My New Old M2

[wilfredo]

I recently purchased a Leica M2, feeling the need not to abandon film altogether and of course, simply because I remain nostalgic about old cameras. My new M2 is a 1958 vintage. Here are a few shots from my first roll. No masterpieces here but I think I will hang on to this Leica. I love the frame lines and wish they were the same on my M8.

Cheers,
Wilfredo
Benitez-Rivera Photography

[@bumac]

Nice pics from a great camera. Congrats and enjoy it.

[stuny]

Wilfredo -

As usual, you are too modest. These show well your honed sense of composition, and all have very nice subject, contrast, tonal range and detail.

[roguewave]

Wilfredo, #1 is a homerun. All are wonderful. Good choice you made here. Can't wait to see more.

[mark_goode]

Originally Posted by roguewave

Wilfredo, #1 is a homerun. All are wonderful. Good choice you made here. Can't wait to see more.

Wilfredo - I agree with Ben: all are wonderful but no. 1 is superb. Film? Developer? And congrats on getting a wonderful camera . . . you will (and already are) producing magic.

[Schönbiel]

Congratulations! A second birth for this camera...

[Hans K.]

Great pictures and well composed. A question from a beginner: how do you get the analog picture into a digital one? I guess you do not just scan the developped picture in a scanner?
Regards,
Hans K.

[wilfredo]

Thank you all. I'm glad I rescued this M2 from inertia and put it back in circulation. I have to say that I was heavily influenced in making the move toward the M2 by the guys on the film forum. I love the camera, it is a jewel.

These pictures were shot with Kodak Tri-X. I had the film processed at Samy's Camera in Santa Ana, California (they send it out to a lab) and except for scratches on the negatives, they do a good job. I scan my negatives on a Nikon Super Coolscan 4000. After that it's post processing using Photoshop CS3.

The first portrait of my friend Basil was shot with my 90mm Summicron. The portrait of my friend Carmen in conversation was done with my 35mm Summicron ASPH. The other two were shot with my 50 mm Konica Hexanon. Eventually I'd like to purchase a 50mm Summilux ASPH.

I've already loaded my M2 with a second roll and plan to keep film in it all the time. I really wish the M8 had the same frame lines, that's the best part of the camera for me.

Cheers,
Wilfredo
Benitez-Rivera Photography

[Michael Hiles]

Originally Posted by wilfredo

I love the frame lines and wish they were the same on my M8.

Benitez-Rivera Photography

Excellent pictures, all.

The M2's frame lines are lovely, uncluttered. One of many reasons why it is one of the greats. I believe the à la carte program has as an option the 35/50/90 combination, presumably because many like it.

[mark_goode]

Originally Posted by wilfredo

Thank you all. I'm glad I rescued this M2 from inertia and put it back in circulation. I have to say that I was heavily influenced in making the move toward the M2 by the guys on the film forum. I love the camera, it is a jewel.

Benitez-Rivera Photography

Again Wilfredo, great work. Welcome back to film. You're making magic!

[JBA]

Yes, welcome back to film. You're obviously having a lot of fun with this camera and are producing some wonderful images in the process!

[TONTONTINTIN.123]

Wilfredo, good series. #1 is superb.

[kenneth]

Great shot Wilfredo. I am considering an M2 as a second camera to my M6. You show a picture of your camera fitted with a 35mm Summicron asph. Is that the lens used for the shots you took?

[michael_boylan]

Wilfredo,

These are truly lovely: well seen, well captured, well processed, beautifully scanned, and all coming together to make some great images.

I'll take your M8 off your hands if you like.

Michael

[wilfredo]

Wow, this has been quite a response. I guess there are still lots of film fans in the house. Thank you.

Kenneth:

In one of my threads above I explain the lenses I used. You will certainly love the M2. I paid $631.00 for this camera. It is the best Leica deal I've ever gotten!

Michael:

Are you saying that Leica can replace the viewfinder frame lines of my M8 with one that is 35-50-90 like the M2?

Cheers,
Wilfredo
Benitez-Rivera Photography

[Bernd Banken]

Wilfredo,

I'm blown away by your pics - especially #1.
For me it seems that you have found your harbour!
But one (inexprensive) lens you should buy in the future:

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-...ssic-mood.html

This lens has the special drawing, you'll jump back in time.......

Regards
Bernd

PS: prices for M2 and Elmars will raise in the near future...

[ddp]

Originally Posted by wilfredo

I guess there are still lots of film fans in the house.

Benitez-Rivera Photography

Wilfredo - these are very, very nice. And yes, many film fans still around. I still love the way film looks, period. The atmosphere and subtleties can't be beat IMHO.

[ron110n]

Ah... you still have the hang of it.
Nice photos!

-Ron

[robert_parker]

Wilfredo

I particularly like the 90mm and 35mm portraits, as Michael says, these are beautifully scanned as well as being elegantly composed and taken

[bill]

I love it when a plan comes together...

Wilfredo, I am proud of being one of those to have tempted you into an M2 (Kenneth is well on the way, too ). Your output absolutely speaks for itself - simply exceptional. #1 does it for me, too. It fair warms the cockles of my heart to see a craftsman-built tool being wielded with sensitivity by a photographer who is in turn also a craftsman. It is rare to see such sensitivity and humanity coming through so clearly.

Bravo.

Regards,

Bill