Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals FULL INSTRUCTIONS This Instruction Book contains everything you should know about the LEICA M 2. At first practice handling the camera without a film. Carry on until you know all the steps by heart without needing to refer to this manual. You will get the hang of it quicker than you thought possible - handling the LEICA is much simpler than reading about it.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals Hold the First of all get used to holding the LEICA correctly. This is most important for quick and reliable shooting, and for high quality, pin-sharp pictures. Grip the camera so that it rests in the palms of both hands. The right thumb rests lightly against the transport lever (2), while the right index finger just touches the release button (1). Use the left hand to focus the lens (9).
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals LEICA Correctly 1 Try exposing at first with a shutter speed of /60 second or faster. After some practice you'll find yourself able to use slower speeds without shaking the camera during exposure. If you find it more convenient you can, of course, equally well use your left eye for viewing and focusing. To switch from horizontal to vertical pictures, turn the LEICA upright.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals The Film Transport Lever (2) Push the transport lever fully to the right with your right thumb. Alternatively, work it with a number of short strokes until it locks. Either way, this movement tensions the focal plane shutter of the LEICA and advances the film by one frame. You cannot accidentally advance more than one frame at a time or make an exposure before the film has been properly advanced.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals Setting the Shutter Speed (3) The numbers on the shutter speed dial indicate 1 fractions of a second. For example, 1000 is /1000 second, 125 is 1/125 second, 4 is 1/4 second, and 1 1 is /1, or one full second. The dial engages at each speed; you read the setting next to the small index line on the accessory shoe. When set to B, the shutter remains open as long as the release button is depressed.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals The Lens Aperture (11) Turning the lens aperture ring opens or closes the iris diaphragm. This may easily be observed by looking into the front of the lens. Like the pupil of your eye which opens or closes to adapt itself to weaker or stronger light, the lens diaphragm is used to regulate the amount of light reaching the film. To cut down very bright light we "stop down" to a small lens aperture.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals The Depth of Field Scale (8) The sharpest parts of the image correspond to objects at the exact distance (in a plane parallel to the film) at which the lens is focused. This maximum sharpness gradually falls off in front of, and behind, the focused distance. There is, however, a certain zone of acceptable sharpness, known as the "depth of field.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals The brilliant viewfinder field frames of the LEICA M 2 automatically frame the subjects covered by the lens in use. The frames correspond to focal lengths of 35mm, 50mm, and 90mm. As the LEICA has an optical direct-vision finder, you see the subject all the time — even at the instant of exposure.The film records everything within the bright-line-frame.
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Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals The Automatic Finder Adjustment for 35-, 50-, and 90 mm lenses. Whenever any 35-, 50- or 90 mm LEICA lens is inserted into the M2 camera's bayonet mount the correct focal frame automatically appears in the viewfinder.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals Lever pointing outwards: Field of view for 35mm lenses. Lever pointing inwards: Field of view for 90mm lenses.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals The Distance can be set directly on the distance scale of the lens, or with the aid of the rangefinder. Some lenses lock in the infinity position. Depress the infinity catch to release this lock for focusing at closer distances. Remember also to extend and lock the barrel of collapsible lenses (see page 15).
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals With vertical lines it is often easier to set the distance by the splitimage method. Here you watch the displaced section of the vertical line in the rangefinder field. This section moves along the horizon- tal boundaries of the field as you turn the lens, until the image be- comes continuous down the whole finder area. At this point the lens is set exactly to the correct distance.
Changing Lenses To remove the lens, press the catch (13), turn the lens to the left, and lift it out of the bayonet mount. Grasp the lens at its base, close to the camera body. To insert the lens align the red dot on the lens mount opposite the red dot on the camera body and turn to the right until the bayonet lock engages with an audible click. Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals The Interchangeable Lenses of the LEICA M2 Your choice of focal lengths ranges from 21- to 400mm, with apertures as fast as f/1.4. With this wide variety of logically selected focal lengths, from super wideangle to extreme long-focus, you can select any viewpoint and have complete control over subject field and perspective.
1 2 3 The 50mm Dual-Range Summicron This version of the 50mm Summicron has two focusing ranges: 1. The normal range from infinity to 40" (1 meter); 2. The close-up range from about 35 to 19 inches (88 to 48 cm). This is measured from the film plane to the subject. Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals Focusing in the Near Range Set the lens to 31/2 feet (1 meter) as shown in illustration 1. Pull the focusing ring forward, and turn it past the end stop into the 35 inch (88 cm) position (illustration 2). The lens remains locked in this position until the optical finder attachment is pushed home into its special fitting. This releases the focusing movement for the close-up range (illustration 3).
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals Coated Lenses Modern coated LEICA lenses exhibit a colored sheen on their glass surfaces. This coating acts to reduce internal reflections, thereby enhancing the optical quality of the lens as well as increasing its light transmission. The outer lens surfaces are specially hard-coated, and will therefore stand up to normal cleaning.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals Lens Hoods protect the lens against stray light (which might cause flare), and also against rain and snow. Hold the lens hood so as to press in the two spring clips, place it over the lens, and let it engage. Filters screw into the front of the lens. In special cases two filters can be mounted on top of each other. The Ever-ready Case protects the LEICA M 2 yet keeps it ready to shoot at all times.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals Loading the LEICA Although daylight film cartridges are light-tight, avoid loading or unloading the camera in brilliant light. Out of doors the shade of your own body will provide reasonable protection. Do not leave exposed or unexposed film cartridges lying about. Keep them safely in their cases or wrapped in black paper, until you are ready to develop them.
Before opening the camera; make sure that it isn't loaded. To do this, pull up the rewind knob (6) and turn it gently in the direction of the arrow. If you feel a resistance there is a film in the camera. Rewind the film and unload as described on page 24. Turn the key in the base plate in the direction marked "auf-open," and lift off the base plate. The film cartridge and the take-up spool are now easily withdrawn.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals Hold the take-up spool in the right hand, and the film cartridge in the left, with both spool knobs pointing up. Now push the beginning of the film under the clamping spring of the take-up spool as far as it will go. The perforated film edge must lie close against the spool flange, as shown in the illustration.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals Check that the position of the film corresponds to that shown in the diagram. The matt emulsion side must face the lens and the focal plane shutter; the take-up spool winds the film with the emulsion side outwards. The edge of the film must be parallel to the bright metal guide-rails of the film channel. Stroke the transport lever gently to engage the teeth of the transport sprocket in the perforations of the film.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals Unloading the LEICA When you have exposed the whole film, the transport lever can no longer be moved. This indicates that the film must be rewound into its cartridge. Set the reversing lever to "Ft" (15) and leave it there while you pull up the rewind knob (6) as shown on the illustration on page 20. Turn the rewind knob in the direction of the arrow until you feel a definite resistance.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals To Set the Film Type Indicator (24) in the camera back, press one finger lightly against the center, and turn the disc to mark the type and speed of the film loaded in the LEICA. Symbols indicate black-and-white film, daylight color film (sun on a red background) or artificial light color film (lamp on a red background). One of the three pointers, next to the appropriate symbol, should point to the film speed in ASA or DIN.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals Using Flash All electronic flash units and most types of flash bulbs can by synchronized with the LEICA M 2. "Synchronization" means that the flash lights up at the exact instant when the shutter opens. A flash gun bracket can be attached to the base plate of the LEICA. (Catalog No. 15 545 K). Two flash outlets at the back of the LEICA accept flash cables.
The right hand outlet, marked by a symbol of a flash bulb, is used for synchronizing type M flash bulbs. With suitable type M bulbs you can use very fast shutter speeds. Protective plugs are available to cover the two flash outlets. To keep out dirt, as well as to avoid using the wrong outlet, uncover only the outlet you need at any time. Exact details about flash bulbs, guide numbers, and suitable shutter speeds are given in the flash table for the LEICA M 2.
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