LEICA M2

[GinaDJ]

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I am new to Leica. I have the M2. Can I use a hotshoe optic on its cold-shoe? Thanks. Gina.l

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[Anbaric]

Do you mean an accessory viewfinder, or are you asking about flash?

Modern viewfinders should fit, as the cold shoe is the same size as a hotshoe, though you might find one that's a little tight or a little loose so check carefully the first time you fit it. The vintage Leica finders are excellent.

For flash, you may need an adapter (unless your M2 has already been converted) that fits in the Leica flash socket to give you a modern PC socket, and either a flash that has a corresponding PC sync socket built in so you can connect it directly with a sync cable, or for flashes that lack this feature a converter that fits in the shoe and provides a PC socket and a hotshoe-style contact.

https://www.35mmc.com/01/08/2021/how-to-use-a-modern-flash-gun-with-a-leica-m3-m2-and-m1-by-phong-nguyen/

Edited February 22, 2024 by Anbaric

[GinaDJ]

Good morning, Anbaric. Thank you SO much for your speedy response.

I purchased this thinking it would work, but it doesn't appear to connect to the hot shoe correctly, I'm not really sure. My question came about, as I remembered that the M2 hot shoe is actually a cold shoe, and am no wondering if any optic won't work/shoe me what I would be seeing through the rangefinder window.

 

Leica Brightline Viewfinder SBOOI 12015 5cm 50mm View Finder No.0202

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[dpitt]

I think it should fit on the M2, but it does not make sense to me. The M2 has a perfect frame line and VF for 50mm. This OVF only does 50mm lenses, and it will not show any aid for focusing. Focusing always needs to be done in the original VF and then one can frame with the external optical view finder.

[williamj]

26 minutes ago, GinaDJ said:

Good morning, Anbaric. Thank you SO much for your speedy response.

I purchased this thinking it would work, but it doesn't appear to connect to the hot shoe correctly, I'm not really sure. My question came about, as I remembered that the M2 hot shoe is actually a cold shoe, and am no wondering if any optic won't work/shoe me what I would be seeing through the rangefinder window.

 

Leica Brightline Viewfinder SBOOI 12015 5cm 50mm View Finder No.0202

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

That definitely should work, see here what it looks like on this link https://fotohandeldelfshaven.nl/product/leica-12015-sbooi-leitz-wetzlar-5cm-optical-bright-line-viewfinder-chrome/ 

It may be a tight fit or the cold shoe may be damaged in some way, or the screw inside the cold shoe for adjusting the light meter might need adjusting.

Edited February 23, 2024 by williamj

[spydrxx]

The SBOOI is for basically composition, not focusing...in order to focus, you use the rangefinder window on the M2. But use of the SBOOI on an M2 is redundant, as the M2 has framelines for 50mm lenses, which is the same as the SBOOI. However, since the SBOOI isn't coupled to the focusing mechanism, it doesn't directly correct for parallax.

[Anbaric]

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As above, you don't need this one for the M2, though it's probably worth finding out whether the issue is with the finder or the shoe in case you need to fit a different one in future. At the time this finder was made, all Leica accessory shoes were cold shoes - it should be compatible with your M2, even though it isn't necessary.

[250swb]

Perhaps the best thing would be for the OP to read the M2 manual? A free copy of the manual for the M2 can be downloaded here

https://butkus.org/chinon/leica/leica_m2/leica_m2.htm

 

 

 

[Fotoklaus]

vor 18 Stunden schrieb GinaDJ:

I am new to Leica. I have the M2. Can I use a hotshoe optic on its cold-shoe? Thanks. Gina.l

The shoe was invented for Accessoires like external finders or lightmeters. The flash contact in the middle made it "Hot" some decades later.

But it makes only sense for long Telephoto- or wide angle lenses, as the big invention of the M-Series was its good rangefinder (M stands for the german word "Messucher")

[rpsawin]

GinaDJ,

Leica Brightline Viewfinder SBOOI 12015 5cm 50mm View Finder No.0202     is used for framing only. You will need to use the camera to focus. The same holds true for any external viewfinder. They are for framing purposes only.

[earleygallery]

13 hours ago, GinaDJ said:

Good morning, Anbaric. Thank you SO much for your speedy response.

I purchased this thinking it would work, but it doesn't appear to connect to the hot shoe correctly, I'm not really sure. My question came about, as I remembered that the M2 hot shoe is actually a cold shoe, and am no wondering if any optic won't work/shoe me what I would be seeing through the rangefinder window.

 

Leica Brightline Viewfinder SBOOI 12015 5cm 50mm View Finder No.0202

 

 

Hi, you seem to be implying that you think the above viewfinder should somehow connect electronically and show you the rangefinder patch and parallax correction that you see in the M2 viewfinder directly.

The accessory shoe is to simply hold accessories, like flash guns or shoe mounted light meters or viewfinders for lenses not covered by the M2 (35/50/90).

A 'hot shoe' only has connection for a flash to fire. I think you are confusing things with the EVF's you can get for some of the digital M's!!