When I first got my Leica/Minolta CL, I expected this to be a goto camera. The 40mm f2 lens is a focal length I like and fills in for both a 35 and a 50 in many situations. Couple that with the 90mm f4, and you have a compact "system" that even includes a spot meter.
In use though something about it I never really warmed up to and I wasn't sure what it was. After using this M2 I see what it is: it was those pesky 50mm frame lines. I never intend to use a 50 on this camera and honestly am not sure why they included them when the camera has a 40 and a 90 designed for it. So I took off the top plate and using some thin strips of black tape, I masked off those 50mm lines and you end up with this nice clear uncluttered view. The 90mm lines still come up but the 50mm ones inside of the 40mm ones are gone.
A word of warning, if you attempt this, fire the shutter before you remove the top plate and do NOT pull the chrome shutter button out. I had a heck of a time getting it back in and for a while thought I had bricked the camera. I'm not even sure what I did, but it finally lined up and went back into place.
Other than that mishap, it was a simple job and at least for me transformed the camera. It's still not buttery smooth nor as accurate/quick focusing as the M2, but it's now a compact travel camera I enjoy shooting with.
In use though something about it I never really warmed up to and I wasn't sure what it was. After using this M2 I see what it is: it was those pesky 50mm frame lines. I never intend to use a 50 on this camera and honestly am not sure why they included them when the camera has a 40 and a 90 designed for it. So I took off the top plate and using some thin strips of black tape, I masked off those 50mm lines and you end up with this nice clear uncluttered view. The 90mm lines still come up but the 50mm ones inside of the 40mm ones are gone.
A word of warning, if you attempt this, fire the shutter before you remove the top plate and do NOT pull the chrome shutter button out. I had a heck of a time getting it back in and for a while thought I had bricked the camera. I'm not even sure what I did, but it finally lined up and went back into place.
Other than that mishap, it was a simple job and at least for me transformed the camera. It's still not buttery smooth nor as accurate/quick focusing as the M2, but it's now a compact travel camera I enjoy shooting with.
