Experience with M2 or M3 bodies?

Both the M2&3 have a different film loading mechanism than the M4 and later models. It it a bit slower to load the M2/M3 since there is a spool that you have to load before you can load the film. I know it is possible to have an M3 modified to load more like M4 and later models.

My first M was an M2. I love the simplicity of the camera. Other than a very slow loading process, it is similar in feel to the M4.

If you can find a clean body – go for it.

I am using an M8 for quite a bit of my commercial and editorial shooting. I’m back to shooting Kodachrome in my M4 for a personal project.

Try Ken Hansen or Sherry Krauter for a good clean body.

You won’t regret the M2. Its bullet proof. I picked one up about two years ago for USD $600. It looked like it had never been used. Only thing I had to do is adjust the rangefinder. Mine has a button self timer which I never use. It is a slow loader but I got used to it. One thing in particular is that I regularly forget to set the film frame selector to zero when re-loading. M2 is a downmarket version of the M3. :))

M2 framelines are 35,50, and 90. M3 is said to have a larger view finder 1:1 for the 50,90 and 135mm lenses. Could be wrong here regarding the M3 frame lines.

thanks, guys for the feedback.

Paul, leaning towards an M2 for the same reasons you mentioned (relevant frame lines). The model you got for $600 with the timer is a later model M2 at a great price.

Off to hunt one down now…

I use to own a Volvo with no air conditioning (AC). Great automobile. I now own a newer car with air conditioning. As many fond memories I have of the Volvo 142S, I still prefer a newer vehicle with AC. My first Leica was an M2. Followed by another M2. I still have both of those cameras. Wonderful cameras but no AC, errrrr, meter. Now everybody pops up and says you don’t need no steenkin meter. No you don’t. However, you can’t beat the built-in M6 and on (MP, etc) with meters. I like the consistency in my negatives. I’m old enough to remember the days of shooting chromes with no built in meters. And I shot plenty. I think you’d be a lot happier with an older M6 as backup to your MP.

It might be interesting to find out how many people have had a Leica M fail. Have been using M’s since 1965 and have never had one fail. Then again I have them CLA every ten or fifteen years just to be on the safe side.

M2s, M4 never failed. M6 had some transport problems (film wouldn’t advance) and had to be returned under warranty within year of buying new. M6ttl didn’t fail, but shutter release had to be pushed down too far (yeah, it sounds weird but it wasn’t right) and had to be returned for repair under warranty, within about 18 mos of new. That’s it. All lenses have been fine with exception of two that were dropped by me. The 35mm was unusble and had to be fixed. The 28mm I fixed with ViceGrips and it was fine. This is only since 1966 so I’m a newcomer compared to AH.

Some experience with M’s:

First bought an M3 with broken bakelite; had this replaced with “galuchat” (a small shark skin)as it was cheaper than the Leica replacement; instant love with the camera after years with modern Nikons of that time (FM2 and F3’s, had used 4 of the the first and 2 of the later, internal advancement mechanism of FM2 not up to level, still have it even though I only take it out to make portraits of special friends. Rewinding mechanism a hassle for me, I actually like the loading spool system.

As a second camera I bought an M4 with a Leicameter; it makes it too bulky but allows you to select diaphragm and speed without taking the camera to the eye.

Then I’ve had two M6 for more than 10 years; they’ve followed me through most difficult trips (arctic, desert, monsoon etc) while all other cameras would fail one after the other (Nikons,Mamiya 6 & 7, Bronicas SQ’s, etc), only problem is the top cover (made of Zinc it seems) that has a tendency to “bubble” (underpaint rust) and the lack of “beauty” of the the standard black coating when it ages compared to black lacker or siver chrome.

It is true that the rewind knob on the M6 is fragile both internaly (as the gearing failed on one of my two M6)and externaly (I still remember using a corkscrew in a hotel room in Havana last year to pull a stuck rewind knob.

Next ones ? I’ve bought an M8 (plenty to say about it!)in Black as the camera will be obsolete before the finishing ages and bought a couple of M6 used (silver chrome) from Japan and London as new to use in the next years…

CCC-what you say about the M6 rewind being fragile is true. I know a cupla photographers at National Geographic who carried spare rewind knobs with them so they could replace them as needed. The MP’s “old” rewind knob is really a tip of the hat to a more robust solution. It’s slow, but sturdier.

I’ve had a M3 for 42 yrs and its like a stone; unbreakable and easy to use.

BUT check out loading film into a M2/M3; its not something everyone would enjoy but second nature at this point.

The most important difference is the viewfinder of the M3 if you use a normal with this machine. As was said by other participants, the load is more slow. There are not hot shoe. With the old m2 and m3 you need to check the yellow mirror layer in the focus system, sometimes the speeds are not so precise cause the abrasion of some parts. Saludos

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44381

I have an M2 for sale – love it – hard to let go – but haven’t shot film in years. Check out my post in “for sale” – if I don’t sell it here in Mexico, I will be in NY early December. let me know if you want pics …. btw – great cameras !!!! Never failed – got used to the loading after a few rolls.

Yeah, I saw your “for sale” and wondered if you weren’t getting out of ‘film’. Are you sure you want to sell the M2 & 35mm? That combination is a real keeper. Leica with a 35mm and Tri-X is prertty unbeatable. (Maybe once-in-a-while?) Anyway, good luck with your sale.

I just got an overhauled M2 a week ago and it has been a real joy to use. Slow loader, sure, but you won’t load it wrong and not engage the film.
(I remember reading that whoever was with Nick Ut when he shot the famous photo of Kim Phuc, missed getting the shot because he needed an extra 30 seconds to load his Leica…)

I looked at getting an M3 to replace my worn-out (bought it that way very cheaply) M3, knowing that the finder was supposed to be better on the M3. Comparing several different models, the M2’s seemed brighter, clearer and more contrasty with the rangefinder spot. It will never develop the problem of the finder elements separating due to the Canada balsam (natural glue they used to join the elements) splitting and turning black. If you look at an M3, look through the opposite end of the finder to see if there is any black encroaching from the sides…

Also and perhaps most importantly to me, I need 35mm frame lines. The M3 doesn’t have them and the M2 does. That point swayed me, though with the M3, I was nicely forced more into shooting 50, which was good for my compositional discipline.

They’re both great cameras though. Simple, sturdy, reliable and wonderful to use. Try a lot of bodies and get a decent one with a butter-smooth action and quiet click and you should have it for the rest of your life.