cornellfrancis Posted April 17, 2012 Share #1 Posted April 17, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Friends, I received my 1961 M3 yesterday and wanted to share my initial thoughts with you. 1) the viewfinder truly is a revelation. The viewfinder is bright and clear and the magnification is glorious for my 50s. Even when compared with my .85 M6. The frame lines are gorgeous. 2) the rangefinder patch is not as bright as on my M6 but somehow easier to focus. Perhaps this is due to lack of flare. I wonder what the rangefinder patch looked like back in 1961 when this camera was new. Maybe it looked identical to the way it looks now. It has a kind of yellow tinge now, but it seems that this is normal from what I have read. My rangefinder seems to have a very slight vertical misalignment. I hear this is a minor fix that I can do myself. Anyone tried this? 3) the lens mount is very tight. It is almost difficult to mount my 50 summilux asph to the camera. Interestingly, my older 50 summilux pre-asph is a bit easier to mount. I hear that the bayonet mount differs on many cameras with some MP owners complaining of a very loose fit. I suppose I'd rather have a tight fit than loose fit. I just don't like the feeling that I might be breaking the lens whenever I mount it. 4) loading film is a minor pain. I hear that you can get the quick load conversion, may consider that. 5) vulcanite is far grippier than what is on the M6 though seems more fragile, probably due to age. 6) it's a joy to shoot. The action of cocking the shutter, the trigger, the viewfinder, it's all just an absolute joy to shoot. The shutter release is so silky smooth. I find the lack of the red metering LEDs of the m6 to be very freeing and allows me to focus more on the scene and composition. Im taking my first roll for development later today and hope that everything will be ok, but for now I absolutely love the camera. I think it might even start to see more use than the m6. I kind of want to get another one perhaps more of a 'user' as the one I bought came in its original box and is in fairly good original condition I would feel bad roughing it up. Amazingly it appears that the camera has never been serviced (The L seal is still intact), yet the shutter speeds all seem to be firing accurately. I guess we will see if that is really the case when I get the first roll back... Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/177391-new-to-me-m3-first-impressions/?do=findComment&comment=1985894'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 17, 2012 Posted April 17, 2012 Hi cornellfrancis, Take a look here New (to me) M3 first impressions. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
M9reno Posted April 17, 2012 Share #2 Posted April 17, 2012 Looks like a really nice example. Put aside all thoughts of buying a second one as a "user" -- nothing sadder than a beautiful camera like this missing all the fun while her ugly sister gets all the action. PS: I have a Leitz-restored M3 with "L" seal. I don't know when it was put on, but just wanted to make the point that it was certainly done comparatively recently. So the intact seal doesn't mean the camera has never been serviced, only that it was last done by Leitz. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornellfrancis Posted April 17, 2012 Author Share #3 Posted April 17, 2012 PS: I have a Leitz-restored M3 with "L" seal. I don't know when it was put on, but just wanted to make the point that it was certainly done comparatively recently. So the intact seal doesn't mean the camera has never been serviced, only that it was last done by Leitz. Thanks for pointing that out. I didn't know that they did that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
giordano Posted April 17, 2012 Share #4 Posted April 17, 2012 4) loading film is a minor pain. I hear that you can get the quick load conversion, may consider that. I always found the quick load "conversion" very fiddly to use. You have to get the take-up spool and the film leader positioned just right or it doesn't catch, in which case you have to take the cassette out and start again. Also with the M3 you still have to pull the take-up spool part way out and push it back in again to reset the frame counter. Taking the mis-loads into account it didn't really save any time compared with the standard spool. That said, some people like it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyoung Posted April 17, 2012 Share #5 Posted April 17, 2012 Take time to get used to it, very 'sure' and unlikely to fail, the M6 might be faster, but only when it works first time! Which to be fair it usually does Gerry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert-gregory Posted April 17, 2012 Share #6 Posted April 17, 2012 In theory the quick-load system for the M3 is a good idea, but not the same as that used in the M4/M6 and newer cameras (you still have to pull the spool out a bit to reset the counter). The quickest way to load a roll of film in an M2/M3 is to have an extra spool, pre-thread the next roll into the spool and just drop it in when you change. As for another 'user'… unless its really mint-mint or some special version, its not a 'collector's' camera anyway. Just be happy with one that still has some milage left on it, enjoy and use it. Sounds like you have an M6 as that second camera anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Geschlecht Posted April 17, 2012 Share #7 Posted April 17, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello Cornell, Welcome to the Forum. A quick-load does not have to be fiddely. All you have to do is pull the little chrome plated slide on the bottom out far enough to disengade the pick-up spool & then push the spool back w/ your right thumb in the space where you put the end of the new film in the spool. This aligns the spool properly in the chamber. Then w/ enough film pulled out of the new cartridge to go to 4 o'clock, more or less, looking down @ the take-up spool from above push the film in. Take up the slack w/ the rewind to make sure the film is held tight & close the back. Advance to "0" w/ the lens covered & go. Easy. Easier than a Barnack or an M3,2,1 w/ a standard spool. About the same as an M4,5,etc. Like a Barnack or an M1,2,3 w/ a standard spool or an M5 you can take the spool out in mid roll. Also: You have noticed an M3 is quite good w/ a 50. Many people think an M3 is even better w/ a 90. It is also better w/ a 135 w/o goggles than any other M. Best Regards, Michael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M9reno Posted April 17, 2012 Share #8 Posted April 17, 2012 Sounds like you have an M6 as that second camera anyway. TTL. Very nice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted April 17, 2012 Share #9 Posted April 17, 2012 Hi Cornell, I'm in the same boat as you - a 1962 M3, which I also use with a Summilux 50 ASPH. Mine went for a trip to Solms for a bit of attention, which gives me some comfort. Post some of your results (I haven't developed any film yet - I'm stock piling it). My first impression was that the wind action was very smooth, the shutter release quiet and the viewfinder big and bright. It's a joy to hold. Thanks for posting John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Geschlecht Posted April 18, 2012 Share #10 Posted April 18, 2012 Hello John, It gets better. Best Regards, Michael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornellfrancis Posted April 18, 2012 Author Share #11 Posted April 18, 2012 Hello Cornell, Welcome to the Forum. A quick-load does not have to be fiddely. All you have to do is pull the little chrome plated slide on the bottom out far enough to disengade the pick-up spool & then push the spool back w/ your right thumb in the space where you put the end of the new film in the spool. This aligns the spool properly in the chamber. Then w/ enough film pulled out of the new cartridge to go to 4 o'clock, more or less, looking down @ the take-up spool from above push the film in. Take up the slack w/ the rewind to make sure the film is held tight & close the back. Advance to "0" w/ the lens covered & go. Michael, thanks very much for the tips on loading. I hope with some practice it will become second nature to me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornellfrancis Posted April 18, 2012 Author Share #12 Posted April 18, 2012 Post some of your results (I haven't developed any film yet - I'm stock piling it). Yes, I will definitely post some results as soon as I get them scanned. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
payasam Posted April 18, 2012 Share #13 Posted April 18, 2012 If you need or want to replace your "fragile" vulcanite, I can recommend the Griptac from Cameraleather. Had it on my last M3 and it has an altogether different and welcome feel. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted April 19, 2012 Share #14 Posted April 19, 2012 I like to wander around at lunch time, when it isn't raining, with my camera. Every time I walk into a cafe or a shop, people say without fail - what a cool old camera (even if it's my M9), does it still work? Never get a negative reaction, always brings a smile. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NZDavid Posted April 19, 2012 Share #15 Posted April 19, 2012 Easy to load with separate take-out spool -- it means you know film will be aligned properly -- it just takes practice. Be careful when changing lenses (applies to all cameras with interchangeable lenses!). Align carefully, don't rush. It is unlikely there is any issue here. Viewfinders really vary, depending on age and condition. M3 is usually bright and clear, RF patch is big. But some M6 finders can be equally as bright. Which do you prefer? Shutter and film-advance lever should feel silky smooth. Once again, from experience, there are variations even in the same model. A lot of this is due to servicing and use. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DES Posted April 19, 2012 Share #16 Posted April 19, 2012 I love my M3 although I have to say I still need to spend more time shooting with it. Mine too has the seal and suffered from the same misalignment. One day I got so brassed off with it that I decided to correct it myself, and after a some time spent on this site finding out what to do, I did it ....it was quite easy and now it woks perfectly. But do not attempt it unless you are prepared to have it corrected professionally if things go wrong. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sksaito Posted April 19, 2012 Share #17 Posted April 19, 2012 I love the secure feeling I get when I slide the film into the spool of the M3, insert it into the camera, and know that the film is "caught." I tried timing myself loading film with my M2R vs my M3. Perhaps its because I've had the M3 longer and more practice loading film, but I'm much faster with the M3. But in the end, when the film is loaded, no other camera brand comes close to the Leica M system. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pangur Ban Posted April 20, 2012 Share #18 Posted April 20, 2012 I love the way a contemporary, state-of-the-art lens ( Summilux 50 ASPH) looks so good on a fifty (ish) year old camera, and that you know the results will be technically impeccable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tibicen Posted April 22, 2012 Share #19 Posted April 22, 2012 2) the rangefinder patch is not as bright as on my M6 but somehow easier to focus. Perhaps this is due to lack of flare. I wonder what the rangefinder patch looked like back in 1961 when this camera was new. Maybe it looked identical to the way it looks now. It has a kind of yellow tinge now, but it seems that this is normal from what I have read. My rangefinder seems to have a very slight vertical misalignment. I hear this is a minor fix that I can do myself. Anyone tried this? Congratulations to your M2. As regarding the issue with the misaligned Viefinder this is called a "Höhenfehler" (something like "mistake in height") and a very minor problem. I own a M3 1955 and an M2 1958, both had this small misalignment. You can fix it easily yourself. Unscrew the little screw over the lens-mount. Beneath is the adjusting-screw for the height of the two rangefinder patches. Try turning it a wee bit left or right (depends on the misalignment) with a small flat screwdriver. Check your finder in between, you will soon get the hang of it. You can't do possibly anything wrong. Note: This got nothing to do with focal-adjustment. This is a totally different screw and lever inside the lens-mount. Always good light and have fun with your camera! Claus Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornellfrancis Posted April 22, 2012 Author Share #20 Posted April 22, 2012 Congratulations to your M2. As regarding the issue with the misaligned Viefinder this is called a "Höhenfehler" (something like "mistake in height") and a very minor problem. I own a M3 1955 and an M2 1958, both had this small misalignment. You can fix it easily yourself. Unscrew the little screw over the lens-mount. Beneath is the adjusting-screw for the height of the two rangefinder patches. Try turning it a wee bit left or right (depends on the misalignment) with a small flat screwdriver. Check your finder in between, you will soon get the hang of it. You can't do possibly anything wrong. Note: This got nothing to do with focal-adjustment. This is a totally different screw and lever inside the lens-mount Claus Claus thank you for the info. I'm going to give it a try today. Again thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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