Do I buy the Leica M2 or Leica r3,4?
The M2 was released in 1957 as a simpler version of the venerable M3. It is a coupled rangefinder with interchangeable lenses. The R-3 was released in 1976 and is really a Minolta XE-7. Leica had fallen behind in the SLR field and approached Minolta for assistance. The XE-7/R-3 uses a shutter designed by Leitz and Copal and is arguably the quietest shutter ever used in an SLR. The XE-7/R-3 also feature a switch to allow double and multiple exposures. The XE-7 has Aperture Preferred or full Manual Metering. To make it a “Leica” the lens mount, metering system and badging were changed. The next generation was the Minolta XD-11 which was the first multi-mode 35mm SLR. It offered Aperture or Shutter Preferred and full Manual Metering. Although smaller than the XE-7 it used the same Leitz-Copal shutter. The XD-11 was the basis for the Leica R-4 & R-5. When Minolta introduced the MD 35-70mm f3.5 and MD 70-210 f4 constant aperture zooms, Leica licensed them and sold them under their Vario-Elm
