Why I chose the Leica m2 (Review + Sample Photos)
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 มี.ค. 2019
- The long awaited Leica M2 review video is finally here and in this episode I talk to you guys a little bit about why I chose this body over the Leica m6, M3 and the other beautiful Leica bodies out there. This camera is just right for me and even though it was a change from what I shot prior the transition was very smooth as I wanted to simplify my setup to something that reliable, efficient and will last me a lifetime. So here is my review on the Leica M2.
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Filming Equipment used:
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Thank you to everyone who commented on the laggy video. For some reason when it renders it looks fine but once it’s uploaded the frame rates seem to be off. I can assure you moving forward the videos will be smooth with no lag! Thanks everyone for understanding 👊🏼⚡️
KingJvpes bro could you do a review on the Leica m7 I want to see how well the AP feature works on it.
I searched your serial number, and your M2 was made in 1964.
As far as differences with earlier versions of M2, you can use the Leicavit MP, and you have the self timer.
I think it's the most beautiful M design ever, especially the first batch without the self timer lever, a true part of the Bauhaus movement in design of the era.
You can get your M2 or whatever model repainted black.
It will cost around $500, and you have to pick carefully the master craftman who will do the job.
Not only he will do the paint job, but can make the camera feel brand new inside out.
The experience of shooting with this camera is truly amazing.
Good pick.
I live in Los Angeles, where is the best place to get an M4 "CLA'd" ?!
am i the only one experiencing laggy video?
Nah I thought it was my connection
No. He seems to have issues with frame rate in his videos recently.
It's laggy as hell
No I'm guessing he shot some segments at a lower shutter speed for effect.
KingJvpes, it is really nice to see how happy and excited you are with our new camera. It looks like this one will give you pleasure for several decades, and I really hope it does.
I gotta be honest: I've been tempted to change my M3 for an M2 because of those 35mm framelines. The shutter counter is what's keeping me in check. I move my cameras around too much, and I would certainly move that wheel, and have no clue in which frame I'm in!
EduardoPavezGoye do it Ed! Honestly that wheel is pretty stiff, the only time you could really love it accidentally is if your somehow push your finger around that area or seriously ding it into something. But I should mention, it’s a nightmare when you forget to reset the wheel.
@@KingJvpes oh, no. now I'm gonna start wondering if I should or not. BE GONE, TEMPTATION!
Hi, in my opinion it’s the smallest flaw . I hav also a M2 and I don’t recall that the film counter moved accidentally. And if it’s also not a big deal . I guess !? The M2 is a joy to use and is so buttery smooth.
I also have an M2, and just like @kingjvpes I really like the frame counter. It's a nice throwback to the older screw-mount Leicas and I think it gives the M2 a bit of character. I don't think I have ever knocked it out of place even by a frame! :) Love your vids btw, and I hope your thesis is coming along nicely! :)
@@edpavez I have to agree with @kingjvpes, it's very unlikely you'd accidentally knock the frame counter. Pity you moved to the states or we could have met up sometime for you to try out my M2 :p I have the Summicron f2 50mm, the Summaron 35mm f3.5 and the 90mm f4 Elmar. All stonking lenses! :)
That's a great looking M2! Awesome combo with the Voigtlander 35mm f2.5-love that lens for its size and price.
Great review! Just joined the Leica family 2 weeks ago , I love my M2 definitely my favorite of the Leica M
Your M2 is one of a batch of 1600 that was released on August 4, 1964.
I simply adore mine. Mounted with a 35mm f2.8 Summaron that was originally purchased with body. It has that classic glow and rendering that Red Dot users expound about, especially in BW. Typically more affordable as well.
Ahhh thank you so much for this! That 35mm summaron does look amazing, I looked on flickr at some sample images and can definitely see that rendering you're talking about! Anyway, thanks again for the info.
@@KingJvpes If you are looking into other used Leica gear, you can look up their serial numbers online pretty easily. All bodies are numbered sequentially in order of manufacture, and the same with all lenses. Just google for Leica serial numbers and you can get the lists. For example, most of the M bodies up through 1998 are listed here: www.cameraquest.com/mtype.htm
@@KingJvpesWow 1964. Just imagine all the photons bouncing off people and objects that camera has seen. I have several cameras (no leicas) that are older than me. It always fascinates me when I consider the journey they made to my hands.
have the 1.4 version 35mm..LOVELY lens..
There's something very satisfying about the sound of that shutter. :)
Fellow Bay Area film shooter here and just bought one of these largely thanks to your endorsement. Hope to see you shooting around SF!
Great video, I'm following you for couple of konths now and I got one question. I need compact point and shoot 35mm film camera preferably with flash and to have autofocus. Can you recommend me one?
Love the M2! I have an M2-R, and it’s such a satisfying camera to use, more so than the M3 & M4 that I have. I have an extra Summicron 1:2/50 if you were looking at adding to your 35mm 👍🏼
Those two tabs are for the flash sync! Awesome video, leicafam!
Where did you get that lens hood?
What brand of lens hood is that?
hey man, have you had the chance to compare the rangefinder patch on this vs the m6? i know you made a vid with you buddy but he had a .58 viewfinder and you didn't really compare the patch. cheers.
What type of square hood is it
Very nice and informative review.
What do you think of the m4-p?
Good review I have yet to shoot colour in my M2, but I really should. I use a Canon 35 1.8 ltm and love it!
Good job KJ .. nice review
Which lens hood is that?
What lens hood is that ?
Where’d you get that square hood?
Big fan! Where did you get your lens hood from?
It's a dope camera man, so nice, so clean.
What are frame lines?
Nice video and thanks for sharing. I found the comparison with the smoooooooooth rewind lever of the Nikon F3 interesting (in the way that it puts in check the Leica fans who are quick to say that the rewind mec on the M3/M2 are the smoothest out there- but fans will be fans-). I have a personal pref for the M3 beeing that the magnification of it's viewfinder is close to 1 (0.91 exactly) making it the rangefinder camera that supports by far the longest effective base length and therefore the quickest and the most precise to focus. I get it that the viewfinder does not show a 35mm frame line (by the way, the middle window serves to bring light to those framelines) but the actual physical frame of that said viewfinder covers the 35mm frame. So if absolutely beeing able to look out of the frame is not one of your prerequisites, using a 35mm lens on the M3 is possible without the cumbersome "goggles". What I ended up doing is buying the very affordable (and VERY fast) Voigtlander 40mm f1.4 which now sits on my M3. I know that the lens will catch a bit more than the outside of the 50mm frame line (just a bit), that I can still benefit from a little "wiggle" room to see out of the frame (and maybe capture that "decisive moment") and I get to stay with the M3 with it's auto reset frame counter + very clear and near to 1 magnification viewfinder.
Hey, I do have a few questions for you:
- 1/which film speed (ISO) do you find you use the most
- 2/what stop down ND filter do you use to get shallow depth of field in broad daylight ( ND16 is a bit to light with the 800 ISO I use but darker filters mean I need to take it off if I want a street photo with a lot of DOF and then back on if I go to a candid portrait and therefore aim at less DOF....)
- 3/what meter do you use
Thanks for your help and have a great day.
I actually thought the lag was on purpose and thought "damn that's cool."
That being said: a twist to the m2/m3. I shot with an m3 for the very reason you choose m2, your focal point of choice. Every so often I'll wish I had an M2 with a 35, but mostly I'm a 50 shooter.
Funny thing: a few weeks ago, I purchased a Rokkor 45mm f2.8 and realized that 45 goes just outside the framelines, and I've really noticed the benefit of the extra field, only thing I had to do was realize that now I was using the whole viewfinder.
The caps on the back are covering up ports that connect to a flash. There are two ports as back then there were two different types of flash. I think today you would just need to plug into the one with the lightening symbol. The other one I think is for single use flash bulbs. Other cameras have these ports labeled with 'X' and 'M' with 'X' being the type we generally use today.
The Leica III also has external film counter as well, and if you were looking for more of a budget Leica, the Leica III is one of the most affordable. Anyways thanks for the video great work.
Oh man.... I was wearing my Giants hat when I watched this video while researching for the M2! I think it's a sign....
That cold metal is brass 😝 brass is addictive. The only reason I decided on it upon m6 , Love my m2 till death ..
Question:
if you love the M3 but love shooting a 35mm lens and you wanna get a Leica lens why didn’t you buy the m3 with one of the 35mm lenses that have the adapting goggles?
So you could actually use 4 different focal lengths: 35, 50, 90 and 135?
Btw the 35mm goggle lenses are not that expensive (at least where I come from^^)
Have you considered getting any of the M-Rokkor lenses? One of the most cost-effective way to get into German-made Leitz glass. No 35mm focal length option (by design) but the 40mm Summicron-C is terrific.
YES MAN!!! Also, come to Miami. My boy Ron will let you do lay away for whatever camera you put down at least a quarter of the price.
how do you face diffraction when closing up to f16?
I don’t mind it, it still makes pictures
Picked up my first film camera around a month ago: a 1984 X700, all thanks to you, keep it up man 🙏 #minoltagang
Love the Minolta but I believe he is know #leicagang
Hell yea man! #MINOLTAGANG
NEVER, #minoltagang
KingJvpes hahaha #MINOLTAGANG FOREVER!
X700 is an awesome camera
thats a cold shoe, but pretty cool youre into the leica. I made my choice of the M4-2 for the modern loading system. The CV lenses are great, and I’ve ended up with a bit of a collection to shoot with. You can get far with the Skopar, but the 35 Nokton is a great lens
_oe _o_e_ thank you! Definitely gonna look into the Bolton but that new 35 ultron looks killer too
Can't go wrong with any M mount Leica. Even the M5 or MD (the film body without a viewfinder) have a place with particular shooting styles.
If you had to pick between the Leica and the voigtpander Bessa R2A what would it be?
Bessa R4M
Always wanted a m2 but can't afford it. I'm still trying to get my rolleiflex operating
It's good to know that the Leica is made from "some sort of metal ." I was concerned it would be made out of plastic. lol
I went with a Zeiss lens for my M3 & M4 because I couldn't afford Leica glass. I'll probably go with a Voigtlander 35mm when I get that focal length. What's rather odd is my M3 cost more than my M4 & both are in really good shape. Leica is a great camera to shoot with because of the quality and simplicity.
can u shoot the bessa without batteries?
Depends. The bessa M series are fully manual camera that doesn't need batteries to operate. The Bessa A's need batteries to operate.
If you were to choose one M body for the rest of your life, what would it be? 🤔
Probably m7, but i can only afford an m2 :p
Definitely the m3
Prolly m3, and just because I'm a 50mm shooter so the frame lines would be perfect for me.
I don't know allot about Leica so I'd just choose this one, it looks super nice.
M4! The one i have i inherited from my gpa, lots of sentimental value, love shooting with it
I want to make a video giving reasons as to why i SOLD my leica m6... and replaced it with an olympus xa2
Never made it huh.
TheSololobo hahaha man, I’ve made 1 TH-cam video and that was stressful enough. I’ll just stick to taking stills
M5 the best
I also have gone with the M2 but mine needed a CLA unfortunately 3 months return time.
I used a Leica m2 with a Leica f2 lens in the Navy from 66-68 while stationed at Millington Naval Air Station. I would have loved to have owned this camera, but it was way too expensive.
Watching this back because i might be able to take over a M2 for the price of just a CLA/service that it clearly needs and that the current owner doesnt care to do, should i do it? Still need a lens and stuf but the body i would get for like 120 bucks....
Did u end up doing it?
The M6 body has a built in meter which makes all the difference. They are also cheaper, got my 3 bodies for around $1000. You can also reload film much faster in it as compared to a M3. The Leica M6 is a sturdy camera that can get things done, highly recommended. I shoot in far off locals in filthy and sometimes dangerous conditions the Leica M6 has never let me down. The Lecia R SLRs thou are cheaper and allow for closer focusing.
Same here, first m is an m2. I've been using it for nearly a year, no complaints. It is still a bit overpriced I've got to say, but at the end of the day, it is the camera I'd like to walk around with and that make it worth it. If you want a first summicron, try to find a v2/v3/v4, these are small enough and the redition goes well with film leica. Just my two cents.
very very vintage! awesome!
How do I not own one of these yet 🤷♂️
Minolta gang! Just got my maxxum 7000
Definitely do the "How To Load A Leica" video..
I like my M4 for a while I was thinking of selling it but I decided to keep it my first was my Leica M4-P but I sold it a couple weeks because I had a family emergency my family comes first but now I have not been shooting my Leica for almost a month yeah my friends make fun of me because I’m still showing film
Check out the new Voigtlander Ultron, it's f/2, it's aspherical, it's tiny (just a little larger than your Skopar) and it's $800. I just picked one up used for under $700, it's awesome and not as $$$$ as the Summicron
Nice!!
nice!! 😀🤙🏼 i love my m2!
Hell yea Mike! Thanks for watching!
KingJvpes what i love about the m2 is it forces you to learn sunny 16 and master it. Everything in the camera is so simple. I am using a minolta 40mm f2 designed for the leica cl. Its very compact, probably like your voigtlander 35. The focusing tab is just a little longer than i would like it. I also have the jupiter 8. Its a nice lens but i bought a chinese adapter which only partially shows the 50mm lines. The aperure ring is clickless and the lens when connected its tilted to the side, its not perfect but its cheap $50. This leica for sure is made to last and its a good investment!
Its made from brass no?
Leica M3-P also have external film counter,but they are extremely expensive. Many people l know (I China just love M2's external film counter , some even change m6's top with m2
I am shooting a Werra. Someday I will get a Leica.
back of the camera are the flash sincs....electronic and flash bulb
Man, the M2 is so sexy.... If I ever get a leica, it sure will be the M2. Thanks for this sexy hands on :D And dope shots in the intro!!
Samuel L. Streetlife go for it bro!!!! Haha and thanks man! Wish to collab in the future!
@@KingJvpes One day the the time will come! And yes, let's collab someday! Maybe with two M2's then haha
would love if you knew more about the camera and the leica line but yknow
According to Wikipedia around 1500 M2s were manufactured between 1957 and 1968, if that's of any interest.
1,500 were produced in Canada during that period, but the total number produced was around 82,000.
Am I the only one that when I buy a new camera can't bring myself to get rid of my old ones? Im a hoarder, or collector one of the two 😂
Good video tnx
Leica M4-P for me
Save money and buy the new Voigtlander 35 f2, it’s a killer lens for a great price.
I follow you on the tube and on IG. So I know you have personal stuff going on. So thanks for pushing thru and still producing videos. I've been reading the comments on the lag and the slight hate on the lack of technical knowledge/information. But the video still gives a nice overview and reason as to why you bought the camera over others. So I still think it is a solid video. Keep doing what you do. #MinoltaGang (#NikonGang for me though 😂)
1098301 to 1099800 were produced in 1964 which makes your camera 1 year older than me :-)
Lol at the Leica dorks. Where did you get your lens hood btw?
Just picked up an old Yashica J for two bucks and you are making a video about a Leica M2... 😂
Nothing wrong with the Yashica J!!!!!
Thx bro
great job bro,keep it up 👌🏻
It would only take a few minutes of your time to go online and find year of
manufacture, description and operation details. You should know your
camera before making videos about it.
Or, you could spend time taking photos, and not concern yourself with (interesting) but inevitably useless information that won't make your photography any better..
I think most people choose the m2 over the others - just harder to get their hands on it, on this side of the world anyways
Good choice my son, you will be very be please, and to mention other Mentors that will be watching you. As for me I have a Leica IID, but switch to the Canon 7, and the VT models, and being using my Contax IIIa as well, and to tell you the Negatives are TACH SHARP, and easy to scan with the just the right contrast to control. GO OUT, and Create my young Bresson.
Alex Carrillo Thank you! That canon 7 looks killllleeerrr
Hey KingJvpes, have you ever worked with the Minolta CLE? Being Minolta gang I though it was odd that you've never reviewed or considered the CLE when you've owned both the Bessa R2A and the Leica M2.
Dude, how / why the hell do you start a video with such an incredible image? Jesus
How come nobody talks about the m5 lol
im so broke to develop my film fuccc
Do you still own this camera and is it still the right Leica for you?
Greetings from Wetzlar!!!
It looks like your M2 is from 1964, Leica had a run of 1600 M2's along with yours.
You should review a Nikon F2
Christian Bagalay or the even better Nikon f2as
shoe is not 'hot' for flash, in anyway! good for Leicameter (MR/MR4 best).
launched in '59. to protect shutter, use lens cap(on hood best), - this to avoid acidentally focused sun rays burning hole in cloth. no excuses now, your photos not limited by camera.
The M6 was 2 graaaaand? 🤣 Now that bih like 4 to 5 that's crazy 😓😭😂
First! Can I get a Leica now?
Haha if only I had a collection to giveaway
Come on man, you don't recognize flash symbols on cameras by now ? What else would those be for ? Great camera you should be using a lot more ! Would be happy to trade you a X100F that's about 6 months old, bought new in Seattle. I find film and Leicas are more my style. LarryMac
i have too many cameras already
I own m4 ;3 Like m2 too ;3
AGAIN with the glitchy video, fix it lol
Also the m4 has 135
He's only 20 yrs old?!?!? Damn. Hashtag Jelly.
Skip the first 4min. Talks about lens + other stuff. 4:15 is where you want to be.
Bruh I make $50k and I definitely cannot afford a Leica myself. I mean I could go out and buy one, it’d just be an irresponsible decision with all of my other bills and responsibilities.
it is all a matter of priorities...you choose to spend your money elsewhere..if it was important enough to you, you would get a Leica M 3 or M 6...to each their own!
@@gerryyaum How do you know exactly what his bills and responsibilities are?
I make 40k a year and managed to save for one and a CV lens in a few months. Some of the money came from selling other cameras I'd gotten over the years (thrifting, good deals on buy/sell forums). But, yeah, depends on where you live, if you have a family, lifestyle, retirement, investments, and lots of other factors, I guess. Leica M2/M3 are definitely not impossible purchases for most people, though. Lenses, arguably another story, but there are some nice Canon LTM lenses, as well as Voigtlander and affordable Zeiss M Mount glass (affordable as compared to as more modern Leica glass).
irresponsible? your just spending your money in other ways, that is a personal choice, it speaks to how more important those other things are to you compared to photography. If you really wanted a Leica you could buy one, you just decided it was not important enough to have. To each their own, as the Thais say 'Up To You!' I make only 44K CAD (far less value than USD dollars) and own 3 Leica M6s.
Bro I make 120k a year and I wouldn’t buy one. The body only costs on eBay are nuts
Most of the people hating in your comment section prolly shoot shit landscapes and fear confrontation. Quit wasting your time commenting and go get closer
I already have an M6 and I absolutely love it. But if I ever buy another Leica, I would also go for the M2. Same reason as you, it's the closest thing to an M3 but with 35mm frame lines. Nice soft release button you've got there btw!