Want to Buy WTB Leica M2

[punkzter]

Just curious of anyone has one that they are interested in selling.

Thanks,
Brad

 

[tallenpatterson]

Very good friend of mine has the following one for sale for $875. Per his description. If interested let me know and I'll put you in contact with him.
Purchased new in Germany
It still has the “L” seal
Factory mark on 12o’clock screw
It comes with
Original
Lens caps
Body cap
Leather case
Flash plugs
Flash converter
Leica UVa filter
Short instruction folder
in German
Other papers
and
Original box

 

[tallenpatterson]

Pic of the box and manual as well...

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Thread moved to WTB subforum.

 

[mshchem]

I sold mine. Better than a M3 IMHO. That's a beautiful outfit. If my wife wouldn't hit me with the "How many cameras do you need ?!!!!" I would jump on it.
Tally Ho!

 

[tallenpatterson]

I agree! The M2 is rock solid and a no nonsense camera. Nothing but business and the 35mm framelines are perfect. Love mine!

 

[Maxwell]

An excellent price for this M2 - I agree they are excellent film M's - love mine
GLWS

 

[punkzter]

If I plan on shooting mainly 50mm at first and then one day perhaps getting 35mm, is the m2 still a good option? Or should I look into an m3? Honestly, I've probably jumped into this too quickly. I'm not sure if I can afford the Leica world. I currently have a IIIf and a 50mm f3.5 Elmar collapsible lens.

I thought that it would be fun to try an m2, but I'm a little hung up on which 50mm to get. The 35mm lenses are basically out of my price point at the moment. And I'm not sure if I see the point in just using my Elmar on a new body. The fiddliness of the IIIf is one of the reasons I am intrigued by an m2 or m3.

 

[Maxwell]

The M2 is much preferred for the 35 simply b/c there is no need to use the model with the goggles

 

[punkzter]

Is it a toss-up for 50mm?

 

[btaylor]

I never had much desire for the M3 because of the lack of 35mm frame lines. I find if I change from a 50mm it’s usually to a moderate wide and rarely to 135mm where the M3 would do better, but everyone has their own preferences. I find accessory finders fiddly and bulky though I use them when I have to. Which is one thing I really like about my M2, I don’t have to, especially since I almost never use a 135mm on a rangefinder camera.
I tried to like the Barnack cameras and had a couple, but the M’s are so much easier and faster to use I sold them. If you get an M why not pick up an ltm to M adapter and use your Elmar, especially for the time being. A nice alternative to a Summaron or Summicron 35mm is the Canon 35mm f2. A fine lens for half the cost of the Leica optics.

 

[punkzter]

I had thought about that. I was a little hesitant, because I wasn't sure if the M2 was that much less fiddly than the IIIf. And it's certainly more bulky. So it wouldn't really be until I had purchased another 50mm or 35mm lens that the M2 would make more sense. But I could certainly hold off on purchasing an M mount 50mm lens and use that money towards a 35mm lens.

 

[btaylor]

The M2 is, IMHO, an entirely different experience than the Barnacks. A much better one— that’s why the M series fundamentally changed the format of rangefinder cameras. Get one. Try it, you’ll probably love it, and if you don’t you can probably sell it for whatever you pay for it.

 

[punkzter]

Even with a ltm elmar lens? Or does using it with an m mount lens also make a difference ?

 

[summicron1]

Even with a ltm elmar lens? Or does using it with an m mount lens also make a difference ?

when you put an adaptor on an ltm lens it becomes an m-mount lens -- using one on an M-series camera is not going to change the experience in the slightest -- the M-series was a huge advance in ease of use -- easier to load, faster to shoot, fewer knobs to twist if you wanted slow speeds, vastly better viewfinder.

 

[punkzter]

I suppose I find adjusting the aperture and focusing my ltm elmar lens a little fiddly. That's all.

 

[btaylor]

Yea, the aperture adjustment on the little Elmar is a pain. But if you like the M2 sell the f3.5 Elmar, buy a Summicron or 2.8 Elmar or Canon or Nikkor— so many great choices!

 

[punkzter]

Cool story (or at least I think so), the Leica IIIf and the f3.5 Elmar were originally purchased by my grandfather. The camera stopped working when he was still alive and was passed on to my Uncle. When I developed an interest in film photography, I asked my Uncle if I could get the camera fixed and use it. He was pretty excited to do this and we sent it off to DAG for a full CLA. He did an excellent job, and even though I do find the camera fiddly, I like using it and will not sell the camera or the lens

 

[punkzter]

I didn't grab the camera listed earlier, so still looking. Thanks!

 

[Fotoguy20d]

If you're interested, I have an M3 for sale (I own two so its not like I'm getting away from Leica). The Elmar is a fiddly little lens but perfectly usable on the M body. My preference is the Summitar (like you, my first 35mm camera was my grandfather's 1946 IIIC and Summitar lens - I no longer shoot with them but theyre not for sale). I have an M mount Summicron I never use, and a goggled 35mm Summaron I do use, but all my other lenses are LTM. I'd be happy to sell you a Canon 50/2, or collapsible Cron (I find it no different than the Summitar) if you really need to get away from the Elmar.

Dan

 

[samuelphoto]

If you're interested, I have an M3 for sale (I own two so its not like I'm getting away from Leica). The Elmar is a fiddly little lens but perfectly usable on the M body. My preference is the Summitar (like you, my first 35mm camera was my grandfather's 1946 IIIC and Summitar lens - I no longer shoot with them but theyre not for sale). I have an M mount Summicron I never use, and a goggled 35mm Summaron I do use, but all my other lenses are LTM. I'd be happy to sell you a Canon 50/2, or collapsible Cron (I find it no different than the Summitar) if you really need to get away from the Elmar.

Dan

 

[samuelphoto]

I have an extremely nice button rewind model with no timer. DAG CLA'd a few months ago. Beautiful cosmetics and smoothest M I've ever run. Only issue is a chip in the vulcanite which is no big deal to replace. Let me know if you're interested and I can send pictures.

 

[samuelphoto]

Sorry, I've decided to keep it. It is just way too nice to sell for a thousand bucks. I'd hold this up against any MP, all it lacks is a meter which is no big deal to me. Sorry for leading you on.

 

[David Reynolds]

I have a Summaron 35mm F2.8 chrome Wetzlar #1664676 with google with case
I have a Summaron 35mm F3.5 chrome Wetzlar #1555472 with google with box
I have a Summicron 50mm F2 collapsible Wetzlar #1315503 with case
I have 2 Elmar 50mm F2.8 collapsible Wetzlar #1576212 & #1576242
I have a Summicron 50mm F2 chrome Wetzlar #1530136

 

[punkzter]

Bump. I'm back in the hunt for an M2, if anyone has one they are interested in selling