Leica M4-P Silver Chrome Jubilee Nr. 161xxxx, 'L534' Ex+ $1,950 Leica M2 Button Rewind, Nr. 105xxxx, Ex $1,650 We have lots more items in service or restoration, so please check back to find what you're looking for. According to the Leica Model Inquiry page, there's a block of 512 serial numbers set aside for the MP2 model, from 935001 - 935512. 935000 is a IIIg, and 935513 is an M2. My button-rewind M2, whose top markings (exc ser# 935087) are identical to Philippe's, would seem to be the 87th body in the MP2 block. The M2 was the second in Leica's line of M-bayonet cameras and was sold alongside the M3 as a lower cost variant. Sold between 1958 and 1966 (although production is known to have begun in 1957), the M2 featured redesigned rangefinder optics with a finder magnification of 0.72, which allowed for the inclusion of 35mm brightlines - a first for a. I also have a chrome/black MP with a #2921. serial number. I bought the camera used but based on the above I guess that means manufacture in 2003/4. Would anyone be able to confirm that? Ages ago Istvan Penzes says: I have also a black paint MP with serial 3511 starting.
Leica M2 Serial Numbers
I have the pre-courser to the M2R... the US Army designated M2s, (after the Army canceled the contract, Leica designated the camera M2 R and offered them for sale to the general public).Leica Lens Serial Numbers
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. 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). 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.
If you can find one, go for it.
-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), December 29, 2001.