DS M3 Purchase Inspection

[Richard Jepsen]

I’m considering a purchase of a DS M3 serviced by a repairman in Virginia. A reputable midwest pro camera store contracted out the CLA. The camera visually is in ex +++ shape with a fresh shutter curtain.

I have never handled a DS. I have owned a MP, M6 and currently a M5. I have two concerns. The first is the film advance radius is shorter than expected. My estimate is at 35% of the M6 advance when one gets to the end and needs to re-stroke. That doesn’t seem right. The second concern is there is a tiny, intermittent catch when moving the shutter speed dial. Its as if a metal burr or micro misalignment exits. Does not affect operation.

Concerning the shutter dial I experienced the same situation after getting a Minolta SRT back from a service. Camera works great but just had an occasional catch related to how much pressure I placed on the dial.

My MP was pleasurably smooth regarding the film transport. I always two stroked it as that seem natural. I assumed film transport smoothness would be a characteristic of a DS.

Any thoughts.

 

[Huss]

I had a DS and your advance sounds right. Open the film back and check the shutter curtain advance when you stroke it. If it completes properly after the requisite two strokes, then there is no issue.
The only place where my film Ms ‘catch’ is when they pass through the flash sync speed setting - 1/50 - that is normal.
These are mechanical devices and no two will feel exactly the same. However, if something feels markedly different then there is an issue.

I sold my DS because frankly even after using it a lot, the DS wind just irritated me and I way preferred the SS wind on my other M3.

 

[Richard Jepsen]

The catch is not related to 1/50th. I know how that feels. Just surprised the wind-on lacks the silky smoothness a longer advance accentuates. You start to advance, over come the mechanical drag, and 30% into the advance you hit the stop. Kinda ruins the silky smoothness Ms are known for. Now complaints set aside, the viewfinder is a marvel and its getting hard to find clean M3s.

 

[Huss]

That's how the wind on with a DS is. Mine was just like that, and it never grew on me so I sold it. If you use a regular single stroke M, the DS is just an annoyance.

Just because a camera has been serviced, does not mean it was serviced correctly. I briefly had an M4 that I bought from Camerawest that just had a full shutter service with new curtains. They included the receipt. When I examined it, the shutter was defective. It had serious bounce and so I returned it for a refund. Sometimes mistakes happen.
Your shutter speed dial should turn smoothly and not catch as you describe.

 

[Richard Jepsen]

Thanks for the info on the film advance. Its not like one has opportunity to walk into a store and check out a camera.

I always read a DS is smoother but thats not my impression. Without a long stroke you never feel smoothness during film transport. The wind-on is integral to the impression of refinement. The only other moving part actuated by the operator is the shutter release.

All this said, its hard to find a clean top plate on a M. Condition becomes a big factor. Mechanical issues can be addresses if you want to spend the money.

With this info its more likely I will look for a late model M3 with a CLA from a top tech.

 

[Richard Jepsen]

Here is an answer to the length of a double stroke. In the video the narrator advances the film transport. In this case the length of stroke is nearly to the end.

The camera I was looked at has a shorter throw.