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might buy a leica m3 w lens. what to look for.


calidave

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hi i'm a 1st time poster i might be buying a leica m3 w lens for $650 next week the previous owner has had it for years and it appears like new but its been sittingin a box in his attic for many years. what should i look for when buying a used leica especially an older model like an m3? i'm in the los angeles area where would i go to have it checked out? thanks for the help.

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I would check for dings and scratches on the body and glass, especially fungus and dust in the lens, and viewfinder, etc. Minor dust is nothing to be concerned about. Test the shutter at all speeds, the shutter advance, and rewind knob. Open the camera back and inspect it carefully, you will have to remove the bottom cover. Check the self timer. On the lens make sure the aperture ring is snug, and focusing is smooth. You may have to have the camera and lens cleaned, lubricated, and adjusted by Leica or some other reputable outfit. If it looks like its in excellent working and cosmetic condition, I would say you are getting a very good deal.

Edited by wilfredo
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i'm not sure when i see it i'l post it. from what the guy told me it looks brand new not a scratch on the body or the lens. i'l check it at all shutter speeds and check for any holes in the shutters. the guy does'nt know much about cameras but he said everything works ok. i'l have it cleaned and lubricated does anyone know where to have it cleaned and lubricated in ca? thanks for the info.

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...welcome to the forum, calidave. Sounds like you might be on to a good deal - if you do go ahead and purchase the camera and lens, I recommend having them CLA'd (Cleaned, Lubricated and Adjusted) by a Leica specialist. I have no information on specialists in CA but there are two very well respected names within the US:

 

- DAG Camera Parts

 

- Sherry Krauter.com

 

Give them a ring and see how you get on.

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i've heard of both of them i'll ask sherry i've heard she is a genius with the leica! anyway thank you it does sound like a good price to me. i figured it would need to be cla'd the owner tell me it was sitting for many years. it should be ok. even with the cla its still a really good price. if this deal falls through i might get a leica m4-2 and opinions on those. it's in near mint condition and the previous owner has taken very good care of it.

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i've heard of both of them i'll ask sherry i've heard she is a genius with the leica! anyway thank you it does sound like a good price to me. i figured it would need to be cla'd the owner tell me it was sitting for many years. it should be ok. even with the cla its still a really good price. if this deal falls through i might get a leica m4-2 and opinions on those. it's in near mint condition and the previous owner has taken very good care of it.

 

...I would also heed Jean's advice. These are trying times.

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thanks for all the help guys the owner is having someone come to his place to look at it if he dos'nt take it i'l have the next shot. in the pics he had up the self timer was in the down position i'm somewhat concerned about that. the serial # is m3-751618. he didn't have the lens serial # posted. if this deal dos'nt go through i will get a leica m4-2 for 700 in near mint condition.

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... the serial # is m3-751618. he didn't have the lens serial # posted. ...

 

This is a rather early number from 1955. If the camera is in really good and original condition it has some collector's value, so the price you mentioned is rather good, if the camera is in good condition. It has some peculiarities not found with later M3:

 

You can see the screws which hold the top cover, on later models they are hidden. The plate for pressing the film in plane position is of glass, not metal like in later numbers; there is some risk that the plate is broken, so you should check, by opening the rear door. I am not sure, if the eyepiece of the viewfinder was still smaller at this time, this might be an issue, for the visibility is much better with later models. Another limitation is the missing lever for the selection of the lens frames in the viewfinder, which was only introduced later. This little lever on the front below the viewinder is a very practical device for M-photography to decide about changing the focal length, so you might miss it - though the frames show with the different lenses in the viewfinder even with the early M3.

 

What you should look for, when checking: does the viewfinder look yellow, if you regard it from the front? Is it clear, if you look through it? Are all the frames for 50, 90 and 135mm clear - they should be, for the viewfinder of the M3 was the best Leica ever made.If the camera hasn't got the lever for frame selection, you should try to mount all three focal lengths, to make sure about the frames. If you see any issues with the glass or framelines of the viewfinder, you better stay away.

 

The rangefinder must show you an exact image if you focus correctly (e.g. for infinity), when it is always set apart it needs fixing, which is possible and should not be very expensive.

 

Open the rear door and look at the shutter curtains when winding it - it will take you two strokes to rewind. If you see irregularities on the curtains or even holes, you would need them renewed, which is no great problem, but which will cost you quite a lot.

 

After looking you should try listening with you ear to the body. If the release goes with a soft metallic "zipp", it's a good sign. With low speeds you should hear a tiny buzz after the release. It comes from the "Hemmwerk" - I don't know the English word for it. If this buzz is very regularly becoming longer and slower with longer speeds you are lucky, for the shutter should be not bad then. If it stutters or you hear other irregularities or don't hear it at all, you certainly need to repair it.

 

You should exspect a repair for a camera which is older than 50 years.

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i'l be takeing a look at the m3 next wed or thurs and the m4-2 on the same day. thanks for all the advice. what should i look for with a m4-2? i don't know the serial # but i know its been babied through it life and is all original. the lady i'm buying it from has several leica's and really takes care of them.

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i got the m4-2 last night it's really nice i don't know why some people don't like them! what lens is recommended for a beginner? i tested it everything works fine there is very little wear on it.

 

Where do wish to begin;)?

 

Seriously though - what is your budget and what subjects do you wish to photograph?

 

A 35mm f2.8 Summaron in good condition might be a suitable 'budget' starter lens if you are prepared to get in a bit close to the subject when necessary. A 35mm f2 Summicron is another lens worth considering and the Mk IV is the best of them - but expect to pay at least £600 for a fairly decent example.

 

50mm Summicrons vary in price depending on vintage and there are four different models - five models if the Dual Range Mk II is included. Any 50mm Summicron in good condition ( good glass with no over obvious cleaning marks and scratches) should give good results.

 

One 50mm lens to avoid unless it is in really good condition and has had a proper recent service is the 50mm f2.8 Elmar. It has a reputation for deteriorating image quality as it gets older - but a good professional clean might remedy that.

 

There is also the 50mm f3.5 Elmar but decent M bayonet examples can be scarce and it is a very old design dating from 1925 - but some photographers like their particular image footprint.

 

If your budget permits you could also consider a 50mm f1.4 Summilux but would be best to get a Mk II version.

 

You might consider getting hold of a copy of Leica Pocket Book 7th Edition which lists all Leica lenses manufactured between 1924 - c.2000 together with their performance characterstics.

 

Cheers

 

dunk

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wow! i'm going to do general purpose amatuer photography a little of everything basically. mostly random pictures of friends and family with some street photography added. my budget is $900. i've had 35mm and 50mm recommended for beginner leica photography but no specific lens model.

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For $900 you should be able to find a very nice 35mm f2 Summicron M (Mk IV) . But if you found a decent 35mm f2.8 Summaron for maybe half that figure you could probably also find a 90mm f2,8 Elmarit M and still be within budget. Then you'd have a classic M camera plus 35mm and 90mm lenses which can handle most photographic situations including portraiture. But please consider obtaining Leica Pocket Book 7th Edition - it lists all the lenses and their attributes and serial number ranges.

 

Cheers

 

dunk

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thanks i'l get the leica pocket book. i found some 35mm f 2.8 elmar lenses in perfect condition for less than 600. what is your opinion of them other than they degrade and need cleaning over time? i'l look into all these types of lenses there is no rush.

Edited by calidave
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