Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/01/10
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi, Alexander Well! You have inherited a very late M2 that should be one of the finest Leicas ever built. There are those of us who consider the late M2-M3 to be the peak of Leica's "bell curve" of quality. It is FULLY compatible with every Leica M lens ever produced, and can use LTM (screw Mt.) lenses via an inexpensive adaptor, with FULL function of the rangefinder. Bear in mind, however, that it only has framelines for 35, 50, and 90mm lenses, and the whole finder is close to the view of a 28mm. It can be updated for about $250 US to include all the newer framelines, but if it is in mint condition this would reduce its future value to collectors (if you care). I'd have it cleaned and checked and enjoy using it. I'd say that 50% or more of Leica users consider the rangefinders to be the only "real" leicas, and I agree. As for use of the camera, I don't have an instruction manual to share, but the Leica manuals are very fine introductions to the cameras. Find any owner's manual from any M camera-- they're all the same basic camera, anyway. BTW, the lenses are not any better than R, mostly, and not necessarily better than other companies' lenses, but the M camera body WILL allow you to produce FAR superior results in low light or with W.A. lenses....I'll leave it for someone more eloquent to detail the reasons. Hand holding below 1/60 is virtually impossible with any SLR, but many report reliable results as slow as 1/8 sec. with an Mcamera and practice. Enjoy your "new-old" camera, Walt