For Sale SOLD - 1954 Leica M3 Package For Sale

For Sale -

• 1954 Leica M3 Double Stroke recently serviced (2020) and in great condition. SN 709230.
• 1954 collapsible Leica Summicron 50mm f/2 lens in good clean condition complete with lens shade.
• Leitz 39mm SL Filter. (Sorry I didn't mention this before but I really don't think about it since it is always on the lens.
• Working Leicameter M light Meter by Metrawatt. Will need service as it reads a stop slow.
• Two Model-N metal film cassettes for the M3 in metal cases in great shape. Sorry, no film loaded.
• Leather Ever-ready Case with strap in good condition which fits collapsible lens with lens shade in place and light meter.
• 2nd Edition Pocket Leica Book by Theo Kisselbach with dust cover that covers Leica M3 as well as the earlier screwmount models.

The entire package has been used recently and works just fine. I really enjoy using this camera but I Am not hurting for good rangefinder cameras to work with including an MA and a Zeiss Ikon.

$2,000 USD for the set includes shipping via Priority Mail. Payable through Paypal or USPS Money Order. Will ship only within the continental United States.

Thank you for looking and have a great day.

If you can, you might want to change the title to read 1954 instead of 54 - I thought it was going to be a listing for a very large Leica camera collection!

Thanks Matt

I’d suggest adding the serial number, too, as that appears to be a fairly early camera within the M3 production, per the shape of the strap lugs and the lack of frame preview. In addition to buying it to use, some folks might also be attracted to it as a collectable. GLWS!

Thanks Trask. It is #709230 so I think it is a fairly early model. It was recovered (no outrageous colors or fabrics) when I had it cleaned and adjusted so I am not sure how that will affect the collector value.

From serial #785801, in 1955, Leica built the frame selector preview lever into the M3.
It might be helpful to photograph the body in greater detail:

• Top plate
• Corners
• Bottom plate
• Back
• Front without lens
• Interior
• etc.

Thanks Karl, I appreciate your suggestions. To be honest I have never missed the preview lever. I suspect that is because it is uncommon for me to go out with more than one lens at a time.

I have owned several M cameras over the years and I have yet to actually use the preview lever when out and about. I have messed around with the lever out of curiosity but never when out working. I am probably a bit odd but I actually like the 50mm lens and only use other focal lengths for very specific reasons. I don't typically even carry other lenses with me when I am out photographing.

As for more pix, it isn't always easy for me to do that. I will talk to my daughter and ask if I can borrow her digital when she is back in town again.

Since I bought the MA back in 2014 I have used this camera only 16 times according to my records. I have only used it twice since it returned from overhaul. That is really the biggest reason for selling the camera. I am sure someone else will get a lot more use out of it than I have. I know this camera will outlast me, but so will my MA. Of course if it doesn't sell, I can't really say I'll be terribly depressed.

If my word means anything to anyone who is interested, the camera is very clean. There are no scratches in the chrome or the paint on the back door. There is a bit of minor scuffing on the bottom plate were it sits on a desk or table, as you expect from a camera this old but even that is pretty minor. There are scratches in the black paint on the underside of the back cover where it fits to the camera body but that is the only spot that shows an wear that I can tell. As I already mentioned, it was recovered last year so the cover is pristine. It is VERY smooth in operation and the shutter is VERY quiet, but since it was recently cleaned and adjusted I would expect nothing else.

The lens is very clean as well. None of the little scratches in the glass that you normally see in these older collapsible Summicrons. When I look at it in the light all I see is the beautiful blue and violet coloring from the lens coating reflecting from the overhead light. I am not an expert on these things by any means, and certainly not a collector, but I do know that this lens takes beautiful pictures. But most Summicrons take very nice pictures when you do your part so I guess that shouldn't be surprising to anyone.

Karl K said:

It might be helpful to photograph the body in greater detail.

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I agree that additional photos would be very beneficial to prospective buyers. It would also be nice if you shared the name of whoever performed the recent service.

Best of luck with the sale.

Dan, good luck with your sale. Born in 1954, I've often thought of getting an early M3 but don't want it to just sit around. Pretty happy with the M4 that was built when I was thirteen.

Thanks Logan2z.

Youxin Ye did the service.

I have sent my daughter a text so I should be getting her digital in the next couple of days. Meanwhile I will fiddle about with my phone and see if I can get any of those pix to work.

madNbad said:

Dan, good luck with your sale. Born in 1954, I've often thought of getting an early M3 but don't want it to just sit around. Pretty happy with the M4 that was built when I was thirteen.

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I don't want to jinx a potential sale but that is EXACTLY why I bought this one.

Pioneer said:

Thanks Trask. It is #709230 so I think it is a fairly early model. It was recovered (no outrageous colors or fabrics) when I had it cleaned and adjusted so I am not sure how that will affect the collector value.

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Great! AFAIK that SN identify it as being among the first 10,000 Leica M cameras produced, so all teh more collectible. My M3 doesn’t have the frame preview selector either, and like you I don’t miss it. I’m sure you’ll sell this nice set soon.

Pioneer said:

Thanks Logan2z.
Youxin Ye did the service.

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Youxin is great, he did a CLA on my M4 a couple of years ago and the camera has been working great since its return.

I agree. I like his work. This was the first M camera I have sent to him and he did a terrific job but he has worked his magic on several of my screwmounts. His wife does a marvelous job cleaning lenses as well.

Pictures have been added. My granddaughter brought her camera over and left it for me to use. She is going to University right now and she said she is so busy that she doesn't have time to use it at this point. Told me to return it this summer.

That's a beauty!

Oldwino said:

That's a beauty!

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Yes it is. And it works a beautifully as it looks.

Pioneer said:

For Sale -

• 1954 Leica M3 Double Stroke recently serviced (2020) and in great condition. SN 709230.
• 1954 collapsible Leica Summicron 50mm f/2 lens in good clean condition complete with lens shade.
• Leitz 39mm SL Filter. (Sorry I didn't mention this before but I really don't think about it since it is always on the lens.
• Working Leicameter M light Meter by Metrawatt. Will need service as it reads a stop slow.
• Two Model-N metal film cassettes for the M3 in metal cases in great shape. Sorry, no film loaded.
• Leather Ever-ready Case with strap in good condition which fits collapsible lens with lens shade in place and light meter.
• 2nd Edition Pocket Leica Book by Theo Kisselbach with dust cover that covers Leica M3 as well as the earlier screwmount models.

The entire package has been used recently and works just fine. I really enjoy using this camera but I Am not hurting for good rangefinder cameras to work with including an MA and a Zeiss Ikon.

$2,000 USD for the set includes shipping via Priority Mail. Payable through Paypal or USPS Money Order. Will ship only within the continental United States.

Thank you for looking and have a great day.
View attachment 269346

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I am interested, please pm
thanks!