SJP Posted May 6, 2010 Share #1 Â Posted May 6, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) I was using my M2 over the last couple of days and I noticed is says, Leica DBP on the top plate (DBP is small letters below the curly written Leica). AFAIK my M2 is a M1 upgrade version, based on the serial nr. on Steve Gandy's site: 10/9/1959 M1 979501 - 980500 950 Â Comments? What does DBP mean? Â Any info is appreciated, I tried searching the forum but I end up in the archive which is a pain to search. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 6, 2010 Posted May 6, 2010 Hi SJP, Take a look here Leica M2 DBP. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
SJP Posted May 6, 2010 Author Share #2  Posted May 6, 2010 Problem solved: Deutsches BundesPatent  Dunce cap on.....  I thought my M2 suddenly had become (even more;)) collectible. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandro Posted May 8, 2010 Share #3 Â Posted May 8, 2010 Stephen, can you show us some pictures of your M2? A few months ago I asked if anybody had ever come across a M1 which had been coverted into a M2, so I am curious to see yours. Best, Lex Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJP Posted May 8, 2010 Author Share #4 Â Posted May 8, 2010 I don't think I have all that many pictures of it (her), one is in the "I love my M2" thread as may have been expected. I am slowly tending to think that the M2 is the ultimate Leica M (despite the MP which is really beautiful as well) Â see here http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-collectors-historica/49228-i-love-my-m2.html#post920504 Â I have some original papers and it seems to have been converted "from scratch" - but I am not completely sure how that worked and the person that was involved with the original purchase died several years ago (it was mainly intended for microscopy). The paper says "Leica M1, gehause ohne objective fl. 396, Preis fur den umbau in Modell M2 fl 276" grand total is then fl 672 or roughly 300 euro. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeTexas Posted January 5, 2011 Share #5 Â Posted January 5, 2011 I've been offered a deal on an M1, but I was wondering if you knew more about how I could add a rangefinder to convert it to an M2. I've seen it mentioned several times in various places online, but I can't find anything with actual details of how it's done. Â My second question is, without the rangefinder, would I still be able to focus it looking through the viewfinder or would I have to completely rely on zone focus? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted January 5, 2011 Share #6 Â Posted January 5, 2011 I suspect that the conversion would have meant that Leica took the M1, chucked away the top plate/viewfinder and replaced it with an M2 top plate and rangefinder assembly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandro Posted January 5, 2011 Share #7 Â Posted January 5, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi, why would you want to convert a M1 into a M2? It seems to have been offered as a factory service when the M2 was in production. If you like to have a M2 I'd find one on the market. Without the rangefinder you can't focus with an M1, so yes you have to rely on your own estimate of distances. Is the M1 offered to you rather cheap? Lex Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted January 5, 2011 Share #8  Posted January 5, 2011 I've been offered a deal on an M1, but I was wondering if you knew more about how I could add a rangefinder to convert it to an M2. I've seen it mentioned several times in various places online, but I can't find anything with actual details of how it's done. My second question is, without the rangefinder, would I still be able to focus it looking through the viewfinder or would I have to completely rely on zone focus?  Keep it as an M1, probably of more interest to a collector, or just buy an M2.  No, without the rangefinder there's no assistance with focussing. You could buy one of the old hotshoe mounted rangefinders to use with it however - Leica and others made such devices. But again, if you want a camera to use, just get an M2 which will be much more convenient. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeTexas Posted January 5, 2011 Share #9 Â Posted January 5, 2011 Yes, it was offered to me very cheap ... for an M. Considering there were only 9,000 or so made, they don't seem to have much value on eBay, but I guess the lack of ability to focus is probably why. Â Thanks for the info. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeTexas Posted January 6, 2011 Share #10 Â Posted January 6, 2011 One more question. The M1 I've been offered doesn't come with a Visoflex, but it does come with two different Visoflex adapters. Are you able to focus it if you use a Visoflex or was the Visoflex purely for framing shots at longer focal lengths? Â Sorry if these are dumb questions. I've never had my hands on this stuff, and the entries in the Wiki are mostly descriptive and don't go into how things actually work. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandro Posted January 6, 2011 Share #11 Â Posted January 6, 2011 Yes, a Visoflex turns your rangefinder camera into a SLR, albeit that it becomes quite bulky. But with lenses on a Viso one can focus on the groundglass. I use a Visoflex for macro on a Leica MDa, which doesn't have a viewfinder nor a rangefinder. With the Viso you don't need them. Don't get tricked in using your M1 with a Viso because of the good price you have to pay for the M1. Because the Visoflex is a lot of fun, but you need different things and you loose the great rangefinder, for which the M-camera's have become so popular. And a Visoflex costs something as well. I still think you should find a M2 or M4, instead of sticking to the M1. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted January 6, 2011 Share #12  Posted January 6, 2011 One more question. The M1 I've been offered doesn't come with a Visoflex, but it does come with two different Visoflex adapters. Are you able to focus it if you use a Visoflex or was the Visoflex purely for framing shots at longer focal lengths? Sorry if these are dumb questions. I've never had my hands on this stuff, and the entries in the Wiki are mostly descriptive and don't go into how things actually work.  Just click under my signature... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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