Leica M2

1958

E. Leitz G.M.B.H.

Wetzlar

West Germany

Lens:

f2, 5 cm Summicron, iris diaphragm to f16. Bayonet mount. Removable lens-head. Serial no. 1606206 (1958).

Shutter:

Focal-plane, speeds 1 - 1/1000, B. Speeds are varied by delaying the second blind. Flash synchronisation.

Construction:

Vulcanite covered metal body.

Format:

36, 24 x 36 mm exposures on 35 mm film held in cassette.

Focusing:

Helical, scale to 3' 4" and 19" in close-up mode.

Attributes:

Coupled rangefinder, swing prism type, double image. Direct-vision (lens/lens) view-finder, frame outlines for 35, 50 and 90 mm lenses.
Auto-stop on film advance coupled to shutter. Film advance tensions shutter.
Exposure counter. Removable close-up eye-piece for use when lens is in close-up mode.

Identification:

Early model with button re-wind setting and no delayed action.

Serial Number:

929487 (1958) .

With:

f3.5, 3.5 cm Summaron, manual click-stop iris. Focus to 3' 4". Depth-of-field scale. E39 filter size. Screw mount with screw-bayonet adapter. With Lens cap, rear cap. Plastic case. Serial no. 1519946 (1957).
f3.5, 65 mm Elmar, iris diaphragm to f22 with click-stops. Lens head for use with Visoflex II via OTZFO focusing mount, focus to 13.2" with OTZFO. E41 filter size. Fits onto Bellows II via 16558 ring. Serial no. 2288367.

f4, 9 cm Elmar, manual iris to f32. Focus to 3 feet. Depth-of-field scale. E39 filter size. With Lens cap. Plastic case. Serial no. 1573156 (1958).

f4.5, 13.5 cm Hektor, iris to f32. Focus to 4' 6". Depth-of-field scale. E39 filter size. Rear cap. Serial no. 1647308 (1959).
Close-focus eye-piece for Summicron. In case.
Lens cap for Summicron.
Amateur Outfit case.
Leica meter MC. Metrawatt. Nürnberg. Iris scale: f1.5 - f16. Shutter scale: 120s - 1/1000. Film speed scale: 7 - 34 DIN, 6 - 1000 ASA. Case. MC meter booster cell.
Eldia contact printer. Red box.

"Leica Survey Catalogue & Price List" d. March 1960. London. "Leica M2 for photographic perfection" - pamphlet d. May 1964. "Kurzanleitung" - instruction book 11-36, d. 1958. "Leica - Filters" - pamphlet 12-19a 1960. "Interchangeable lenses are giving your Leica new perspective" - pamphlet 11-34 1960.

Visoflex
Visoflex II. 90 degree, 4x magnification, prism viewing head OCLOM and OTXBO.
Vertical finder, 5x magnification OTVXO.
Helical 'Universal Focusing Mount' for 65 mm Elmar and 13.5 cm Hektor on Visoflex II OTZFO. In box.
Helical focusing mount for 9 cm Elmar on Visoflex II. Scaled Infinity to 3' 4" OUAGO.
Connector to fit 13.5 cm Hektor lens head to OTZFO. OTSRO. In box.
Connector to fit 20 cm and 13.5 cm lenses in short mounts to Visoflex II OUBIO.
Connector to fit 5 cm and 35 mm lenses to Visoflex II. Gives 1:1 with 5 cm lenses and 1.4:1 with 35 mm lenses OUFRO.
Extension tube for close-focus with the Universal Focusing Mount. OTRPO.
9 mm extension tube for 9 cm lens and OUAGO. OTQNO.
"Visoflex II" - pamphlet c. 1963. "Visoflex II Instructions" - pamphlet.
Bellows
Bellows II. With main 16558 ring. Extension scale: 0 - 95 mm. Magnification scale for 9 cm lens: 0 - 1. Exposure factor scale: 1 - 4. Incorporates a focusing stage.
Adapter to fit lens head of 5 cm Summicron to Bellows II DMUOO.

Compendium hood to fit Bellows II 16557Q.
Novoflex slide duplicator to fit compendium hood.
"Focusing Bellows II for Visoflex II and III" - pamphlet.
Focoslide
Focoslide. Late model for 51 mm "N" thread OOTGU.
Helical focusing mount for Summicron mounted on Focoslide VSPOO.
Four, 26 mm "N" extension tubes VWOOU.
5x vertical magnifier for Focoslide. Version with shorter body, compact eye-piece optics and straight knurling LVFOO.
Aperture setting ring for f2 Summicron, scaled f2 - f16, for use with Focoslide. Aperture setting ring for f2.8 Elmar, scaled f2.8 - f16 (VTROO).
Filter ring for E39 filters on Aperture setting ring (16614).
"Focoslide-M for Lieca M" - instructions c. 1958. "Focoslide" - pamphlet c. 1958.
Copying stand
Copying stand - BOOWU-M. For A4, A5 and A6 sizes.
Bayonet mount to attach the lens head of the rigid Summicron to the BOOWU-M UOORF.

The M2 was introduced as a cheaper option to the M3. This is an early model M2, later a delayed action was fitted and the rewind button was replaced by a lever.

The outfit case carries the camera with standard lens attached; a long focus lens, either 9 cm or 13.5 cm; a 3.5 cm lens; close-up eye-piece; 3 filters and other small items.

Copying stand

The BOOWU-M comprises four extensible legs and three collars to which the legs and camera fit, the lens fits to the underside of the collar. For reproduction ratios of 1:4, 1:6 and 1:9 (corresponding to originals of A6, A5 and A4).

Compendium Hood

This slides into the Bellows II and attaches to the lens front (E39 fitting). An adapter was available for A36 lenses. The Novoflex Slide Duplicator slides into the spring clips at the end of the hood via an adapter plate. It has a grey hammertone finish to match the bellows and hood.

Focoslide

This was a simple device providing a focusing screen which could quickly be replaced by the camera. Different accessories could be mounted on the front of the device such as bellows, extension tubes and focusing mounts. The common arrangement was to use extension tubes, a helical focusing mount for the lens and an aperture setting device to fit onto the front of the lens. Magnifiers could be attached to the focusing screen, these were the same as used on the rotating stage and Visoflex I.

The device was developed by Leitz New York. The first Wetzlar model (OOZAB) appeared in 1938 and was re-introduced following the war. The camera was clamped in position by a spring mounted bar, on early versions the bar had a single flat plate to rest against the camera later the familiar H shaped device was used. The standard Leica lens thread was used on the front of the device. This version could be used in conjunction with the Bellows I.

In 1957/58 a second version was introduced by Wetzlar this was of improved construction with rounded edges, the accessory thread was changed to 51 mm. The device was available for screw mount cameras (OOBAZ) and bayonet mount (OOTGU).

Code Names:

KNOOG - Camera. COONH - Close-focus eye-piece. METRA - Leica meter MC. EDOOF- Leica meter case. MBOOW-C - MC meter booster cell. 14820 - Amateur Outfit case. OCLOM - Visoflex II. OTXBO - 90 degree finder for Visoflex. OTVXO - Vertical finder. OTZFO - Focusing mount for 65 mm and 13.5 cm lenses on Visoflex II. OUAGO - Focusing mount for 9 cm lens on Visoflex II. OTSRO - Connects 13.5 cm lens head to OTZFO. OUBIO - Connector for 20 cm and 13.5 cm lenses in short mounts to Visoflex II. OUFRO - Connector for 5 cm and 35 mm lenses with Visoflex II. OTRPO - Extension tube for the OTZFO. OTQNO - Close-up tube for 9 cm lens and OUAGO. OOTGU - Focoslide. VSPOO - focusing mount. VWOOU - "N" extension tube. LVFOO - 5x magnifier for Focoslide. VTROO - Aperture setting ring for Summicron. VTOOX - Aperture setting ring for Elmar. 16614 - Filter ring for E39 filters. 16556 - Bellows II. 16557Q - Compendium Hood. 16558 - Bellows main adapter ring. DMUOO - Adapter to fit lens head of 5 cm Summicron to Bellows II. UOORF/16508 - Tube to attach lens head of Summicron to BOOWU-M.

References & Notes:

Hasbroeck, Leica.

Early Photography

Leica M2

1958

E. Leitz G.M.B.H.

Wetzlar

West Germany

Lens:

Shutter:

Construction:

Format:

Focusing:

Attributes:

Identification:

Serial Number:

With:

Visoflex

Bellows

Focoslide

Copying stand

Copying stand

Compendium Hood

Focoslide

Code Names:

References & Notes: