Leica M3 question

[LeicaBraz]

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Would anybody know whether a camera strap was delivered with the M3 originally? If not,

was there a camera strap sold by Leica to fit?

Thanks in advance.

[earleygallery]

The contemporary strap was a thin brown leather one, same leather/colour as the ever ready case of the time. The metal claps could cause small dents in the top plate though!

[giordano]

I've looked at the September 1968 Leitz Gesamtkatalog. This has pictures and descriptions of the M3 and M4, which mention the eyelets but say nothing about straps.

 

The neckstrap with split rings (code 14092) is listed separately. By that time, I'm sure, it was black leather rather than brown. The 1975 catalog has the same code number but the strap now has the rubber anti-slip thingy.

 

Remember that in those days the eveready cases had their own permanently attached straps, so if you wanted to use the ERC you could not have a strap on the camera.

[gyoung]

The strap with split rings which has been attached to my M3 since new in '68 is black. Can't remember if it was included. It has a brown rubber/plastic non slip shoulder pad on it.

 

Gerry

[Orient XI]

My M3 # 11354** always had a black leather, split-ring strap from new in 1968. I bought it for £200 complete with an M3 version of the f/2.8 Summaron # 20495**. The lens was new but belonged to the series # range for 1964! I really can't remember purchasing the strap separately but I know I bought screw to bayonet adaptors for my 50mm and 90mm Elmars. I had been a long standing customer of Herbert & Herbert in Bedford (an excellent but now vanished chemist/camera shop) and it is possible that they generously included the strap.

When I took the M3 to Hove Cameras (another excellent but now vanished camera shop) for a cla many years later there was some debate about it having an M4 shutter crate as it was right at the end of the M3's production run.

[TomB_tx]

I believe when I bought my M4 in 1968 (instead of the same price, still-current M3) the strap was an add-on purchase, since I remember the store owner saying the Leica strap was worth it because of the quality of the leather and the strength. The strap then was plain black leather with no pad.

[gyoung]

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If you had your M3 repaired st Hove cameras it was probably done by Malcolm Taylor, still one of the best Leica repairmen there are.

 

Gerry

[A miller]

when I purchased my M3, I was advised by the Leica CLA pro that I should NEVER attached a strap directly to the holes on the side of the camera as they were made of brass and can easily scratch. I was advised to use a cad that has the straps built-in, so that the straps attach to the case and not the camera. So I use the original brown leather Leica case that was made for the camera. I think this case is ergonomically a perfect fit and the smell of my grandmother's attic is quite vintage as well, I must say!

[luigi bertolotti]

when I purchased my M3, I was advised by the Leica CLA pro that I should NEVER attached a strap directly to the holes on the side of the camera as they were made of brass and can easily scratch. I was advised to use a cad that has the straps built-in, so that the straps attach to the case and not the camera. So I use the original brown leather Leica case that was made for the camera. I think this case is ergonomically a perfect fit and the smell of my grandmother's attic is quite vintage as well, I must say!

 

The holes are really prone to damage : in my M2 one of them has been "eaten" in the years so that now the thickness of the ring, in a certain area, is negligible (but I don't use the M2 anymore...) ; it depends on the material and the shape of the strap attachments to the camera's rings : in my M4 the strap attachments aren't metal and the holes are still perfect.

For years, I have liked to use my Ms "naked", to say without any case... but you are right to say that the classic M brown leather case with its strap is the perfect fit.

[philipus]

made of brass and can easily scratch

 

I was told the same about my M4 but looking at the metal (and remembering how the lugs looked on my M3), I'm not sure. Can brass be "silver" in colour?

 

My M6TTL Millennium, on the other hand, most definitely has brass lugs, though.

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[doubice]

....... Can brass be "silver" in colour?....

 

Of course, it is called 'chrome plated' brass... Your M3 and M4 had brass top plates that were chrome plated - same as the strap lugs.

 

Cheers,

 

Jan

[philipus]

Thanks Jan. I guess my confusion stems from not having seen any chrome wear off from the lugs on my M3 and M4 even though my straps use steel rings.

[TomB_tx]

I was curious if Leica made any models where they inserted steel bushings in the strap lugs to prevent wear, like some other "pro" models did, as in the attached example:

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[sksaito]

I only use straps with no metal on it where the leather weaves into itself through holes (Luigi, Barton1972, etc) or cases that have the strap built into it. One time I wanted to sell a M2R that was pristine except for the strap lugs that were worn out. I had an extra set of new old stock strap lugs that I thought I would ask a technician to replace the old ones. He was hesitant and said that in the process, the leatherette may be ruined from the "vibrations." So I didn't have it done because I didn't want to take a chance. Anybody know if this is truly accurate?

[philipus]

I've never seen that, Tom. But would it be too difficult to do oneself? Perhaps one could use parts of a suitably-sized rivet or something like that?