Leica M3?

[slakjaw]

I have been looking at getting an old rangefinder. Thought I would ask the OT’ers here about them. There is a Leica M3 and a IIIC local to me on craigslist. What is it like shooting these old rangefinders? What should I look out for if I go check them out?

[RPKESQ]

The M3 is pretty usable for most. the downside is expense for lenses and accessories, as well as film, processing and printing. It handles and feels much more modern than the III C will. It is easier to load and can use modern lenses.

The III C is a different animal. The view finder and range-finder are not integrated. You look through one eyepiece for the framing and a different eyepiece for the focus. It has no flash sync. You must turn a knob to advance the film (no thumb lever advance), parts are extremely scarce. Lenses are screw mount.

Of course there are workarounds for any limitation. A common one used by photo journalists of the III C era was to use a 35mm focal length lens set to f8 and set at a focus point that would include everything from about 10 feet to infinity and a shutter speed of 60th of a second and just point and shoot.

Correct any over or under exposure in the printing operations. This worked surprisingly well under most conditions.

Both can be fun if expensive to play with. Neither one does anything that can not be accomplished better and easier with more modern equipment.

[slodave]

Leica is lagging behind the rest. Good stuff, but can be a pain to use.

[sc_rufctr]

The M3 is the best camera Leica ever made... Yes it's fully manual but and absolute joy to hold and use.
It has some heft and makes any other camera feel like a disposable.

This one is mine with my DR Summicron attached. 1966 so she's a year younger than me.
I also have an M4-P and a 21mm Super Angulon lens. Recently I picked up a 135mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M

[dan79brooklyn]

Great cameras...rangefinders take some getting used to.

I never could afford a 'real' Leica, but I still have my Minolta built Leica lens CL.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by dan79brooklyn

Great cameras...rangefinders take some getting used to.

I never could afford a 'real' Leica, but I still have my Minolta built Leica lens CL.

There's nothing wrong with that CL. The 40mm Summicron was one of the best ever.

[nota]

I have two M3's

my dads old camera saddly has mold in the lenz's all 4

value went insane years ago
with japs buying up mass quantity
esp mint to very low use M3's
I guess the values have come down a bit presently
but still more collector value then use value now

big minus is ware or dents or scratched
bad or stuck bits esp shutter but thats rare
check it on the slower settings
or mold in a lenz but the lenz is not tied to body value
and there are alot of lenz's out there and they are allover the value range too
and decent amt of aftermarket stuff too
faster is more $$$ lower F# sometimes alot of $$$$ for very little faster
but you can also find a well used and worn shooter that works perfectly
for much less then the perfect mint prices

[vash]

kickass camera. the silence of the shutter is worth the cost of admission. i have a M6, that pains me to think of parting with. my stepdad gave me a M3, that i havent brought home yet.

the lenses are amazing.

[G50-Love]

Is the M3 better than the M4?

Why?

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by slodave

Leica is lagging behind the rest. Good stuff, but can be a pain to use.

You're kidding right?

Best stuff out there.

[5String43]

Wonderful cameras, some of the very best lenses ever made. I'd jump all over the M3 if I had the chance.

But: These things take you back in time. You will find yourself, I think, slowing way down as you shoot your photos. That's not necessarily a bad thing, of course. You'll need a nice light meter, of course - a LunaPro or a Luna6, perhaps. Pretty sure I've still got one somewhere, though I have no idea at all where it might be....

As someone else has mentioned, this certainly raises film-processing issues. But I think that for someone interested in doing, for instance, fine art photography, especially black and white, this would be a great way to go.

[slodave]

Originally Posted by Dottore

You're kidding right?

Best stuff out there.

Nope. Considering that they still use rangefinders that crop what you see, and everything is manual, they can be frustrating to use compared to Nikon, Canon and the others.

They have a great reputation. But they should also be able to come up to the modern age without sacrificing quality.

[slakjaw]

Sometimes I want the whole process of shooting on some old school equipment. Digital is great! It's fast and modern gear is a dream to operate but every once in a while it seems like something is missing with my modern gear. I do not think shooting a 70 year old rangefinder will give me better images.

[sm70911]

If you are looking at a Leica I'm sure you are aware its the glass is what makes the Leica so special. As a camera the M3 IS certainly something that requires more thought, but that thought will add to your image making. I have had a few over the years and currently have an M2 with a Leica 35 F2 lens. In terms of image quality and ergonomics its my favorite camera. That said for work apps I use the 5D MKII, just more practical, instant and once setup to your preff's the only thing you have to think about is what lens.
Film processing = not as easy these days but find a decent lab and then buy a neg scanner, they are inexpensive and a great way to bridge the gap.

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by slodave

Nope. Considering that they still use rangefinders that crop what you see, and everything is manual, they can be frustrating to use compared to Nikon, Canon and the others.

They have a great reputation. But they should also be able to come up to the modern age without sacrificing quality.

Leica's are the Porsches of the camera world IMO. The quality is second to none.

You can buy Leicas in SLR form and auto with all the whistles and bells if you want.

The rangefinders are for purists, and they are a joy to own and use. Like a vintage Porsche.

It may depend on the photography that you do, but I traded about 100 pounds worth of Nikon SLR equipment in on two Leica rangefinders (one with 35mm lens and one with an 80mm lens) some years ago and never looked back.

[DJ911]

Originally Posted by dottore

leica's are the porsches of the camera world imo. The quality is second to none.

You can buy leicas in slr form and auto with all the whistles and bells if you want.

The rangefinders are for purists, and they are a joy to own and use. Like a vintage porsche.

+1

[Joeaksa]

The M3 is one of the best ever made. Only film camera better is the Hassleblad but its a large format film camera and a lot more bulky to deal with.

The M4 and M4-2 are a bit more "user friendly" than the M3 but a real pro usually uses the M3. Its kinda like using a 5 speed gearbox or an automatic, the purist will almost always use the gearbox car.

Anyone looking to get something like this needs to get onto the Leica Users Group email list. Every Friday they have the "flea market" and you can pick up some really good deals. Email me and can provide contact info.

[vash]

Originally Posted by slodave

Nope. Considering that they still use rangefinders that crop what you see, and everything is manual, they can be frustrating to use compared to Nikon, Canon and the others.

They have a great reputation. But they should also be able to come up to the modern age without sacrificing quality.

huh? it is all about the lens! i bet a macgyver type could blacktape a leica lens to an oatmeal box and make fantastic images.

sure the M3 is all manual. it is about the operator knowing the tool, and setting the camera correctly. viewfinder? i got to the point that 50% of my images i wasnt even looking thru the camera. i was shooting from the hip, and knowing i was in focus because my lens is "fast", and i depth of field would capture the shot. i have a 28mm lens, and it fits the viewfinder suprisingly well. i do admit, any wider, and you lose some of the edges..but your mind should compensate..at least mine did

slak, if you lived closer, i would loan you my M6..and convert you for life. (an you gave me something to hold hostage)

[vash]

i was told that leica was the only camera allow in a courtroom because it was so quiet.

back to shooting from the hip...because the camera was so quiet, i could shoot from the hip, and the subject didnt even know i got the shot. i had so much fun in school doing this. i wanted to be a photojournalist badly, and i got a gig at a major newspaper..until they found out i knew jackschit about sports..i had NO sports images in my portfolio..and i didnt get the job last minute. i was heartbroken..hahah.

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by vash

i was told that leica was the only camera allow in a courtroom because it was so quiet.

In the "old days" this was correct. While not silent, it sure is quiet and for a long time was the only camera allowed in courts and so on.