andybarton Posted July 16, 2007 Share #1 Posted July 16, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) My M2 is giving up the ghost. It was CLA'd at MK last year, but the shutter is sticking once again. I think it might be time to retire it and move onto something else. An M8, while desireable, is out of the question, budget-wise, so I need a sensible companion for my DMR. I am thinking of an M6 (non-TTL), but, as a glasses wearer, need some advice on which magnification viewfinder to go for when using a 35mm. The viewfinder in the M2 just isn't set up properly for glasses wearers. Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 16, 2007 Posted July 16, 2007 Hi andybarton, Take a look here M2 on its last legs - replacement strategy.... I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
stunsworth Posted July 16, 2007 Share #2 Posted July 16, 2007 Hi Andy, virtually all non-TTL M6's are .72 - the same as the M2. There were a few with .85 towards the end of the run, but that would be even worse for you. You could use an M6 with a correction lens of course. Realistically that only leaves a .58 M6 TTL. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
masjah Posted July 16, 2007 Share #3 Posted July 16, 2007 Andy Sorry to hear about your M2. Presumably by sod's law the CLA is "now out of warranty", so to speak? Is it worth giving it one more go with a CLA (or repair)? For myself I'd send it to MK for an opinion, in particular asking whether anything else has broken, and, if not, why a CLA only "lasts" for just over a year. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
guywalder Posted July 16, 2007 Share #4 Posted July 16, 2007 I'm inclined to think that all Leica Ms are just not set up for glasses wearers..... but to try and answer your question, I have a 0.72 M7 and it is manageable with glasses if you are prepared to press them up against the finder. The whole M experience is much better with contact lenses though! Guy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gberger Posted July 16, 2007 Share #5 Posted July 16, 2007 Andy - I've worn glasses for many years, and I found that getting the right diopter correction lens was the answer. I just shove my glasses onto the top of my head and shoot. The diopter correction lens does the trick. Having owned an M4, a classic M6 and now an M7, I'd suggest the M7. For an M series camera, the shutter accuracy is amazing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyoung Posted July 16, 2007 Share #6 Posted July 16, 2007 Hi Andy, virtually all non-TTL M6's are .72 - the same as the M2. There were a few with .85 towards the end of the run, but that would be even worse for you. You could use an M6 with a correction lens of course. Realistically that only leaves a .58 M6 TTL. I bought an M3 in preference to the M2 in '68, because I couldn't see the 35 frame on the M2, the M6 ttl I have now seems better although its the same .72 viewfinder, and I can (just) see the 35 finder with glasses on. Malcolm Taylor told me when I collected the M6 from repair recently that at some stage they reduced the size of the frames slightly, (perhaps when they added the 28 frame?). In theory that should make the frame less accurate, but I haven't noticed any problems. I tried the .58 finder, but the 90 frame seemed pretty useless, and even the 50 seems small. Gerry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted July 16, 2007 Share #7 Posted July 16, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Gerry, I bought an M2 over an M3 for the opposite reason - I wanted the 35mm framelines, but I only wear glasses for reading. The framelines on my M6 are a bit smaller than the M3, so they did change somewhere along the line, probably as you say with the introduction of the 28mm ones. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
guywalder Posted July 16, 2007 Share #8 Posted July 16, 2007 for those who can get by in German, there is info about the variations in VF spec at: Leicastory Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted July 16, 2007 Author Share #9 Posted July 16, 2007 Thanks for the advice chaps. Putting my glasses on my head isn't an option and I am not prepared to wander about with them on a chain, so it has to be a solution that will accommodate me continuing to wear them. My contact lenses days are long gone. Since I would never use an M for anything longer than a 50, I think that something with a 0.58 might have to be the answer. Let's see what we can find! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter55 Posted July 16, 2007 Share #10 Posted July 16, 2007 Hi, I have the M5 and it has a 0.68 finder. I also purchased an $89 Leica +0.5 diopter and this works for my eyes. One more thing was I purchased the Leica 1.25 magnifier at B&H for $289 for the times when I really wanted critical focusing and also for when I got myself a 90mm and 135mm lens. It turns out I don't need the 1.25 magnifier, but it came with a quality latch and small chain so I do keep it on the camera. The M5 also in my opinion is the best design of them all. Go to Cameraquest.com and read about it. >Frame lines for 35, 50, 90 & 135mm lenses, 28mm would be the entire viewfinder area. >TTL metering with 8% spot reading. >Shutter Speeds Visable in viewfinder >Match Needle metering visable in viewfinder. I do not like diodes! Match Needles are intuitive (anolog). >Overhanging Shutter Speed Dial on top plate- you can feel it so you don't need to take your eye from the viewfinder and since the speeds are displayed in the viewfinder you never need to worry if you changed the speed to a setting you don't want. You see the display as you change it via mechanical link. >Bottom Film Rewind with a Crank Handle and rotating knob. >100% Mechanical Shutter is not battery dependent at all. > Uses modern hearing aid -zinc air batteries "size 675", you get a half dozen for $5.00 >First M with a working hot shoe. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
harmsr Posted July 16, 2007 Share #11 Posted July 16, 2007 Andy, I also wear glasses and struggle with the 35 lines in a standard .72x VF M. (Forget even seeing the 28 frame lines.) If you use wide to 50, the .58x works really well. If you don't mind hearing about the other maker also, you might really want to consider a Zeiss Ikon body. The view finder is really better then the M and much easier for an eyeglass wearer due to its size. I can see and use the 28 lines on a ZI. Best, Ray Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted July 17, 2007 Share #12 Posted July 17, 2007 Andy Sorry to hear about your M2. Presumably by sod's law the CLA is "now out of warranty", so to speak? Is it worth giving it one more go with a CLA (or repair)? For myself I'd send it to MK for an opinion, in particular asking whether anything else has broken, and, if not, why a CLA only "lasts" for just over a year. AGREED ... unless MK advised that parts were not available when CLA'd ... and thus just did a CLA rather than worn parts replacement ... And there are other Leica repairers in UK who might have parts eg http://www.angelfire.com/biz/Leica/ Dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted July 17, 2007 Share #13 Posted July 17, 2007 It might be worthwhile having Malcolm Taylor look at it first - I'm certain he'd give you an accurate estimate of whether it's worth repairing or not. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyoung Posted July 17, 2007 Share #14 Posted July 17, 2007 Gerry, I bought an M2 over an M3 for the opposite reason - I wanted the 35mm framelines, but I only wear glasses for reading. The framelines on my M6 are a bit smaller than the M3, so they did change somewhere along the line, probably as you say with the introduction of the 28mm ones. Steve at the time I seemed to use the 50 most, and also the 135 for some sports work, so the M3 + 35 with specs was the best choice, now I seem to use the 35 most, and the 135 almost never, lord knows why the change, I still take mostly the same sort of pics! Its amazing how much smaller an M6 + 35 seems than the M3 + 35 with specs and a meter, almost like a compact! Gerry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
topoxforddoc Posted July 18, 2007 Share #15 Posted July 18, 2007 Andy, If you're looking for cheaper 0.58 M body, how about a CL or CLE or even a Hexar RF. I have a CLE, which works fine with specs. In some ways, it is my most useable M body, like shrunk down M7. I don't use mine very often now, which is a shame, as it has always been my most accurate body exposure wise. My kodachromes were always spot on. Charlie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted July 18, 2007 Share #16 Posted July 18, 2007 The only problem with the Hexar RF is that if anything goes wrong you're left with a paperweight. No need to ask how I know this <grin>. My RF has a rangefinder that is totally out of whack, and one of the prongs on the take up spool snapped when rewinding a film. Result, a camera that no one seems able to repair. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Never Satisfied Posted July 18, 2007 Share #17 Posted July 18, 2007 Hi Andy, I've got both the M2 and .72 M6 and the M2 is far quieter and the Rf doesn't suffer with the dreaded flare like the M6. Get your M2 repaired; the only advantage a M6 has over the 2 is an inbuilt meter, IMHO that is,cheers Andrew. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rona!d Posted July 18, 2007 Share #18 Posted July 18, 2007 The only problem with the Hexar RF is that if anything goes wrong you're left with a paperweight. No need to ask how I know this <grin>. My RF has a rangefinder that is totally out of whack, and one of the prongs on the take up spool snapped when rewinding a film. Result, a camera that no one seems able to repair. I had no trouble and loved my RF. If you have any troubles with an Hexar RF call Fotomechanik Reinhardt. He was the official Konica service back in the 70´s, 80´s, 90´s and can also adjust the camera to Leica lenses. http://www.fotomechanik-reinhardt.de/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted July 18, 2007 Share #19 Posted July 18, 2007 Thnaks Ronald, I may sent him an email Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tummydoc Posted July 18, 2007 Share #20 Posted July 18, 2007 My M2 is giving up the ghost. It was CLA'd at MK last year, but the shutter is sticking once again. I think it might be time to retire it and move onto something else. My first move would be to ring up the fellows who sorted it last year and politely demand they redouble their efforts. There's no reason the shutter should be sticking such a short while after a proper service, nor is there much short of a fire or a bath in seawater that would relegate an M2 to the camera graveyard. Unless of course the owner simply wants an excuse to buy another camera Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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