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The M2. I'm in awe.


plasticman

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Naturally I'll be posting in the 'I love my M2' thread (I even love the 'I love...' threads for film cameras I don't own) but I just wanted to say: the M2 TOTALLY RULES*!!!

 

It arrived by UPS this afternoon - and I'm totally amazed!! Not only is it externally in incredible (almost perfect) shape for a 50+ year old camera, the viewfinder is the sharpest, brightest, most contrasty, best aligned viewfinder I've EVER looked through. The finder lines and focus patch look as though they're illuminated by some mysterious internal light (I'm guessing LEDs - just like the M9-titanium**, but not stupidly and distractingly red), and the depth-of-field notches are an additional touch of genius!

 

The DR Summicron 50 that came with it is also totally incredible - built so smartly and so solidly - everything clicks exactly as new, and focus slides smoothly and positively. Why have I never bought one before?! The close-up mechanism is sheer genius!

 

Did I mention how solid and tight the whole camera is? Heavier than my other Ms, but slightly smaller; it feels like it's hewn it from a solid block of metal.

 

The M2. I'm in awe.

 

*yeah this should be spelt 'RULEZ' but I thought if I did that, a few forum members would have an embolism, so I decided to go OLD SKOOL, and spell it the right way... ;)

 

** this is supposed to be humor - just in case.

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Did I mention how insanely quiet the shutter is?? Up against my face I can barely hear the little 'snick' - naturally no-one else in the room even blinks.

 

And the special film-loading that I've been afraid of so long - what's the fuss? So you have to press a bit of film into a reel? That's it?? I was somehow expecting scissors and origami. Push in some film, load-up the reel, done.

 

My only problem - I'm guessing I need some special container for the goggles, when not in use...? I'll google goggles...

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Yes the M2 is a great camera! I've not tried any of the later M's but had an M3 previously, which I didn't get on with.

 

Loading film is a doddle. No need to cut it, with the 'back door' to help with loading (even though the little diagram inside shows film with a long leader, that's just the way it used to come at the time, as a carry over from the barnacks I assume).

 

Enjoy!

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The subject title should be "I just got an M2 and am at the fondling stage".

 

Now shoot some pictures to join real life. It's the best part.

 

Dunno what to say about this sort of comment - you just posted over on the M9 forum that you're so excited about ordering the M9 you can't sleep...?

 

Anyway, for what it's worth - the very first thing I did (after firing the shutter at all the speeds a few times) was load film and start shooting.

 

The reason I'm enthusing about the camera is that it's so vastly superior to the flimsy digital crap that Leica are making now. I have an M8 and it's better than any other digital camera I've ever owned - and aside from the cost-cutting removal of a couple elements to make up for the cost of the full-frame sensor, the M9 is very similar.

 

But holding the M2 and then the M8 - man, they are WORLDS apart.

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[... snip ... what I wrote was in good spirit ...]

 

The reason I'm enthusing about the camera is that it's so vastly superior to the flimsy digital crap that Leica are making now. I have an M8 and it's better than any other digital camera I've ever owned - and aside from the cost-cutting removal of a couple elements to make up for the cost of the full-frame sensor, the M9 is very similar.

 

But holding the M2 and then the M8 - man, they are WORLDS apart.

 

I should hope they are worlds apart. I will be experiencing the M9 after having used the M2, a few M4s and two M7s, all of which perform very well. Frankly, all the M2 does for me is give a bit of nostalgia, which I need like a hole in the head. (The same hole that let me get the M9?)

 

I admit that I am entirely skeptical of digital cameras, even though I use a Lumix G1 for the day job (sometimes with the amazing 25mm F/.95 lens.) I find the G1 sensor unacceptable in every way for stills, but look forward to using it on the new Pana digital video camera.

 

The M9 will give me the fun of side-by-side comparisons of an M7 and M9 with the same subject, lens, aperture, shutter speed and ISO to make prints for comparison. I will be uber-critical. If I am unhappy with the results, then I will repeat the experiment without comment.

 

One good thing - if the results are stunning my boss (soon to be my former boss) might appreciate the loss of the camera when I leave in May because it's mine, all mine! And I'm taking my 25mm F/.95 with me as well. It will be good for M43 digital video!

 

Enjoy the M2. It was my first Leica in 1965. Wonderful instrument.

 

 

Best,

Pico

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This doesn't sound like "real life" to me, but enjoy yourself.

 

Way too nice, a M2 is 400 GBP a CV f/2.5 200 GBP a lomo TLR 281 GBP, the Lomo shop is full, of youngsters.

When I get stopped street shooting they eventually ask

 

how much and

can you get film processed, there is normally a mini lab within a mile...

 

The M2 in '65 was more expensive, the film cheaper.

 

Noel

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