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Ok I just won an item on that auction site!  I think I may soon be falling in love with an M3 - as long as it works. eek.   

Seller has advised the following:

Quote

 

This M3 is modified to single stroke in some times. However,  rewind is very smooth,  could be Leica factory modified.
 
View finder is very bright and no haze / no fungus. There is tiny hair like dust in the finder patch, but focusing is aciculate.  It is good contrast finder patch. It seems viewing side has balsam separation, I'm not sure. But once you view through the finder, you don't notice.
Shutter speed sounds good from slow to fast. It has serviced in 2023.
Also, this M3 has modified to focus around 0.85 - 0.9m, rather than 1m.
Sel-ftimer is not working. I asked a repairman in Australia, but he didn't have parts. So, he just clean, rubricate and adjusted the camera last year. 
Sel-ftimer lever is loose, so I generally use the case. You may put tape or something to make it steady. 

 

If the camera is in perfect working order, I'll just leave it as is.  But I'm curious - has anyone had a self timer repaired on a M3? Is it even possible?  What is the approx cost going to be like?   Its not lost on me that I can't remember the last time I used a self timer on any camera..so realistically I'm sure i'll be fine with out it. But just curious.  

I paid about $1000 less than the nearest equivalent M3 located here in Australia - so if it does require a CLA then I dont feel I have over capatlised on it.  The Seller has excellent feedback so I'm feeling confident it is as described.  

 
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3 minutes ago, mmanda said:

If the camera is in perfect working order, I'll just leave it as is.

Best thing to do.

If the part for selftimer is not available and you will not use it, just take out the lever with a plier or "right tool" (not easy work with two notches on the lever).

Without selftimer lever, I feel the M gripping is much better.

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Just now, a.noctilux said:

Best thing to do.

If the part for selftimer is not available and you will not use it, just take out the lever with a plier or "right tool" (not easy work with two notches on the lever).

Without selftimer lever, I feel the M gripping is much better.

Yeh I'm leaning towards this too. It will need a recover too as theres a piece of the vulcranite (is that right) missing. So remove self timer, seal up the holes and voila!

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I do agree that M3 is mechanical/optical precision feel/tactile no other camera can pretend reaching.

The soft shutter sound or the focus "feel" of precision, even the shutter release pressure/travel is so optimum.

:D

I think I'm 'M3-biased'.

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1 hour ago, a.noctilux said:

I do agree that M3 is mechanical/optical precision feel/tactile no other camera can pretend reaching.

The soft shutter sound or the focus "feel" of precision, even the shutter release pressure/travel is so optimum.

:D

I think I'm 'M3-biased'.

Stay cool it's one of the nice diseases.

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3 hours ago, DreiPunkte said:

Remember that a well-maintained M3 is a completely different camera than a dead horse.
I had both in my hand.

Thank you - totally agree. Plan to get it, use it and learn to expose without a meter - well thats the plan!  I'm already shooting with a M10 and have a Spotmatic film camera so have a bit of practice under my belt. 

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4 hours ago, mmanda said:

Yeh I'm leaning towards this too. It will need a recover too as theres a piece of the vulcranite (is that right) missing. So remove self timer, seal up the holes and voila!

Vulcanite.  Many threads on replacement covering, e.g., 

 

Jeff

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On 8/12/2024 at 10:27 PM, Jeff S said:

Vulcanite.  Many threads on replacement covering, e.g., 

 

Jeff

Yep. Gonna have a go at doing it myself :)

Ok it arrived! Its brilliant.  A few scuffs, no big dents or anything.  Self timer lever is loose and moves a bit. The seller just used a half case to keep it in the one position. I may just do this too for now.  I have a collapsible 50mm i'll put on it, just need to get a new adapter, in the meantime my CV 50 1.5 can live here.

 

 

 

Edited by mmanda
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Congratulations with a beautiful camera! If I were you I'd try to have the self-timer repaired, even you don't use it. I always thought I'd never use it and then an occasion comes up where you happily use it. And it makes the M3 more complete again.

Lex

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On 12/26/2013 at 11:17 AM, jerzy said:

I had a pretty well used (worn) silver chrom M3. Old platings have been galvanically removed, small dents on brass repaired, brass polished and then professionally satin, black chrom plated. In reality it looks better than on my photos. Leicamater is original black.

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Jerzy's former M3's top cover has changed hands and cameras !

Best,

JM.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

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1966 M3 and a 50 Summilux v2 .

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  • 2 weeks later...

Finally got my first roll back from the M3.  I only had 1 roll in the house, so put in a very expensive roll of Kodak E100.  Anyhooo what is this dark band on the right?  I'm pretty sure I had my CV 50mm F1.5 lens on it and not the collapsible 50mm I have.   I was just looking at the output from other M3s on E100 and my photos whilst a bit over or underexposed exhibit none of the look of the photo examples I have seen.   If you click through to my Flickr there is 4 photo examples with this combo posted.  The group family shot I think is not in focus and all my fault?  

 

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1 hour ago, mmanda said:

Finally got my first roll back from the M3.  I only had 1 roll in the house, so put in a very expensive roll of Kodak E100.  Anyhooo what is this dark band on the right?  I'm pretty sure I had my CV 50mm F1.5 lens on it and not the collapsible 50mm I have.   I was just looking at the output from other M3s on E100 and my photos whilst a bit over or underexposed exhibit none of the look of the photo examples I have seen.   If you click through to my Flickr there is 4 photo examples with this combo posted.  The group family shot I think is not in focus and all my fault?  

 

Looks like shutter capping. Most likely to happen on older cameras when the shutter rollers lube are dried up over time. This dark band usually appears on 1/1000 & 1/500 shutter speeds. It will need a CLA to correct this issue. Otherwise you can avoid shooting at 1/1000 and 1/500 shutter speeds for the time being. 

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21 hours ago, 69xchange said:

Looks like shutter capping. Most likely to happen on older cameras when the shutter rollers lube are dried up over time. This dark band usually appears on 1/1000 & 1/500 shutter speeds. It will need a CLA to correct this issue. Otherwise you can avoid shooting at 1/1000 and 1/500 shutter speeds for the time being. 

Thankyou.  Interesting as I was told it had had a CLA before I bought it!

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  • 1 month later...

 

Edited by mob81
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  • 2 weeks later...

Perfect fit - M3 and Summilux 50 black chrome

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