Leica M2

The Leica M2, introduced in 1957, was positioned as a simpler and slightly less expensive companion to the M3. Where the M3 offered framelines for 50, 90, and 135mm lenses with a magnificent 0.91x finder, the M2 provided framelines for 35, 90, and 135mm — adding the wide 35mm coverage that street photographers increasingly wanted — at a 0.72x magnification. This made the M2 the preferred body for photographers who worked primarily with 35mm lenses.

The M2 also dropped the M3's frame counter reset mechanism in favor of a simpler manual reset, and omitted the M3's self-timer on later production. These were genuine simplifications, but they kept the price accessible and the camera lighter. Many photographers preferred the M2's 0.72x finder for its wider field of view when using 35mm lenses. The M2 is today recognized as an exceptional camera in its own right — not a budget M3, but the right tool for a different way of shooting.