Reverse G.A.S.

For some reason I am in a selling mood. I have two rangefinders but can't decide which one to let go. They both have their pros and cons.


Leica M3 4Q1963 (same as my birthday) that runs really well but lacks frame lines below 50mm.
OR
VC Bessa R3M 250 Jahre with anniversary 50mm f2 collapsible heliar lens. I like the built in meter better than the top mounted meter on the Leica. But selling this set together leaves me without a 50mm.

I have shifted most of my shooting to 4x5 and do not really enjoy processing 35mm, but might find it easier once Lab-Box comes out. Ultimately I would like to own a digital M body or at least a Sony full frame A7II or A7RII to carry with my LF gear for the scouting and extra shots or as a vacation camera.

If you are able to shoot 4x5, you likely have another meter or can rely on Sunny 16. Do you really need a meter?

All that aside, I cannot think of a situation in which to keep a Bessa over an M3.

Sell the Bessa, it's just a camera after all.

Keep the Leica, its a finely tuned handmade masterpiece, especially the M3 series.

Change the viewfinder part for one with the 35mm and 28mm lines. Nothing feels quite like a Leica.

Leica gives me the creeps.

I have M3 and digital M-E. M3 is my most used camera, not M-E. Well, it was M4-2 before, but it is in service. HCB used his M3 and 35 lens with external VF. I'm thinking of the same.
I don't have Bessa RF cameras anymore and never purchased Heliar after I printed from negatives taken with this lens.
Maybe it will help.

I sold all 3 of my Leicas, M6ttl, M2, and a IIIf? I shoot 6x9 Fujis, 35mm annoys me. Except for slides. I regret selling the M6, jeez the bright rangefinder, and quiet. Keep the M3, no brainer.
I just never used them.

A bit biased because I own the R3M 250 Jahre set too... but I would keep both tbh. Leica for all the reasons above but its always handy to have a second M body. Full 1:1 viewfinder, modern with a very TTL capable meter. It's a fantastic camera. At the the very least I wouldn't let go of the lens; where else can you find a fast 50mm heliar with modern coating (I know pentax have a 58mm)? The R3M set and the range in general is a work of passion from Cosina, a range born from a love of film photography. I'd never let mine go even though, as above, 35mm annoys me too

I say sell them both. I like to shoot 135 film, but to me, it's just not a serious format. It's a fun format, like 110. It's looks cool on a shelf and is fun to take out an mess around with, but if you're going to be doing serious work, I'd rather use my one of my large formats or digital cameras. The level of quality just isn't high enough to justify the cost of keeping a collector's cameras like either of those. If you're like me and you ever nail an amazing shot on one, you'll always wish you had done it on a higher resolution camera.

Of course, those are just my opinions. You are free to form your own. 135 can certainly be a serious format to someone else, and I won't judge them for it. There are no rules in art that aren't worth breaking. But to me, those two cameras you have there are more collector's items than serious tools, and I don't like having a ton of money invested in collector's items. But if they're serious tools for you, then clearly that's different. Or if you're a serious collector, then maybe the investment is the purpose of their existence in your collection. In the end, you just have to ask yourself what would you rather have in 5-10 years: Those cameras, or whatever you'd buy with the money that you got from selling those cameras. Our opinions don't really matter compared to your own.

If money wasn't a factor, I think simplifying with one camera that offered both a meter and more framelines would make sense. Sell them both and get a user M6.

Eric, like you I am looking forward to the LabBox to simplify running the occasional roll of 135. Jim, like you I am conflicted about 135 in general. I love the cameras, but so often when I look at my results from 135 I wish I had taken a camera with a bigger negative.

Simple. Keep which ever one you enjoy/see yourself shooting more.

I do my serious photography with MF, but I occasionally use 35mm. When film becomes hard to find, 35mm may be the last one standing.

keep the Leica M3 you'll regret selling it, specially since it matches your birthday. I feel like it's worth more to you than the money you'll get by selling it