More M2 questions

[Stealth3kpl]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I just got an M2. Questions:

1)Do Leica still CLA them?

2)Am I right thinking the counter is manually set?!

3)The second curtain looks a little slack. This shouldn't be so?

4) Aren't they solid and beautiful? It feels more solid than my MP.

 

Pete

[earleygallery]

1)Do Leica still CLA them?

 

Yes they will, but they're very expensive in my experience. There are plenty of reputable independent repairers out there who will do as good a job at less cost. Most Leica dealers will have contacts with repair techs and there are plenty of threads here with recommendations, look up CLA in the search function.

 

2)Am I right thinking the counter is manually set?!

 

Yes, turn to 0 after you load the film

 

3)The second curtain looks a little slack. This shouldn't be so?

 

Post a photo if you can, depends what you mean by slack. It is probably a little worn, if it needs replacing they'll do that with the CLA.

 

4) Aren't they solid and beautiful? It feels more solid than my MP.

 

Yes

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[andybarton]

1. Yes

2. Yes

3. No

4. Yes

 

That was easy

[andybarton]

1)Most Leica dealers will have contacts with repair techs and there are plenty of threads here with recommendations, look up CLA in the search function.

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-collectors-historica/133653-repair-specialists.html

[Xmas]

Hi

 

The M2 counter should only turn in one direction - i.e. clockwise - when the camera is wound on or fired, it should click at each frame position. You normally reset it like that.

 

Partially wound on it will (can be) turn(ed) freely either direction, but held by friction.

 

There may be variations within the production run, that is a 931xxx i.e. '58 I think.

 

There is a quick load kit which make lt almost like a M4 or later...

 

Noel

[Stealth3kpl]

Thanks everyone. I've had a chat with Malcolm Taylor so will be forwarding it on to him for CLA. The quick load mod is a good idea - I'll have to ask him about that option. Thanks Noel, Andy and James.

Pete

[bill]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

My old M2 - now "curated" by Andym911 - had the quick load kit fitted; they come up occasionally on eBay. They work, but are not as quick as the later "petal" type spool.

 

A minor nicety about the frame counter is that if you are shooting 36 exposures, you will often find that reloading and firing a couple of shots brings you 'round to 0 again...

 

And yes, the M2 is beautiful - enjoy!

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[Xmas]

The quick load kits came with a little screw driver to fit yourself.

 

The kit is a replacement spool, keep the old spool.

 

And a baseplate pusher that locates the film more positively, you can do without this pusher if you are not clumsy.

 

Leitz made a lot of them so they are not that expensive, many M2 or M3, like Bills are sold with them fitted.

 

Their main advantage is they reduce ne number of parts to drop to one the baseplate, hold baseplate in mouth.

 

Noel

P.S. if you don't get through a film in 15 mins you can make do without the QL kit

P.P.S. if you forget to set the counter if you are shooting 36 exp cassettes dont worry it will be close, as Bill suggests

Edited November 4, 2010 by Xmas
P.P.S.

[richam]

Thanks everyone. I've had a chat with Malcolm Taylor so will be forwarding it on to him for CLA. The quick load mod is a good idea - I'll have to ask him about that option. Thanks Noel, Andy and James.

Pete

 

Pete, I kept the original spool loader on my M2 because I was using Kodak HIE infrared at the time. I found it was easier to get it loaded right in total darkness or in a changing bag than it was using the "tulip" loader on my M6TTL. Of course, HIE is no longer available, but if you ever need to load in darkness by feel, the spool helps make it nearly foolproof. It's a bit difficult to verify that the leader is inserted properly in a "tulip" winder unless you can see it.

 

I did ask Leica during a 2004 visit to Solms for a CLA estimate. It was around € 900 as I recall. Their price includes bringing everything up to original specifications, including new shutter curtains, for example. I later had it CLA'd in the US for around $300, and it's been working like a jewel ever since.

 

Bill noted the M2 is beautiful. I say it's a work of art.

[giordano]

I always found the "quick load" kit more trouble than it was worth. I'm not normally clumsy or stupid, but I never got the knack of it and most times had to take the film out and try again, or again and again. By that time it would have been quicker with the removable take-up spool. OTOH I never had any trouble with the M4-M6 system.

[Xmas]

The QL kit reduces the number of parts you need to manipulate, if you were clumsy and dropped the normal spool into a drain culvert... splash....

 

It does need a knack and it is not easy in bad light. But I can get as many failures with the tulip...

 

Noel

[Stealth3kpl]

I think I'll leave it as it is for the moment and only change if it's a problem. I like to leave things in their original state if possible.

E900 for CLA!! Ouch. This M2 actually seems a very nice example. Just the rangefinder is vertically misaligned, and the shutter curtain needs looking at. I think I'll get it sorted for peace of mind.

 

The M2

 

[ATTACH]229376[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]229377[/ATTACH]

 

The shutter curtain

 

[ATTACH]229378[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]229379[/ATTACH]

 

 

Pete

[lincoln_m]

Pete,

It doesn't even have scuffs on the top plate. One very clean camera. I sort of see what you mean about the curtain but I'd be tempted to run a few films through. It may be that the camera has been standing in the same place , same way up for years and just needs a good work out.

 

Store it on it's back or upside down to let gravity work the other way for a change. Come to think, now I have a camera bag for my cameras they are stored side on with gravity working along the movement of the shutter, basically the same as when you take a portrait format shot instead of a landscape. Storing that way may be helping keep the shutter blinds in line.

 

Yours looks like one side (top or bottom) may be sticking slightly in the runners. Hence the "go and use it" suggestion.

 

It might only show as a problem on the faster shutter speeds when at 1/1000 we only have 2mm gap between blinds so any misalignment might show as uneven exposure in one half of the frame. Make and record your exposure settings at the different speeds to see if you notice any unevenness in a plain image like a painted wall or clear sky(away from the sun obviously).

 

Obviously a clean adjust and lubricate at Leica should do the trick but if you've only just got it can you wait the month or so turn around before you use this fine camera. I know I couldn't.

 

Regards, Lincoln