweet running machine, I'm sure you'll enjoy using it.
 
<joe mode on>
agree, it's beautiful, if i'm ever tempted by the dark side, i'll probably go for an m2

but still, it's no match for the p :cool:
<joe mode off>

The best camera is the Nikon SP, No ! The Leica M3... or was it the M2... ARRRGH !!!!!! :bang:

Now seriously, congrats Frank ! It indeed IS a beauty ! :)
 
Very Nice Frank! The M2 is a fine camera! And congratulations to all the New Leica Owners for January!

I see that my "Display Subliminal Message" opcodes in the signature field is working.

Let's see, what camera should I put in the subliminal display for February... M3? Canon P?
 
Meakin said:
The M2 shows 35mm framelines - but leaves out the 135mm so it has 35,50 and 90mm framelines in the viewfinder - It also has a few other little differences (such as a manual film counter + a few others I can't remember)

A lot of people seem to like it for it's more "simplistic" approach

Maybe somebody that actually owns one will chime in.

Congrats Frank! - looks great!

/Meakin
Click to expand...

Meakin is right - the available framelines in M2 are 35, 50 and 90. Frank has an older type M2, with button rewind (that round button marked "R" on the left, viewed from the front). I think you have to keep that button pressed while you're rewinding film.
Also, Frank's M2 does not have the self-timer. I've got a later M2, which has both the rewind lever (you push it towards the lens, and it stays that way - which is obviously more practical, but not a big deal) and the self-timer.

As for the differences between the M2 and M3, the major one, IMHO, is the viewfinder magnification. The M3 has frames for 50, 90 and 135 mm and a larger magnification, which makes it ideal for lenses from 50mm up (i.e. up to 135mm) If you want to use 35mm lenses on M3, you have to either get a goggled lenses specifically made for M3 (clumsy, IMO), or use external finder - which (again IMHO) beats the purpose of Leica as a small and compact camera.

My M2 sports the CV Ultron 35/1.7 (thanks, Ralph!), and my Summicron 50/2 is on the M3. When I use longer lenses (Elmar C 90/4 or Hektor 135/4.5), I put them on the M3.

In short, if your lens combo is 35 and 50 mm (perhaps 90), then M2 is for you.
If you don't go wider than 50 (or 40mm), M3 might fit the bill.

What the heck, get them both, if you can!!! That's what I did :D

I know Brian will say it's a blasphemy, but I somehow prefer my M2. ;)

I should also say that, for those on a very tight budget, I'd heartily recommend a Kiev 4A (meterless!). Fitted with a Jupiter 8M, it's a machine very comparable to Leica - perhaps not quality-wise (Russian QC is sometimes referred to as "Russian roulette"), but in handling, it's an absolute gem. My only problem with the Kiev is small viewfinder - a potential problem for those of us wearing glasses. If you can live with that, and don't have the funds for a Leica, go with the Kiev, by all means! You won't regret it!
Well, even if you DO have a Leica, you might give the Kiev a spin! I'm sure you'll like it - particularly given the price :D

Denis
 
I knew I was missing something when I saw the rewind button. And yes, some M2 have a self timer, others don't. Why? Call it Leica charm... which can also be seen in the fact that, for 4 years, they were making Summicron 90/2 lenses that had a f22 mark in the DOF scale, yet the aperture only went to f16. The reason? According to DAG's Don Goldberg, they probably ran out of parts.

I learned this when I observed my own 'cron 90/2 and noticed this discrepancy.

Frank, are you taking your M2 for a ride today? We want to see pics! :)
 
I took the M2 with me to my wife's doctor's appointment this morning. (He is happy with her progress post op. skin cancer.) I took a couple of shots while he was cleaning up the surgical site on her nose. Used a Jupiter 12 35mm lens. What a great stealthy documentary camera. I would have felt intrusive with a camera with a loud shutter. With the Leica I felt invisible. Neither of them realized I took pictures.
 
Frank good news on your wife. Your experience is why so many Leica owners are obsessing about the shutter noise of the new Bessas. I have a project with classical musicians and I have to have a very quiet camera. It seems that the new Bessas are too noisy for my application. :(
 
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