wilfredo Posted September 17, 2008 Author Share #41 Posted September 17, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hey Crew: My M2 arrived in the mail about 45 minutes ago. I am really excited! Whoever owned this camera kept it in the case all the time (it came with the original case) it looks minty, not a single scratch on any of the surfaces. The Ebayer I got it from was very conservative in his description. The shutter seems to be working fine, and the focusing seems to be working fine as well. It is an earlier model, I suspect from the late fifties since it doesn't have a self timer. I can't wait to start shooting with it. I will post a picture of it later when I get a chance to play with it some more. As soon as I have some worthy pictures, I will post them too. I already love the frame lines! Double Cheers, Wilfredo Benitez-Rivera Photography Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 17, 2008 Posted September 17, 2008 Hi wilfredo, Take a look here Just Wondering?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
andybarton Posted September 17, 2008 Share #42 Posted September 17, 2008 Nice one, Wilfredo. I know that you will really enjoy using this. It sounds like you got a good one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jplomley Posted September 17, 2008 Share #43 Posted September 17, 2008 Wilfredo, I get my drum scans done at West Coast Imaging in California. This is an $80K Tango scanner and Jeff Grandy is the scan master well recognized and respected in the large format community. Files come back burned on DVD in the TIFF format saved into Joselph Holmes Ektaspace, which is much wider color gamut than aRGB. A 16-bit drum scan really takes advantage of this broader colorspace as it more accurately preserves the subtle tonal transitions that we all love from our film. Unless you are making really large fine art prints from either 4x5 or 8x10 film, a drum scan may be overkill as these are not cheap and the resulting files can be large. For exaple, my 4x5 scans are on the order of 1.7 GB before adding any photoshop layers. You would likely be better to go with a scanning service that offers Imacon scans or Creo scans. For this I highly recommend JaincoTech in Ohio. They have both an Imacon 949 and Creo iQ3, both top of the line CCD-based scanners that leave the prosumer models in the dust. But again, if you are just web posting, this may be a waste. If you want to make the finest prints possible from 35mm film and want the best Dmax possible, this would be a good choice (for CCD based scanners). When you receive the scans you are essentially dealing with a RAW file (i.e. no adulterations have been made to the original scan). The workflow will be different than starting with a digital camera RAW file, but not necessarily more difficult. For example, you would still set black point/white point, adjust contrast, and tweak hue/saturation. What differs in the film workflow is the sharpening routines. For this I have had great success with PhotoKit sharpener and this has in fact become the de facto standard for sharpening film scans. I might add that the amount of sharpening required will depend if it is a drum scan (i.e. PMT capture) or CCD (such as the Imacon/Creo). Drum scanners tend to yield the sharpest results as these are oil mounted and aperture can be controlled very precisely. CCDs are good, but blooming can create additional softening. You must be careful when sharpening CCD scans not to introduce artifacts. Just my 2-cents from having worked with a lot of high end scanners and film in 35mm, 120, and 4x5 format. And then of course being spoiled by the M8 with images that come out almost perfect straight from the camera...man, did Leica ever get that one right IMHO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_livsey Posted September 17, 2008 Share #44 Posted September 17, 2008 Hey Crew: I already love the frame lines! Double Cheers, Wilfredo Benitez-Rivera Photography I said you would For me that's the clincher. If only the M8 had those, even as an option. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted September 18, 2008 Author Share #45 Posted September 18, 2008 Jeff, Thank you for that very useful information. Again, my thanks to all of you in your support of Leica madness. Here's my new (old) M2. What's not to like about this camera? I already wish the M8 had the same frame lines but I guess we can't have everything. Now for some film... Cheers, Wilfredo Benitez-Rivera Photography 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! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/62610-just-wondering/?do=findComment&comment=656948'>More sharing options...
jplomley Posted September 18, 2008 Share #46 Posted September 18, 2008 Oh my, that is lovely.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted September 18, 2008 Share #47 Posted September 18, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) They certainly don't come much cleaner than that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_livsey Posted September 18, 2008 Share #48 Posted September 18, 2008 Lovely. I think we all share your enthusiasm over this one It is early batch allocated 8/6/1958 M2 serials 935001 to 937500 No in batch 2500 I prefer the lack of self timer as I feel I can grip the camera better. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted September 18, 2008 Author Share #49 Posted September 18, 2008 Wow, I was a one year old when this camera was made. It is over 50 years old. That is mind boggling!!!! This is more than just a camera :-) Old is good! Cheers, Wilfredo Benitez-Rivera Photography Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
antistatic Posted September 18, 2008 Share #50 Posted September 18, 2008 That is a stunning M2. Load it with Tri X and go crazy David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted September 18, 2008 Share #51 Posted September 18, 2008 Ahhhh... Truly a thing of beauty. But remember that you are just curating it for future generations Now, Sir, to go with your excellent choice of main course, may I recommend a buttery smooth and contemporary Dual Range 50mm Summicron...? Enjoy, and post pics soon. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
innerimager Posted September 18, 2008 Share #52 Posted September 18, 2008 Congratulations Wilfredo, what a beauty! I share your enthusiasm for the M8, I also love my D3, but my M7 is my favorite camera.......Peter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBA Posted September 18, 2008 Share #53 Posted September 18, 2008 Welcome to the slippery slope! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted September 18, 2008 Author Share #54 Posted September 18, 2008 Welcome to the slippery slope! I'm sliding... I put in an order for Tri-X and T-max yesterday from B&H but I'm going to pick some up locally today because I'm eager to load the camera and start shooting. I still can't get over the frame lines. This is my first old Leica (previously I had an M6, MP, and M7) I especially liked the MP but having this camera now I can honestly see why Leica became legendary. It feels like a solid perfectly crafted tool. Heck it's over 50 years old! Cheers, Wilfredo Benitez-Rivera Photography Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickp13 Posted September 18, 2008 Share #55 Posted September 18, 2008 wilfredo, i really understand what you're going through. i was negotiating with myself one day, and argued that i really NEEDED a backup camera to use with my favorite lenses. just think what would happen if, for example, my m8 were hit by lightning (), or both batteries ran out of juice on the great wall of china (), and so on. so, having won that argument, i looked long and hard for a mechanical camera which would accept the current family of lenses, and be easy to focus with 50mm and longer lenses, and found a dented, scruffy, workhorse, newly lubed and adjusted m3. and you know what, it feels great to work with, for all the reasons named above. good luck with your decision greetings from hamburg rick 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! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/62610-just-wondering/?do=findComment&comment=657712'>More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted September 18, 2008 Author Share #56 Posted September 18, 2008 Rick, The circle is complete now. Enjoy! Wilfredo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickp13 Posted September 18, 2008 Share #57 Posted September 18, 2008 thanks, wilfredo. BTW, the light meter for mine is currently undergoing surgery in hollywood, back here soon. using both, i begin to understand the leica/leitz "collector" mentality. your m2 looks great! cheers rick 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! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/62610-just-wondering/?do=findComment&comment=657914'>More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted September 19, 2008 Author Share #58 Posted September 19, 2008 What's the verdict on this meter. I saw one for sale today. I loaded my camera with film and was prepared to use my old Gossen Lunar Pro only to discover the dials aren't working properly. So I guesstimated the shots I took. Cheers, Wilfredo Benitez-Rivera Photography Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted September 19, 2008 Share #59 Posted September 19, 2008 I currently have one on my M2 "on trial" (which means that Steve Unsworth will demand money with/without menaces for it when we get to Poland in 3 weeks time ) One you get used to how it works (including setting the 90 frame line with your middle finger, while pushing the button on the meter with your forefinger), it works very well indeed. The meter reads an area equivalent to the 90 frame line, btw, so it's more of a spot meter. If the price is right, I will buy it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickp13 Posted September 19, 2008 Share #60 Posted September 19, 2008 FYI, the $ are easy to calculate. i won the meter for $60. the complete cleaning, adjusting to A-1 condition and new alkaline cell was $130, so it adds up to basically the same money as a new VCII meter from cameraquest. in this particular case, i prefer the classic or nostalgia look over the "new with guarantee" meter. if you want to try it for a few days before mailing it to me in hamburg, send me a PM? cheers rick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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