Leica M2 Film Cameras

Photographing with M2 Film Cameras

Despite the advancements in modern optical technology and digital cameras, you may still consider the glass quality and build of vintage camera models to be superior. One such camera held in high regard is the M2 rangefinder by Leica, which is one of the company's most robust models. Its compatibility with a range of lenses and accessories only adds to its appeal, and you can pair it with adapters to enable the use of other manufacturers' lenses.

What Is an M2 Film Camera?

It is a 35mm rangefinder camera introduced in 1957 and considered a slightly simplified version of the M3, which the company released three years previously.

• It uses the bayonet-style M mount that some considered faster and easier for mounting lenses when compared to the M42 screw mount system.
• The M2 has a wide range of compatible lenses, although you can also find adapters to make your current ones compatible with an M2 camera body.
• Lenses produced with an M mount tend to be primes so they have a fixed focal length, although you can find wide-angle options that you can alter between three different focal lengths, such as 16mm, 18mm and 21mm.

What Are the Advantages of an M2 Camera?

One of the main advantages of the M2 rangefinder camera is the vast range of lenses and accessories that you can use with it. In addition to modern options used in conjunction with adapters, you can also pair them with vintage lenses by historically important brands.

• You can also pair M2s with a variety of accessories, including shoe-mount accessory rangefinders, viewfinders, close-up adapters, and filters as well as shutter releases, hoods, and bellows.
• In addition to bayonet-style Leica M mount rangefinders, you can also find a selection of thread-mount M42s that some praise for their quality of glass and lens compatibility.

What Should You Look for When Buying an M2 Film Camera?

As when buying any vintage model of camera, always check for any visible signs of damage or scratching on the camera body as well as corrosion or fungal growth inside the camera.

• When using M mount lenses on other manufacturer camera bodies, the level of functionality may vary, and some only operate in aperture-priority mode while others require full manual operation.
• Keep in mind that some M mounts may extend too far into the body of other manufacturer models and interfere with its mirror mechanism as well as the rear element and aperture pin of the lens.
• Also check the shutter and that it is working at its optimal speed by pressing the release and determining whether it is firing rapidly or with a significant lag time.

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