I know the Leicavit MP was designed for use with the Leica MP and M2's but does anybody know whether it works on an M2-R. The M4 loading system in the M2-R may make it unuseable?

-- sparkie (sparkie@mailcity.com), February 13, 2002

Answers

No, the M2-R does not have the coupling rod that the M2 has (source: KS-15 camera repair manual). DAG can modify a stock M2 to have the rapid load and coupling rod for the Leicavit.

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), February 13, 2002.

Thanks John, Where are DAG based. Do they have a website or contact number I can call them on? Can they modify an M2-R to fit an Leicavit or is it impractical. Cheers,

-- sparkie (sparkie@mailcity.com), February 13, 2002.

Sparkie, Don Goldberg is located in Wisconsin. There is no point in modifying an M2R to accept the Leicavit MP. The M4 loading system would have to be dismantled and a regular M2 load system put in its place. The drive system for the Leicavit MP (and Tom Abrahamsson's rapidwinder) relies on the presence of the drive pin located on the spine of the take-up s

-- Henry Chu (heninden@yahoo.com), February 13, 2002.

Last word on previous post should read---spool.

-- Henry Chu (heninden@yahoo.com), February 13, 2002.

It is much easier to modify a M2 to have rapid loading than it would be modify a M2-R to have the drive pin. SELL the M2-R and get a normal M2, have a rapid wind conversion done to the camera, buy a M2 RapidWinder and have money in the pocket for film. Better yet have modern motor drive coupler put in and use a normal RapidWinder which you can share with newer cameras.

http://www.dagcamera.com/

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), February 13, 2002.

Hi Henry,

I have seen cameras with both rapidload and the drive coupling pin. It just does not make economic sense to butcher a M2-R camera.

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), February 13, 2002.

I agree with John. Don't mess with the M2-R. For the money you get for it you can probably get an M6 TTL.

I use an Abrahamsson Rapidwinder on my regular M-2 and it is very smooth. If you want one better hurry and order. Tom is going to stop production after the final 400 orders are in.

-- Alex Shishin (shishin@suma.kobe-wu.ac.jp), February 13, 2002.

Which is very soon according to Tom...

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), February 13, 2002.

Dear Sparkie,

You are wasng your time and money. Leicavits are only of use on a IIIf and the double stroke M3.

I bought new a Leicavit for my M2 in the late sixties and found it not as useful as the lever wind. In spite of having it 'serviced' at Wetzlar in 1974 I have not used it since.

Eisenstadt only ever use one on the IIIf and Cartier-Bresson never did. Doesn't that say something!

If you are a collector pursue the idea, the 'wankers' will love it. If your take photographs forget it.

Best wishes.

Justin Scott

-- Justin Scott (jcdscott@bigpond.net.au), February 14, 2002.