This is the list of Leitz and Leica lens serial numbers (not cameras) and which year that lens was approximately produced. Also visit the Leica Lens Compendium and the Leica Camera Compendium. For detailed reading and a complete range of serial numbers you may find the Leica Compendium by Erwin Puts helpful. You may also look up a specific lens serial number at the French Summilux.net. The Leica M2 came out in 1957 - after the Leica M3 which was released in 1954. The Leica M2 was created by Ernst Leitz GmbH of Wetzlar, Germany, as an easier to use ( and less costly ) Leica M3. It has a 0.72 rangefinder and frame lines for 35mm, 50mm and 90mm lenses - something being demanded by photojournalists of the time.
This Camera is the only older camera that I retained after going to the M6.. I like it better than my M3s because of my affinity for the 35mm lens as well as the rapid loading, and even sold my M4, preferring the 'feel' of the M2.
One thing that I don't hear much about on this forum is that the M2 camera (as well as late M3s) has depth of field cutouts on the rangefinder patch. Cek pbb bekasi. This is a pair of cutouts on the top and bottom of the patch that allows you to see if the depth of field will cover the out of exact focus area for both f/5.6 and f/16 for a 50mm lens. I have found that if I use the 35mm lens, I can use these cutouts for f/4.0 and f/11 with good results.
Other than the rapid loading, this is basically an M2, so if you like that camera, you will like this version. The biggest deterrent is the rarity and of course the price (being driven by the rarity). Simcity 4 deluxe edition free. I got mine purely by luck when I called Tamarkin many years ago for the price on an M2 and the person I dealt with said, 'you'll love this..' I didn't even know about the variations (M2s and M2R), but I wanted the best M2 they had, and I got this one.
Leica M2 Serial Numbers
This is the list of Leitz and Leica lens serial numbers (not cameras) and which year that lens was approximately produced. Also visit the Leica Lens Compendium and the Leica Camera Compendium. For detailed reading and a complete range of serial numbers you may find the Leica Compendium by Erwin Puts helpful. You may also look up a specific lens serial number at the French Summilux.net. The Leica M2 came out in 1957 - after the Leica M3 which was released in 1954. The Leica M2 was created by Ernst Leitz GmbH of Wetzlar, Germany, as an easier to use ( and less costly ) Leica M3. It has a 0.72 rangefinder and frame lines for 35mm, 50mm and 90mm lenses - something being demanded by photojournalists of the time.
This Camera is the only older camera that I retained after going to the M6.. I like it better than my M3s because of my affinity for the 35mm lens as well as the rapid loading, and even sold my M4, preferring the 'feel' of the M2.
One thing that I don't hear much about on this forum is that the M2 camera (as well as late M3s) has depth of field cutouts on the rangefinder patch. Cek pbb bekasi. This is a pair of cutouts on the top and bottom of the patch that allows you to see if the depth of field will cover the out of exact focus area for both f/5.6 and f/16 for a 50mm lens. I have found that if I use the 35mm lens, I can use these cutouts for f/4.0 and f/11 with good results.
Other than the rapid loading, this is basically an M2, so if you like that camera, you will like this version. The biggest deterrent is the rarity and of course the price (being driven by the rarity). Simcity 4 deluxe edition free. I got mine purely by luck when I called Tamarkin many years ago for the price on an M2 and the person I dealt with said, 'you'll love this..' I didn't even know about the variations (M2s and M2R), but I wanted the best M2 they had, and I got this one.
Leica M2 Serial Numbers
Leica M3 Serial Numbers
If you can find one, go for it.
-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), December 29, 2001.
