The Leica M2, best of the IIs? Oskar Barnack vs the world part 10 - The Leica M:s

[@theblackandwhitefilmproject]

I own an MP and an M2. I mainly shoot B+W HP5+ and use the MP Iso400 and M2 Iso800 low light. My M2 has a self timer so I can use on a tripod down to 1 sec without needing a cable release. I chose the M2 over the M3 because I wanted the framelines for 35mm. I prefer the spool loading with the M2 over the MP as there is more certainty that it is loaded correctly. I use a Doomo cold shoe light meter which gives the same meter readings as the MP. It is a brilliant camera. I bought from Ebay CLA'd with new paint, leather, viewfinder. I had to get the rangefinder adjusted when I bought it. The technician had never seen another Leica M where every shutter speed is perfect. The film counter dial is fine- just set it up when loading the film. Never had a problem. I feel very lucky to have this camera. When using it is the same feeling as driving a classic car. FYI the framelines are 35mm, 50mm and 90mm.Cheers!

[@extremebanding2748]

Yes, you are right, it is 90mm, too many frame lines to keep track of, I guess. Congratulations to your M2! It is very hard to imagine a camera with a nicer feel. The analogy with a classic car is spot on, there's just something about it.

[@theblackandwhitefilmproject]

@@extremebanding2748 When I looked at M3 or iiig the framelines of 50/90/135 were too limiting. I had the chance to use a 135mm lens and it was almost unusable - too heavy to keep stable under 1/250 and with such a small frameline too hard to focus. Even using hyperfocal distance to focus the f stops are so close together to be usable.Cheers and regards.

[@stevecoffey5290]

I once owned an M2 but but sold it. In recent years I'm wanting another but I remember constantly hitting the frame counter in my bag. It drove me crazy so maybe it's time for an M4 to go with my Barnacks.

[@extremebanding2748]

Yes, that's a good point actually. I haven't experienced it, that I know (so I probably have), but I can see it happen. The M4 is of course in many ways an upgrade, the M2 perfected in a way, but also more expensive.

[@gerogerogegege]

I've yet to see any Leica M getting sold for under a 1000€ but I appreciate the overview otherwise. Myself I've got a Leica CL and I quite like it, despite the tiny EBF

[@extremebanding2748]

Here in Sweden it is actually not uncommon to find the m2's around the 1000€-mark, with a little bit of patience. If you are based in the eu you can check out the swedish form of ebay, called tradera, where good deals surface from time to time. The CL is a wonderful camera though, and as long as you don't use longer focal lengths the base length is most of the time more than sufficient.

[@mlzplayer9243]

I would be interested in a comparison between the M3 and S3, SP etc.

[@extremebanding2748]

Indeed, me too...

[@sputumtube]

The camera body is only half the story. It will also need a compatible (Leica?) lens which will double the total outlay.

[@extremebanding2748]

Of course. But a nice thing about Leica screw mount, and even more so the M-mount, is that the lens selection is enormous, and you can get an ltm to m-adapter and a Soviet 50mm lens for very very little, if you want to keep costs down. And on the other hand, if you want a more expensive lens, you can choose to save money on the camera body instead.

[@Socrates...]

I prefer M3 for 50mm

[@PatrickGregoryDaniels]

I think Leica mda is cheapest of the m series fyi… minus viewfinder still an m

[@extremebanding2748]

Yes, that is indeed true.

[@PatrickGregoryDaniels]

@@extremebanding2748 not trying to be Leica purest snobby btw just thought I’d share in case someone a more budget friendly but challenging option