First time Leica owner: general advice?

I've been shooting film for a few years (mostly on the Canon FD system, but some rangefinders in the past too), but I just recently caved and bought myself an M3.

In short, what are the finer points of advice you all think I should know? Anything is welcome, but some of my more specific questions I have include:

• Advice on a lens? I don't have one yet, but know I want 50mm. Very torn between newer version f2, f1.4 pre-ASPH and f1.4 ASPH.
• Any important advice on things I CAN'T do? I know all cameras have their quirks (for example on a Zenit I own, it's advised to change the shutter speed only AFTER the shutter is cocked). I'd rather not make any "dumb" (IE completely avoidable) mistakes and break this beautiful thing by accident.

Thanks all, really looking forward to using this one soon.

You might have a manual already, but if you haven't, there's one on Mike Butkus' site:
http://www.butkus.org/chinon/leica/leica_m3/leica_m3.htm
Mike deserves the requested contribution. You'll like the M3; an M4=P is one of my favorite cameras.

Ditto on the Leica Manual. It was published in many editions over many years. You'll want a 13th or later edition to cover the M3. If this merely whets your lust for Leica literature, consider Leica by Paul-Henry van Hasbrooeck, a detailed history and compendium of Leica cameras and accessories over many decades. There are several other informative books on the Leica system. As for lenses, my favorite is a 50mm f/2 Summicron. Perhaps half of all my Leica photographs were taken with one. When it wasn't fast enough, I used a Canon 50mm f/1.4. The Summicron is better. Other Leica lenses from 21 to 135mm are also fine.

Don't forget to take the lens cap off. I'm still learning, myself.

I'm a 40 year Leica shooter. The M3 has quirks but nothing serious. The rewind button is a lever on the front, the bottom plate comes off and the take up spool comes out to load.
As for a lens, M3s work best with a 50. I've had Summicrons and Summiluxes and I now have a collapsable Summicron and a rigid Summicron. Honestly, by the time you stop down a couple of stops it would be hard to tell the difference.
Don't discount the Elmars. Some of my best shots have been with them and if you don't need the speed they're great. I've have both 3.5s and 2.8s.
See if you can try before you buy. Some people just don't get along with Leicas. But some fall in love, like me.

phil0 said:

. . . Don't discount the Elmars. Some of my best shots have been with them and if you don't need the speed they're great. I've have both 3.5s and 2.8s. . . .

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Decades ago I did a quick but critical test on about three dozen lenses for Leica and Nikon cameras. The sharpest Leica lens was the 2.8 Elmar. Equally good were the Micro Nikkor 55mm f/3.5, the 45mm f/2.8 GN-Nikkor, and the EL-Nikkor 50mm f/2.8. Popular 50mm f/2 lenses for both brands lagged slightly behind.

gmax137 said:

Don't forget to take the lens cap off. I'm still learning, myself.

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The Hasselblad SWCs are not slrs so they have the same problem that the rangefinders have ==> the best photographs are taken with the lens cap on. I put yellow gaffer's tape on the edge of the lens cap and the lens hood as a reminder to remove the lens cap before taking the photograph.

FoidPoosening said:

• Advice on a lens? I don't have one yet, but know I want 50mm. Very torn between newer version f2, f1.4 pre-ASPH and f1.4 ASPH.
• Any important advice on things I CAN'T do? I know all cameras have their quirks (for example on a Zenit I own, it's advised to change the shutter speed only AFTER the shutter is cocked). I'd rather not make any "dumb" (IE completely avoidable) mistakes and break this beautiful thing by accident.

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I've had a lot of lenses, especially 50mm, but eventually I setteled for the Lux ASPH, this lens and my M3 is the best photographic equipment I've ever used, and I've never enjoyed photography as much as with this combo.
It's got the speed and great image quality: sharp with smooth out of focus backgrounds, and feels perfect in the hand - simply a joy to use.

When I got the Lux, Voigtländer had not yet released their new 50/1.5, and the old one only focuses down to one meter. Which doesn't matter for a Leica M3 right? wrong, I have a close focus modified, you might want to look into that, because those 30 extra centimeters are very useful.
I shoot a lot at ~80cm.

Great camera, and whichever 50mm you get, you're getting a very good lens, since there are hardly any poor 50mm lenses for the M-mount.


Depending on how you use the camera, you might want to complement your Lux ASPH with a small 50mm. I like the collapsible summicron, the collapsible elmar, and recently acquired a modern summarit, which is very very sharp yet small.
The small 50 is great for bad weather, stuffing the camera in a coat pocket or under the jacket.