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Leica M2 Safari Edition Body with Meter
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Leica M2 Safari Edition Body with Meter

Store / Cameras and Merchandise / Cameras
$2,349.00
In stock: 1 available
Product Details

Leica M2 35mm film camera “Repaint” with “CLA”. 35-50-90mm frame lines, this camera is a true work of art renewed with a recent CLA and custom paint job. (Lens shown not included.)

The Leica M2: A Classic in Rangefinder Photography

The Leica M2, introduced in 1957, stands as one of the most revered cameras in the history of 35mm photography. As the second model in Leica’s legendary M series—following the M3—it was designed to be a more accessible, simplified version, appealing to photojournalists, street photographers, and professionals who valued speed, reliability, and precision.

The M2 retained the exceptional mechanical build quality Leica had become known for: solid brass construction, precise machining, and a smooth cloth focal-plane shutter. What set it apart was its more straightforward feature set. Unlike the M3’s 0.91x viewfinder and 50mm frame line emphasis, the M2 featured a 0.72x magnification finder with 35mm, 50mm, and 90mm frame lines—making it better suited for wide-angle work. This made the M2 especially popular with documentary photographers who favored the 35mm focal length.

One of the M2’s distinctive characteristics was its use of a manual frame counter, which required resetting after each film load. While the M3 had an automatic frame counter, the M2’s was a cost-saving measure, helping to make it more affordable without compromising image quality or durability. It also lacked the self-timer present on many M3 models, again reflecting its stripped-down, utilitarian nature.

Internally, the M2 shared the same outstanding shutter and film transport mechanism as the M3, ensuring reliability in the field. It used Leica’s M-mount bayonet system, compatible with the company’s superb lenses. The M2’s rangefinder was slightly simplified, with a different mechanism for displaying frame lines, but this had minimal impact on usability and allowed for an uncluttered, intuitive shooting experience.

Photographers such as Garry Winogrand and Joel Meyerowitz famously used the M2 for their street work, appreciating its combination of discretion, build quality, and ease of use. The camera’s bright, clear viewfinder and minimalist controls encouraged instinctive, fast shooting—a key asset in fast-paced environments.

Though it was eventually replaced by models like the M4 and M6, the M2 remains a favorite among film photography enthusiasts. Its robust construction ensures that many examples remain fully functional decades later, and its design philosophy—simplicity, reliability, and precision—continues to influence Leica’s modern M series.

Today, the Leica M2 is celebrated not just as a historical artifact but as a practical tool. Whether used for its tactile joy or its photographic results, the M2 endures as a symbol of Leica’s golden era and remains one of the finest mechanical rangefinder cameras ever made.

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Leica M2 Safari Edition Body with Meter
Store / Cameras and Merchandise / Cameras
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FAQs

  • Why is Knoxville Film Lab so popular?

    Regarding film development, you won't find a better team than the Knoxville Film Lab. We understand the precise science of film development and have over 45 years of experience.


    Please visit our online shop today to view our film development options. Contact us today for all of your film development-related questions. One of our friendly team members will quickly assist you with all your needs.

  • What is the best way to contact Knoxville Film Lab?

    We can be reached by phone at 865-466-5831, by email at info@knoxvillefilmlab.com, or by submitting one of the contact forms on our website.


    When you reach out to Knoxville Film Lab, you can expect fast and knowledgeable assistance with all of your film development needs.

  • What is the difference between a premium scan and a basic scan?

    Premium scans are color corrected in the scanner when the scan is made, as well as being corrected further in Lightroom and/or Photoshop. Premium scans are a finished product that you should be able to deliver straight to your client without any further enhancements or time spent by the photographer. Premium scans are great for the busy photographer who would rather spend his or her time shooting and not behind a computer editing scans.


    Basic scans are made with all corrections for density and color made at the scanner itself and are not further corrected in Lightroom or Photoshop. This is a cheaper alternative to the Premium Scan and allows the photographer greater control to apply their own aesthetic and style to their work. Basic scans are, however, good scans and may not need further correction.

  • How Long does it take to receive my scans?

    The typical turnaround time for basic scans is 2 to 3 days (but could take longer depending on load) business day from the date your film arrives. Premium scans take a day or two longer. 

  • Do you process film locally?

    Yes, we process C-41, BW, ECN-2, and E-6 in house. We use Fuji and Kodak chemicals as well as true ECN-2 chemicals.

  • Can I set up a color pac with you so my scans look relatively the same each order?

    Yes. Give us a call and email us some examples of images you like. We will try to match the look you prefer and consistently provide that to you for each order moving forward.

  • How will I get my scans?

    Once your film has been developed and scanned, you will receive an email to the address given on the order form (make sure it is legible). That link will be active for 4 weeks. You will be able to download your full-resolution scans. If you wish for your scans to be delivered via a USB drive, include a drive when you mail in your film, and we will mail back the drive once the scans are complete, along with your negatives if desired.

  • What do you do with the negatives?

    That is totally up to you. If you don't want them back, we will destroy them. If you wish for them to be mailed back immediately, we can do that. 


    If you wish for us to hold on to your negatives for 3 months while you submit other orders, we can do that as well and mail them all back at the same time.

  • Do you scan old photos, movies, and video tapes to make them digital?

    Well, yes, we do! Have a box of old photos laying around that you would like preserved or shared digitally? Well, we can help. For $0.20 a photo, we will scan your photos and deliver them to you digitally at 600 dpi or 1200 dpi ($0.25), which means you get a digital copy that can be printed at the same quality and is twice or 4 times as large as your original photo. You can keep them on a thumb drive or in the cloud with Dropbox or Google Drive. Ship us your photos or drop them off, and you can pick them up when we are done scanning them, or we can mail them to you. It is a great way to preserve old photos from a trip, vacation, wedding, or school memory. Give us a call for more details. Most old videos (VHS, VHS-C, VHS-S, Hi-8, mini-DV, Betamax for $20, 8mm, and Super8 movies are $15 per 50’.