hector_jorge Posted January 25, 2010 Share #1 Posted January 25, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) I sent my "new" M3 to Leica Solms to repair its rangefinder. The camera returned with a M6J new rangefinder that shows more framelines than the original 50, 90, 135 ones. Those framelines are the same as in the M6-2? and, with the rangefinder change, the value of the camera is reduced? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 25, 2010 Posted January 25, 2010 Hi hector_jorge, Take a look here M3 new rangefinder. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
lars_bergquist Posted January 25, 2010 Share #2 Posted January 25, 2010 It is of course worth less now as a collectors' piece, but worth more as a user camera. But unless that M3 was special in some way, its collector value was not astronomical to begin with. Frankly I did not know that kind of surgery was even possible. The design of the M# rangefinder is very different from that of a M2 or following M camera. The old man from the Age of the IIIa Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted January 25, 2010 Share #3 Posted January 25, 2010 Depending what was wrong with the rangefinder it may not have been repairable at all - in which case the value of your M3 would be very little in any case. At least with a new rangefinder and greater selection of framelines, it's a much better camera for practical use. What are M6 J's and 2's ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
russell c. greenberg Posted January 25, 2010 Share #4 Posted January 25, 2010 Hector, I believe that there are no more "original" M3 rangefinders in stock at any repair facility, If you could find one, it would be very old, the rangerfinder focussing patch would be yellow due to the drying of the balsam sap used to "cement" these elements together, and one good tap and it "falls apart" leaving you with a "black" viewfinder. I believe that the M6J rangefinder is at .85 magnification, slightly less than the "original" .91 of the M3. It is also only 16 years old, relatively speaking, and is also very bright. I wouldn't complain, especially now that you can use a 35mm lens w/o the "bugeyes" or an external bright line finder on your M3. Happy shooting with your "new and improved" M3. Russell Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted January 25, 2010 Share #5 Posted January 25, 2010 I sent my "new" M3 to Leica Solms to repair its rangefinder. The camera returned with a M6J new rangefinder that shows more framelines than the original 50, 90, 135 ones. Those framelines are the same as in the M6-2? and, with the rangefinder change, the value of the camera is reduced? It is 2 years now that there is no more M3 View/rangefinder in stock. In case of need they use the M6 ones for repair/replacing. Yes it change the value, in less for collector item but if you want it as a user you do not have other choice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted January 25, 2010 Share #6 Posted January 25, 2010 What are M6 J's and 2's ? M6J ? an M6 Jubilee comemorative for that it looks like a chrome M3 except for for rewind ckank/knob, selftimer/battery. M6 2 ? may be he means M6 TTL. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KM-25 Posted January 25, 2010 Share #7 Posted January 25, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Does anyone know if this is something Don Goldberg can do? I might be interested in having this done to one of my M3's which is a heavy user. And what was the time and cost involved in sending it to Solms? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hector_jorge Posted January 25, 2010 Author Share #8 Posted January 25, 2010 M6J ? an M6 Jubilee comemorative for that it looks like a chrome M3 except for for rewind ckank/knob, selftimer/battery. M6 2 ? may be he means M6 TTL. Many thanks, now I can understand the meaning of M6J designation, and sorry for my mistake, I was speaking about the M6 TTL camera that has 28mm frame. So my M3 has now the 28 and 35mm frames? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hector_jorge Posted January 25, 2010 Author Share #9 Posted January 25, 2010 Does anyone know if this is something Don Goldberg can do? I might be interested in having this done to one of my M3's which is a heavy user. And what was the time and cost involved in sending it to Solms? Almost 2 months and E 1.000.- is the price I pay to Solms:eek: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KM-25 Posted January 25, 2010 Share #10 Posted January 25, 2010 Almost 2 months and E 1.000.- is the price I pay to Solms:eek: Yikes! I think I can live with using my M3 for just my 50 and 90. Enjoy yours, it sounds like a nice combo! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyoung Posted January 25, 2010 Share #11 Posted January 25, 2010 Does anyone know if this is something Don Goldberg can do? I might be interested in having this done to one of my M3's which is a heavy user. And what was the time and cost involved in sending it to Solms? Having both an M3 and an M6 ttl, I would move heaven and earth to keep the M3 rangefinder going if at all possible, its such a nice item. Resilvering/recementing may well be possible if you find the right repairer, in the UK I would try Malcolm Taylor. Gerry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hector_jorge Posted January 25, 2010 Author Share #12 Posted January 25, 2010 Having both an M3 and an M6 ttl, I would move heaven and earth to keep the M3 rangefinder going if at all possible, its such a nice item.Resilvering/recementing may well be possible if you find the right repairer, in the UK I would try Malcolm Taylor. Gerry You want to maintain the M3 as original, but If a camera was repaired by Leica with different replacement Leica made parts than the original ones, can we understand that that camera isn`t an "original Leica camera"?. An interesting point to think at. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KM-25 Posted January 25, 2010 Share #13 Posted January 25, 2010 Having both an M3 and an M6 ttl, I would move heaven and earth to keep the M3 rangefinder going if at all possible, its such a nice item.Resilvering/recementing may well be possible if you find the right repairer, in the UK I would try Malcolm Taylor. Gerry I have one M6TTL, one MP3 and two M3's if that says anything... My mint M3's R/F is flawless and bright, the heavy user is about 1/3rd less bright, needs re-silvering, so thanks for mentioning Mr. Taylor. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted January 25, 2010 Share #14 Posted January 25, 2010 You want to maintain the M3 as original, but If a camera was repaired by Leica with different replacement Leica made parts than the original ones, can we understand that that camera isn`t an "original Leica camera"?. An interesting point to think at. From the early beginning it is called "Factory upgrade". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsrockit Posted January 25, 2010 Share #15 Posted January 25, 2010 I think you should be happy to have an M3 that isn't stock and as long as you didn't have a special M3, it should be worth more. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted January 25, 2010 Share #16 Posted January 25, 2010 You want to maintain the M3 as original, but If a camera was repaired by Leica with different replacement Leica made parts than the original ones, can we understand that that camera isn`t an "original Leica camera"?. An interesting point to think at. No different from some of the upgrades for LTM leicas that were available decades ago... if you keep the documentation about the Leica-made modifications, I'd say it's the way to consider it, now and in the future, a fully original camera. Could be even that, say, 50 years from now, a son of yours puts it for sale and some collector says "Wow ! one of the few M3 with factory upgraded VF/RF ! With factory docs !!! I'll pay a lot for it !!!" ... and your son will do an intimate praise to his father... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hector_jorge Posted January 26, 2010 Author Share #17 Posted January 26, 2010 No different from some of the upgrades for LTM leicas that were available decades ago... if you keep the documentation about the Leica-made modifications, I'd say it's the way to consider it, now and in the future, a fully original camera.Could be even that, say, 50 years from now, a son of yours puts it for sale and some collector says "Wow ! one of the few M3 with factory upgraded VF/RF ! With factory docs !!! I'll pay a lot for it !!!" ... and your son will do an intimate praise to his father... You are giving me almost 50 years more of life? Well, it is not so bad, considering that I`m now 68;) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted January 26, 2010 Share #18 Posted January 26, 2010 Hi CRR Luton UK rebuild your finder cause it is cheaper... M2/3/4 Rangefinder Restoration The value of the camera depends on the numbers involved, e.g. when they standardised the Lens registration they had most of the bodies returned for standardisation so an unstandardised camera is more valuable today, cause the collectors want one. Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted January 26, 2010 Share #19 Posted January 26, 2010 CRR Luton UK rebuild your finder cause it is cheaper... M2/3/4 Rangefinder Restoration Thanks Noel, that is the way to take. Some people from the forum were satisfied by the jobs done by them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted January 26, 2010 Share #20 Posted January 26, 2010 Hi I forgot to mention, no connection to CRR other than they have repaired two of my Ms, both jobs A1. Neither repair was the finder rebuild, though the guy I shoot with has had his M2 finder rebuilt at CRR, ok although he thought it expensive... I've not told him about Solms >Euro. Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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