Trial Shots with the Leica M2

In November 2014, by sheer luck, I won an auction for a Leica M2 in black. I used it briefly to find out whether it was in good shape, whether I'd keep it, have it repainted, and a number of things more. Here are shots from the first roll I burned with it.

Memorial in campus

In between classes (DuSable Hall at NIU)

House in campus town.

Williston Hall, at NIU

 

I cannot recall whether I used a filter for this series.  It's likely that I did.  In any event, I'm not only happy with the shots themselves (they're not too bad), but also that I was able to scan them without any dust.  That's enough to make one's day.  Soon, coming to a theater near you, some gear porn... Have some harmless fun in the comments section! 

New Friend

New friend, just joined the ranks.  It's a Leica M2, anodized black (it was made in chrome silver), and in a more or less good shape.

The top looks a bit chipped.  I have repaired some of the finish with a permanent black marker, but this camera will definitely need a better, professional black paint job.

Here is the front; notice the two small screws next to the viewfinder window.  They're not original of the camera.  Let's hope it's not a banged up job of rangefinder replacement or some such thing...

By the way, these photos are not mine; the seller, Ken Hansen, took them and used them in the eBay auction in which I bid and won this camera. 

However, the camera isn't too bad of a picture taker.  I put a nice Zeiss Biogon 35mm lens on it, and then loaded it with some B&W film (which I haven't developed yet).  Later, I also used some color film with it, and here are some of the results.

Violin practice: part of our daily routine here in DeKalb.

My in-laws backyard.

The Chicago Apollo Choir, singing in front of the Art Institute, right after Thanksgiving.

Skater at Millennium Park (prefocused shot, exposure at 1/250, f4, on ISO 400 Kodak color film)

For the moment, I've yet to scan some of my film "production."  I just don't feel like scanning... because I'm afraid it's going to take forever and I won't be happy with the process or the results.  But I must try, sooner or later, and it's not like I don't have negatives...

Some time soon, this camera will leave for the Leica Spa in Oregon, WI, with Don Goldberg.  I want him to repair it or at least check it before I send it to Youxin Ye in March 2015, for its paint job.  In the meanwhile, I'll keep you guys posted!