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An M2 with 50 2.8 Elmar was the first Leica I got to try back in about 1966. (I had a Pentax H1a at the time.) By 1968 I was ready to buy a Leica as I left college, and had to choose between the M2, M3, and the M4, as all were available new. I went with the M4 (same price as M3) because I liked 35 mm lenses and also liked the M4 design better.

After I retired I added an M3 to see what I missed, and recently got a nice M2, in very good shape except for a chunk of vulcanite missing from the rear door (now fixed with Milliput). It still has a great, simple feel, and I do like the uncluttered finder. Since I've used my M4 for almost 50 years it's still my favorite, but the M3 has been bumped to 3rd place!

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Like Tom, above, I made the choice in 1968 to get a newly introduced M4, in spite of strong encouragement to go with the M3. It served me well, until about 2 years ago, when, because of eyesight issues, I decided to get out of rangefinders and sold it. Shortly thereafter I realized that I really missed them, Leicas in particular. I picked up a sad LTM, had it CLA'd, and then recovered the body and realized I definitely needed to get back into Leicas. Found a M2 in good condition, and have been having a ball ever since, eyesight notwithstanding. Recently I've been spending more time with my iif, but over the summer and fall, I'll be giving the M2 a real workout.

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I so enjoyed the M2 when I had it. I had two lens, the 50 f/2 Summicron chrome rigid lens and a later 35 f/2 Summicron. Later on I  bought a Canadian 50 f/2. I ended up trading it all for a medium format camera since I was doing studio and wedding photography. If I had it to do all over again I would have bit the bullet and just bought what I needed and kept the M2...lessons learned.

 

Leica%20M2018a_zps0mgbfzub.jpg

Edited by ColColt
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  • 2 weeks later...

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Hey guys, scrolling through all these lovely M2's I noticed that there a two differend types of framemasks behind the eyepiece.

One is a straight rectangle and the other one is more oval, like on M4 and all later ones.

Is there any difference between the two? I dont remember any difference in maximal viewing angle watching through M2,M4,M6...

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Yes, the original owner - a photographer from Sweden - had the M2 adjusted to match his 85 Canon 1.8 LTM and the Rigid was also adjusted to a  specific calibration which was way off on other M bodies.

It took  some time and  now all three are adjusted to Leica standards.

Got a set of new curtains from DAG and sent the BP Rigid and 85mm to Focal Point for a rehaul.

 

Will share more photos soon.

 

Cheers

JM

Edited by jmanivelle
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Fantastic looking camera, J-M. And the lens looks great.

 

 

This lens is from 1958 and I hardly find any infos online about it.  The focus scale is different than of the later BP batches.

Oops, I am shifting off topic here... will visit the Leica Collectors & Historica section !

Edited by jmanivelle
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I've had the old girl for about 15 years and she's still going strong. This was my second M body and was given to me by my parents as a birthday present.

 

About three years ago the vulcanite completely disintegrated and I had to replace it. At that time she went in for a major overhaul and I had the curtains and worn brass strap loops replaced. Other than that she has never needed anything more than an overhaul every few years and a steady supply of Tri-X to feed her.

 

The film rewind lever is a (Richard) Wasserman type. The hoods on the two Summilux lenses are Contax GG-2. I sawed a vent into one of them for use the Lux ASPH 1.4 / 35

 

This is probably my favorite camera and she's been everywhere with me.

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Edited by thrid
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My 1966 M2, fitted with the new 50mm Summilux ASPH in black chrome.

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Well, if the guy accepts my offer I'll soon be the proud owner of an M2 again. I had one many moons ago and lately have had the urge for another one. If I get it this time it won't leave. First thing I plan on doing is adorning it with a Nokton 50 f1.5 ASPH lens.

Edited by ColColt
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