Nature Sniper Posted July 18, 2010 Share #1 Posted July 18, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 18, 2010 Posted July 18, 2010 Hi Nature Sniper, Take a look here Is this system good or bad? Not asking for a value.. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
luigi bertolotti Posted July 19, 2010 Share #2 Posted July 19, 2010 It's definitely "good", expecially if all works fine; anyway, all the items are not rare (each of them can easily be found for sale from many specialized retailers, on ebay etc...). - The camera is a Leica M3 made in 1955 : a very important camera in Leica history, and a very successful one (over 220.000 made) : it was introducedin 1954, so yours is one belonging to the first series : M3 had a number of variants, expecially in the first years... you can read something about in many books... or on the Net, see www.summilux.net (French) or Classic Camera Profiles (english) or our member Thorsten Overgaard (http://leica.overgaard.dk/). A side note (if you never used the camera) : to cock the shutter and advance the film, the lever has to be turned TWICE. - The lens mounted on the body (Summicron 5 cm f 2) is about the same age (s/n is of 1954), also a famous lens which was a definitive step up in image quality at full aperture: it was announced together with the M3 itself. Yours is of the "collapsible" kind...and is collapsed in your pics - The Tele lens is also of that times (1955) but, differently from Summicron, Hektor 13,5 was an old design (prewar) which was adapted to the new M3: a good lens, anyway. - The cell on the left is part of an accessory Lightmeter (known as Leicameter), which apparently is missing in your set, but this is an oddity, for the cell is useless without the meter: a common and very important accessory at that times. If you like to understand well how your set works, is easy to find manuals and brochures (also in the above linked sites, I think) : in general this is an equipment still capable of excellent pictures, and hundreds (or even thousands) of people make regular use of similar gear today. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nature Sniper Posted July 21, 2010 Author Share #3 Posted July 21, 2010 Do you think I could get enough out of it to get close to getting a Canon 5D? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted July 21, 2010 Share #4 Posted July 21, 2010 If you want to downshift, yes, but you would need your head examined... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted July 21, 2010 Share #5 Posted July 21, 2010 How is that "not asking for a value"? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew748 Posted July 21, 2010 Share #6 Posted July 21, 2010 Do you think I could get enough out of it to get close to getting a Canon 5D? easily, but think long and hard about that. it's a decision i think you may come to regret. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted July 21, 2010 Share #7 Posted July 21, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) You need to check the condition and functionality of the M3 viewfinder/rangefinder. If you Google "Leica M3 viewfinder" you should be able to find links which explain possible ageing issues which could affect use. Regarding the 135mm Hektor lens, it's a matter of opinion as to whether it is a 'good' lens ... it certainly is not bad ...but there are better Leica 135mm lenses. You should also as far as is possible, check the shutter speeds eg listen to the slow speeds to see if they are 'too slow' or 'sticky' Putting a film through the camera might help too! Could you get a Canon 5D out of it? ... Unlikely if you are hoping a dealer might do a straight swap ... or if you are hoping to sell 'as is' to provide sufficient funds ... especially if there are any inaccurate shutter or viewfinder issues apparent. The M3 is a superb camera when everything is working but as with all 50 years plus precision instruments it might need servicing. dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew748 Posted July 22, 2010 Share #8 Posted July 22, 2010 easily, but think long and hard about that.it's a decision i think you may come to regret. You need to check the condition and functionality of the M3 viewfinder/rangefinder. If you Google "Leica M3 viewfinder" you should be able to find links which explain possible ageing issues which could affect use. Regarding the 135mm Hektor lens, it's a matter of opinion as to whether it is a 'good' lens ... it certainly is not bad ...but there are better Leica 135mm lenses. You should also as far as is possible, check the shutter speeds eg listen to the slow speeds to see if they are 'too slow' or 'sticky' Putting a film through the camera might help too! Could you get a Canon 5D out of it? ... Unlikely if you are hoping a dealer might do a straight swap ... or if you are hoping to sell 'as is' to provide sufficient funds ... especially if there are any inaccurate shutter or viewfinder issues apparent. The M3 is a superb camera when everything is working but as with all 50 years plus precision instruments it might need servicing. dunk easily if the following criteria that i was too lazy to type are met Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nature Sniper Posted July 22, 2010 Author Share #9 Posted July 22, 2010 Ebay shows no bids on most and looks like no one gets much for them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted July 22, 2010 Share #10 Posted July 22, 2010 I'll offer you £50 for the lot. But I thought you were not interested in a valuation? If you are considering selling on ebay you should check out the common problems which might affect the camera in order that you can answer questions from prospective buyers. dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 22, 2010 Share #11 Posted July 22, 2010 Given that Canon 5D sell at about 1000 Euro, it might well be that a dealer would do a straight swop if this stuff is in good condition. It all depends if he is interested in the Leica gear and if he needs to unload the Canon. My impression, however, is that the guy getting the Canon is drawing the short straw. The 5D will drop to half its price in the coming 18 months.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted July 22, 2010 Share #12 Posted July 22, 2010 Why don't you just take the stuff to a dealer and find out? As you're 'not asking for a valuation' ??!! No one here can tell if the camera is working correctly, if the rangefinder is OK, if the lenses are scratched or have fungus etc etc., so it's pretty meaningless. You can easily find Leica dealers websites and see what they charge for s/h gear like yours in various conditions. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted July 22, 2010 Share #13 Posted July 22, 2010 The Summicron lens does appear to have a noticeable mark on the front element at the 10 o' clock position. dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.