sandro Posted January 22, 2010 Share #1 Posted January 22, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Somewhere I read that several M1's have been modified to become an M2, but building in the rangefinder of the M2. That would result in a Leica M without the type identification, since the designation M1 would have gone lost when the rangefinder was fitted in. Does anyone know about such a modified M1, are there pictures of examples to be seen? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 22, 2010 Posted January 22, 2010 Hi sandro, Take a look here M1 > M2. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
luigi bertolotti Posted January 22, 2010 Share #2 Posted January 22, 2010 I did not remember to have red of this modification, but www.summilux.net confirms : "La conversion du Leica M1 en Leica M2 fut possible" One of of the main contributors to Summilux.net (JC Braconi) is a well know member of this forum... : let's wait a little and we'll know some more... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted January 22, 2010 Share #3 Posted January 22, 2010 Luigi I am here, The only litterature speaking about the possible conversion M1 > M2 is in Gianni Rogliatti "Leica the first 70 years", Page 79 ,Chapter 9 development of the Leica M. "The M1 could be converted to the M2 by the addition of a range finder system. It is quite possible therefore to find an M2 with a M1 number and without "M2" engraved on the top plate. The original "M1" engraved on the blanked off rangefinder window would, of course, have been lost in the conversion". Edit : Also in the "First 60 years" page 95. I' ld add the addition of the frame selector, at least, to be a M2. This one already posted in "A little..." is wearing a 1965 M1 serial number :1050278. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted January 22, 2010 Share #4 Posted January 22, 2010 Mmhhh... M1 number but 1) M2 engraved on top 2) frame lever 3) Self timer Is it a conversion or an "out of batch" model ? Interesting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted January 22, 2010 Share #5 Posted January 22, 2010 Mmhhh... M1 number but 1) M2 engraved on top 2) frame lever 3) Self timer Is it a conversion or an "out of batch" model ? Interesting. Difficult to know, personally I always thank it was a listing error. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandro Posted January 24, 2010 Author Share #6 Posted January 24, 2010 Hello Luigi and JC. Interesting camera you show us. I'd say it is an M2 with and M1 serial number. Or would closer inspection of the top plate show differences in the M2 script as compared to 'real' M2's? It was Rogliatti indeed where I read the mention of possible conversion, and now I read it in Laney, p.108 as well. Under the heading "Factoring conversions" of the M1 he just mentions M2. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted January 25, 2010 Share #7 Posted January 25, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Mmhhh... M1 number but 1) M2 engraved on top 2) frame lever 3) Self timer Is it a conversion or an "out of batch" model ? Interesting. Luigi, it was always Leica practice that when a camera was upgraded, it kept its serial number. In this case, the camera got a new top, and the old serial number was engraved on it. This practice goes all the way back to Leica A converted to Leica II! With a M2 finder, the camera had to have a frame preview lever too, so that was part of the conversion. And the customer did probably ask for the self-timer, and got it. And payed for it ... The old man from the Age of the MD Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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