I Like my Leica
M2
My first Leica was/is an M2 with a button rewind and no self timer similar to above. It was manufactured in 1958 and I found it in 2002. As far as I know it was owned by one other person before me and it came to a good new home. I love this camera, it is the most elegant camera ever produced in my humble opinion.
1957-1968
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SN# |
926,001 |
1,207,000 |
|
Finish |
Chrome, Black Paint |
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Lens |
Bayonet Mount |
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Shutter |
Focal Plane |
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Film Advance |
Single Stroke Lever |
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|
Rangefinder/Viewfinder |
Coupled |
Frames 35,50,90 |
|
Rangefinder Base Length |
49.3mm |
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Viewfinder Magnification |
.72 |
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|
Field Selector Lever |
Yes |
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Shutter Speeds |
1,B,1/1000 |
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Flash Sync |
Yes, Elec. 1/50, Bulb 1/500 |
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Exposure Meter |
No |
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Film Speed |
||
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Self Timer |
Yes |
The first 500 had no self timer |
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Weight |
580 Grams |
Note: Early models were fitted with a 'button' style rewind know. Later models were fitted with a 'lever' style rewind knob. The latest models had the 'lever' rewind and a self timer.
MP .72
My current (and final) Leica is an MP. I chose the MP over the M7's simply because of its approximation to the M2 with an additional the state of the art meter. I've only two negative comment about the MP:
1. They do not accept the Leica reloading film cassettes.
2. There is play in the shutter release which sometimes makes using the soft release sticky. I'll have to try a mini-soft release to see if that is any different.
My Favorite Lenses
50mm
1984: Version with scalloped focusing knob and a 50 on the barrel.
1956 DR Summicron - Beautiful lens but very soft at f2 for long exposures.
1954: Collapsible Summicron with SN < 105,xxx indicating a Lanthanum front element that has Thorium-232 impurities. This is easily observed by the yellowish to brownish tint of the front element. Ultra Violet radiation can reverse the discoloration however for B&W photography is is like a yellow filter effect.
Using a calibrated energy dependent ionization chamber the front element measures 0.7 mR/hr and 0.2mR/hr on the rear element when at full extension. The dose to the eye is less then 1uR/hr when attached to the camera and at full extension. In this case the distance from the front element to the eye, the shielding provided by the camera body, and the minimum amount of time the camera is at the eye reduces the probability of harm from radiation to nearly zero. The dose to the film was measured to be approximately 0.2 mR/hr indicating that film should not be left in the camera with this lens attached for long periods of time.
The spectrum from the front element shows a characteristic gamma peak at 65 keV corresponding to Thorium-232 and 85keV corresponding to the decay product Thorium-228 (half-life ~2 years).
1965 Elmar 50/2.8 - This is also made with a high
refractive lanthanum glass which is not radioactive due to better sourcing of
raw materials and likely better techniques to remove impurities.
35mm
4th version Summicron 1979. This lens has the same optical formula as the pre ASPH 35 Summilux.
Elmar 65mm Black 1970, and Silver 1966. The black has higher contrast then the silver version.
28mm
Canon LTM 35/3.5 circa 1960 - I find that this lens surprises me time and time again with its contrast lack of flaring and sharpness.
200mm
Telyt 20cm/4.5 1940 - These older visoflex lenses are wonderful.