Pfloogie Posted September 19, 2011 Share #1 Posted September 19, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Greetings all.... I am new here, I have been left by my late father a beautiful M3-1065 915. Not sure what all of the #'s mean, but i realize its a M3. I have a 50mm lens and another which says 1:2.8/90. Along with filters, rangefinders and other miscellanneous attachments. To you all i havea few questions: where do i get service to get it all checked out and cleaned up here in the eastern U.S. And also Id like to replace the original case/cover. Where might I find one besides the ebay? Dad bought and used this camera extensively in his years with the USAF in Germany- 1956..... Id like to clean it up to prime condition and use it from time to time,,,,, Regards, Sean Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 19, 2011 Posted September 19, 2011 Hi Pfloogie, Take a look here Have inherited my dads M3......... I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
J_Thompson Posted September 19, 2011 Share #2 Posted September 19, 2011 Welcome to the forum, Sean. Going by the serial number you provided, your particular M3 dates from 1962 so is of relatively late manufacture. If you want a Leica tech to give it a CLA (clean, lube, adjust), Sherry Krauter in New York (sherrykrauter.com) would be a good bet but before sending it off, why not just run a roll of film through it and see how everything works? You never know - a little exercise may just be all that it needs. At any rate, enjoy it in good health. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted September 19, 2011 Share #3 Posted September 19, 2011 Hi Sean : I don't know how much are you interested in photography, but keep well in your mind that M3 is a very great classic camera, a legend between Leica passionates, one of the best built camera ever made, and (if lenses are clean) a device capable of splendid pictures. At the end, if the above mentioned CLA should have a cost that looks a bit high to you, stay sure that it is worth : keep with care the documentation about Sherry Krauter (or another lab) job made on your camera : M3 is always a valuable camera and the more complete is the documentation about it, the more is the value. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
someonenameddavid Posted September 20, 2011 Share #4 Posted September 20, 2011 Greetings all.... I am new here, I have been left by my late father a beautiful M3-1065 915. Not sure what all of the #'s mean, but i realize its a M3. I have a 50mm lens and another which says 1:2.8/90. Along with filters, rangefinders and other miscellanneous attachments. To you all i havea few questions: where do i get service to get it all checked out and cleaned up here in the eastern U.S. And also Id like to replace the original case/cover. Where might I find one besides the ebay? Dad bought and used this camera extensively in his years with the USAF in Germany- 1956..... Id like to clean it up to prime condition and use it from time to time,,,,, Regards, Sean Sean some things you need to know: late model M3s are prized because the artisans who crafted them were considered to be at the peak of their skill after unit #1 000 000... Some would say 1 100 000. But 1 million plus is excellent. The M3 was so well made, overbuilt really that Ernst Leitz and Co. Couldn't afford to keep producing them, so the M2 and then the M4, M4-2 and M4-P were made as cheaper derivatives.... The M3 came back as the MP. Don't trade your camera in... You will regret it, not now maybe but in a year or two. Feel the heft and precision of a Leica... Nothing else comes close. (Maybe Alpa) it is a precision scientific instrument. Learn to load and unload the camera with a roll of wasted film. AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DO NOT MOUNT THE ACCESSORY LIGHTMETER ON THE CAMERA BECAUSE IT WILL SCRATCH THE BEAUTIFULLY ENGRAVED TOP PLATE ALL TO HELL. If you respect the camera, it will give you years of beautiful pictures: black and white will become a luminous gorgeous experience: colour will be reminiscent of bygone years. Please use a lenscap because IF YOU LEAVE THE CAMERA IN THE SUN IT WILL GET HOLES BURNT IN THE SHUTTER CURTAIN. When you take photographs in dusty or hazardous conditions USE A UV FILTER BECAUSE THE COATINGS OF THE LENSES BACK THEN WERE SOFT.... It makes grown men weep to see scratched up Summicrons. A lens shade is good to maximize the contrast of your lens. I would spend all of my discretionary income buying Leica stuff... That's the problem : addicts like me. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted September 21, 2011 Share #5 Posted September 21, 2011 .... a legend between Leica passionates... . Sean, as you see, David has proved my assertion... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hendriphile Posted September 21, 2011 Share #6 Posted September 21, 2011 DO NOT MOUNT THE ACCESSORY LIGHTMETER ON THE CAMERA BECAUSE IT WILL SCRATCH THE BEAUTIFULLY ENGRAVED TOP PLATE ALL TO HELL. It's a bit like saying, "Never drive your Porsche; you'll pick up road debris (pebble marks, etc.) on the front of the car." Dr. Ferry Porsche always said his cars were meant to be driven, not polished. I wouldn't be surprised if Oskar Barnack felt the same way about his cameras. (BTW if you follow the instruction manual when mounting a Leicameter you'll not signicantly affect the top plate anyway). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted September 21, 2011 Share #7 Posted September 21, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) (BTW if you follow the instruction manual when mounting a Leicameter you'll not signicantly affect the top plate anyway). You have scews under the foot to adjust the heigth of the Leicameter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
someonenameddavid Posted September 21, 2011 Share #8 Posted September 21, 2011 It's a bit like saying, "Never drive your Porsche; you'll pick up road debris (pebble marks, etc.) on the front of the car." Dr. Ferry Porsche always said his cars were meant to be driven, not polished. I wouldn't be surprised if Oskar Barnack felt the same way about his cameras. (BTW if you follow the instruction manual when mounting a Leicameter you'll not signicantly affect the top plate anyway). I respect your opinion, but the average joe is going to screw up the top plate. I have previously put a thin soft piece of plastic on both top plate and underside of the metrawatt meter and protected my camera. You loosen the foot screws a little. In my humble opinion, the lightmeter was not that great, a Lunasix was better and the CV shoe mount pretty good too. You wouldn't unnecessarily scratch your Porsche David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
prunelle Posted September 21, 2011 Share #9 Posted September 21, 2011 Greetings all.... I am new here, I have been left by my late father a beautiful M3-1065 915. Not sure what all of the #'s mean, but i realize its a M3.... Too sad that you lost your father. Be welcome here. If you want to know a bit more about the M3, you can read this: Leica M3 - the classic rangefinder - Photoethnography.com's Classic Camera DB. I can only encourage you to buy some films and try your camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted September 21, 2011 Share #10 Posted September 21, 2011 Too sad that you lost your father. Be welcome here. If you want to know a bit more about the M3, you can read this: Leica M3 - the classic rangefinder - Photoethnography.com's Classic Camera DB. I can only encourage you to buy some films and try your camera. Hi Sean and welcome to the forum. I'm sorry for your loss. I actually received my M3 today with a serial not entirely unlike yours. There are many places to find accessories, such as cases. Imho, eBay isn't the best place. Here's a list maintained by Andrew Nemeth with lots of links. Leica FAQ - Where to buy online All the best and enjoy the camera Philip Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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