New M3

ColColt · Apr 6, 2016

I decided to round out my Leica M family with a SS M3. I've read such good things about the viewfinder/rangefinder of this model I figured time to get one. I'll send it to Youxin Ye for a little CLA and it should be good to go...made 1961.

Sirius Glass · Apr 6, 2016

Enjoy

Theo Sulphate · Apr 6, 2016

Beware - these things breed.

ColColt · Apr 6, 2016

I reckon so!!

darkosaric · Apr 6, 2016

Theo Sulphate said:
Beware - these things breed

Yes they do! When I got M6 - I was thinking that is all I need. Then I found M3 very cheap, and I told to myself - 2 are enough!
But then I found LTM with elmar for next to nothing, and then M1 (that I am trying to sell it, but no buyers) ...
So on the end 4 of them are at my shelf

M3 is the best of all that I tried/had (for me at least - since I am using only 50/90mm).

ColColt · Apr 6, 2016

I felt like that when I bought the M2 and M4...it didn't work as planned and felt I NEEDED the M3 to even things out since it was such an icon. This ought to do it since I have the 50, 35 and 90 lenses.

Theo Sulphate · Apr 6, 2016

Ha-ha - you're not done. Have you ever used or held a Barnack Leica? I thought I'd never want one: separate rangefinder and viewfinder, awkward loading, too small, knob wind, rotating shutter speed dial...

Yet, having played with one (a IIIf), they are endearing. It has an old world craftsmanship that is very appealing and a style of operation that involves and engages you in the process. The deliberate winding of the film, the winding of the shutter speed knob before being able to set the speed, the operation of the self timer... the whole process is from a different era. You don't get that feeling from any digital camera nor from many film cameras.

Here you go:

https://cameraquest.com/3frdst.htm

ColColt · Apr 6, 2016

Back in the early 80's I looked at(and handled) a IIIf but just didn't like it. I didn't care for the separate viewfinder/rangefinder mostly and bought my first M2 that week. I didn't regret it. The early models are an icon for sure but just not my cup of tea. I'm, more an M2-M4 type.

Patrick Robert James · Apr 6, 2016

If you wear glasses you probably won't like shooting with a 50. I wear glasses most of the time so I use the one frameline down policy. With the Hexar RF it is the 35 and with the M3 it is the 90 or I use an external finder. I also use a finder for longer lenses with the Hexar. I really should get an M2/M4 for the 50.

M3s are great cameras though. The focus is super accurate.

Theo Sulphate · Apr 6, 2016

With the M6 you can see the 50mm framelines easily with glasses because the viewfinder has 0.72x magnification -- the viewfinder shows a fair bit of what will be outside the frame.

ColColt · Apr 6, 2016

If you wear glasses you probably won't like shooting with a 50

That's what I use probably 70% of the time on the M2 and M4 and have no problem. I do wear glasses. I assume the same once the M3 gets here. I now, I'll use the 50 on the M2, 35mm on the M4 and save the 90 for the M3.

Sirius Glass · Apr 6, 2016

Patrick Robert James said:
If you wear glasses you probably won't like shooting with a 50. I wear glasses most of the time so I use the one frameline down policy. With the Hexar RF it is the 35 and with the M3 it is the 90 or I use an external finder. I also use a finder for longer lenses with the Hexar. I really should get an M2/M4 for the 50.

M3s are great cameras though. The focus is super accurate.

Theo Sulphate said:
With the M6 you can see the 50mm framelines easily with glasses because the viewfinder has 0.72x magnification -- the viewfinder shows a fair bit of what will be outside the frame.

Wear contact lenses and these problems will go away.

ColColt · Apr 6, 2016

HCB used the 50 pretty much exclusively and he apparently had no problem with it.

Patrick Robert James · Apr 6, 2016

I love it when you tell someone something and they don't want to hear it.

The M3's viewfinder has the 50 frameline as the widest.

And HCB ain't using no M3 in that pic. (sic)

You'll comprende when you get the M3 in your hand.

bence8810 · Apr 6, 2016

I have the same type of SS M3 and a single 50 summitar lens and it's all I shoot since I started shooting film 2 years ago. Having too much gear just gives you too many options I think.

Enjoy the M3!
Ben

ColColt · Apr 7, 2016

I love it when you tell someone something and they don't want to hear it.

I'm all ears-I'm just saying with the M2 and M4 with glasses I see the frame line for the 50mm easily. The 35 frame line is a little problem, however.

bence8810 · Apr 7, 2016

ColColt said:
I'm all ears-I'm just saying with the M2 and M4 with glasses I see the frame line for the 50mm easily. The 35 frame line is a little problem, however.

If you have trouble seeing the 35 framelines on the M2/M4, you won't see the 50 framelines on the M3 with glasses. it's the same thing. M2's 35 and M3's 50 framelines are at the outer edge hence the problem. On the M2 and M2 the 50 frameline is more towards the center hence the ease of seeing.

Ben

ColColt · Apr 7, 2016

I wouldn't have thought that about the M3. I figured the 50 lines were about in the same place as the others. Well, I'll find out tomorrow as it's suppose to arrive.

Theo Sulphate · Apr 7, 2016

ColColt said:
I wouldn't have thought that about the M3. I figured the 50 lines were about in the same place as the others. Well, I'll find out tomorrow as it's suppose to arrive.

No, because the M3 magnification is 0.91x and, if the M2 and M4 are like the original M6, that magnification is 0.72x. So, the 50mm framelines are in different places.

ColColt · Apr 7, 2016

Well, using the 90 lens should be more accurate focusing I would imagine than in the M2.

Theo Sulphate · Apr 7, 2016

Yes, the 90 lens will be easier to use with an M3 if only because your frameline area is larger. The focusing precision with the rangefinder patch should be the same, M2, M3, etc., since the rangefinder base length is the same.

Do you know if the rangefinder patch in your M3 has the DOF notches?

Based on your 1,xxx,xxx serial number, I think it does. My SS M3 has it, but my DS M3 does not.

It's a nice touch, but not essential.

Patrick Robert James · Apr 8, 2016

It will be more accurate even though the baseline is the same since the magnification is higher.

The camera should have the notches.

darkosaric · Apr 8, 2016

One thing also is worth mentioning: precision of the 50mm frame lines in 0.72 vs 0.91 M3. When focus is on infinity - in M3 you get around 95% in the viewfinder in comparing to what you get on the negative. In 0.72 viewfinder you get only around 85%. 0.72 viewfinder is very accurate in close focus, but on infinity it show much much less than what you get on the negative. Once when you get used to it - it is not a problem, but in start I was very disappointed with this. Leica claims that this is because they want to assure that all what is in the viewfinder always goes in the negative.
LTM is showing 100% when focus is on 1,5m.

ColColt · Apr 8, 2016

I don't know about the notches yet as the camera hasn't gotten here...due today from the tracking info.

Xmas · Apr 8, 2016

ColColt said:
I don't know about the notches yet as the camera hasn't gotten here...due today from the tracking info.

Did you order another Quick Load kit?

New M3

ColColt

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