New toy...M2!!

[Tim]

Sadly tho, it isn't mine.....



It belongs to a friend of mine, who inherited it from her father, who bought it new. Yep, effectively a one owner pristine M2.

It's a 59 model, is fitted with the Elmar 50/2.8, and a Leicameter MC. And as the pic shows has an ERC, and original box, instructions, etc etc etc
Except for one tiny scratch on the back it looks almost mint. Shutter seems close to perfect at all speeds; everything looks and feels luverly. RF/VF crisp and clear, although vertical RF alignment is a fraction out. Horizontal is spot on.

She's tried to use it but is having trouble getting good pics - "the focus is wrong" and "they're enderexposed".

So I have it for a month while she's away to play with, oops, I mean test.

I suspect the focus issue may simply be not pulling the lens out firmly. And the meter is definately out by about 3 stops - which'd explain the underexposure. Kinda not surprising with a 40 year old selenium meter. It does seem linear tho, so I should be able to just adjust the speed rating.

So in spite of the fact that it's a grey overcast day here - I'm going to load up some FP4 and go out and play!!!!!



tim

[Tim]

detail:

[SolaresLarrave]

Better a loaner than none at all! I've never used a meterless camera like this one... I mean, I have a Mamiya C and a Zeiss Ikon, which I use with a handheld Sekonic, but nothing like this camera.

Heck, enjoy it while it's your guest!

[Brian Sweeney]

I'd ditch the clip-on meter and get a hand-held.

What a beauty!

How is the shutter? Leica's have a habit of needing a good CLA when not used for a longtime.

[Tim]

If it was mine I'd ditch the clip on as well. Or maybe replace it with the VCII meter that normally lives on the IIIf. I'll certainly be using another meter to check the accuracy of the MC.

The shutter seems close to perfect. 1 second is 1 second, all others seem spot on - at least to ear and eye, and comparing to the M6. We shall see when I run a film thru it......

tim

[Todd.Hanz]

Have some fun with it then offer to buy it!

Todd

[Tim]

Originally posted by Todd.Hanz
Have some fun with it then offer to buy it!

Todd

Already asked, about 3 nanoseconds after I set eyes on it. Sadly, it's not for sale at any price.
So I need to work out any bugs with it and then get my friend to USE it. Would be such a shame to see it go back into it's box in a cupboard......

tim

[back alley]

it's a beauty all right!

IF i were to fall under the spell of the dark side, it would most likely be for an m2.

joe

[Doug]

Very nice looking package, Tim... lever rewind, so it's newer than mine. I didn't get case, manuals, lens, or meter with mine either, just a bare body. I hope and expect you'll have fun with it while you can!

[taffer]

Ok, I admit, it's a beauty

Congrats Tim ! There seems to be a Leica M virus spreading around here lately. I'm sure before having to return it you will be thinking about adopting one.