Both 35 and 50 focal length shooters happy with their M3

[gettons]

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Hello there,

 

I have an M3 and so far used it for 50mm. I would like to start using 35mm as well and as such I was thinking about buying a Summicron pre-asph so I could use it on both my m3 and m10 (as opposed to summicron with google).

Now, in terms of framing, I would need an external viewfinder for the M3. Thing is I shoot mostly 50mm but I may end up shooting 35mm more and more alongside 50mm. Logically an M2 (or an m6 with 0.85 viewfinder) would make sense, but I would like the idea of using the M3 as much as I can.

So, in essence, is there anyone who's using their M3 for both 35mm (using an external finder) and 50mm and they are happy about the experience? I am not too worried about the focusing part as I can still focus fine with the inbuilt viewfinder (or zonefocusing).

 

P.S. I deal almost exclusively with streetphotography.

Edited November 9, 2020 by gettons

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[ktmrider2]

I have an M2 because the 35 is my favorite (except on days the 50 is).  I just purchased my first LTM Leica, a 3f and it is a blast.  Now, the viewfinder on the 3f is small, squinty and 50 only.  I bought an aux finder for the 3f for 50mm and it works great.  I would guess the same would apply to the M3 since I have to focus the 3f with one viewfinder and then switch to the aux 50 for taking the photo.

I would say keep the M3  and just plan on using anything wider then 50 with a aux viewfinder.  That is the plan with my 3f and honestly anything wider then 28 requires an aux finder on any M.

[jwr50]

2 hours ago, gettons said:

I have an M3 and so far used it for 50mm. I would like to start using 35mm as well and as such I was thinking about buying a Summicron pre-asph so I could use it on both my m3 and m10 (as opposed to summicron with google).

I leave my 50mm on my M3 -- it's the perfect lens for that camera.  

If I want to go wider, I'll grab by M6TTL or M10-R.  The 50mm on the M3 just seems like the right lens for that body.

Edited November 9, 2020 by jwr50

[ckuwajima]

I do not have a M3, but on my 0.85x MP, the 35mm framelines takes a little bit less than the whole viewfinder.

Although you would get better precision with an external finder, it is doable without it, specially for street photography.

[Guest Nowhereman]

I use this Voigtlander 28/35 mini-viewfinder. Unfortunately, its price has now gone to $600 on the used market. I bought it in 1996 for $80.

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Edited November 9, 2020 by Nowhereman

[tommonego@gmail.com]

My M3 has an M4 viewfinder so I have no problem with 35, but my first M3 didn't and I bought it with a f3.5 Summaron with goggles, worked fine, just a little bulky. I traded the 3.5 for a f2.8 Summaron, also with goggles. I then ran into some one who wanted an M3 and would trade an M2 with an f2 Summicron, so I did it and never looked back, until last year when I inherited an M3. Anyway Summicrons were made with goggles and it would be the easiest way to use a 35 on and M3. Viewfinders work too, just a little less convenient. I never really liked the Summarons, though I think it was mainly because I wanted at least an f2 lens. 

[gettons]

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2 hours ago, ckuwajima said:

I do not have a M3, but on my 0.85x MP, the 35mm framelines takes a little bit less than the whole viewfinder.

Although you would get better precision with an external finder, it is doable without it, specially for street photography.

Hi there,

 

thanks. I am not sure how this relates to a 50mm framelines finder (the M3) when I attach a 35mm lens.

[gettons]

1 hour ago, Nowhereman said:

I use this Voigtlander 28/35 mini-viewfinder. Unfortunately, its price has now gone to $600 on the used market. I bought it in 1996 for $80.

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Yeah,

 

I have that on radar and I can see it's pretty expensive. Regardless of the finder in itself, would you say the overall experience of using an external viewfinder for 35mm lenses attached to an m3 is not too bad?

Especially considering you *may* have to focus and frame on two different pieces of glass.

[gettons]

1 hour ago, tommonego@gmail.com said:

My M3 has an M4 viewfinder so I have no problem with 35, but my first M3 didn't and I bought it with a f3.5 Summaron with goggles, worked fine, just a little bulky. I traded the 3.5 for a f2.8 Summaron, also with goggles. I then ran into some one who wanted an M3 and would trade an M2 with an f2 Summicron, so I did it and never looked back, until last year when I inherited an M3. Anyway Summicrons were made with goggles and it would be the easiest way to use a 35 on and M3. Viewfinders work too, just a little less convenient. I never really liked the Summarons, though I think it was mainly because I wanted at least an f2 lens. 

Oh I see, is the practice of mounting other's Ms viewfinder actually a thing?I have not thought about this, also because I would need an m4 finder to start with. The idea of an external viewfinder does not discourage me in itself, it's more the fact that you have to use two finders, that's it. The googles would make things a little easier but would also add some bulk and I would end up with a 35mm lens for the m3 and one for my m10. Ideally I wanted to use the same 35mm summicron pre-asph on both analog and digital cameras.

 

[ckuwajima]

24 minutes ago, gettons said:

Hi there,

 

thanks. I am not sure how this relates to a 50mm framelines finder (the M3) when I attach a 35mm lens.

I mean, disregard framelines, eyeball a bit less than the whole finder to frame for 35mm lens.

Edited November 9, 2020 by ckuwajima

[a.noctilux]

12 minutes ago, gettons said:

Hi there,

 

thanks. I am not sure how this relates to a 50mm framelines finder (the M3) when I attach a 35mm lens.

Modern 35mm lens would show "135" in M3 VF along with the "50" always visible.

In my long use of M4/M3, I used M3 with the aux viewfinder for 35mm AND 50 ( SBOOI on M4 let me see/frame world in 1:1 ).

But with 35 + M3 is the many ways to use the SBLOO ( Wiki  ), framing in life size with 35mm is unbelievable experience (for me 🙃 ).

Foollisly, when I use goggled 35mm with M, I prefer 1:1 "framing" with the SBLOO anyway.

[tommonego@gmail.com]

vor einer Stunde schrieb gettons:

Oh I see, is the practice of mounting other's Ms viewfinder actually a thing?I have not thought about this, also because I would need an m4 finder to start with. The idea of an external viewfinder does not discourage me in itself, it's more the fact that you have to use two finders, that's it. The googles would make things a little easier but would also add some bulk and I would end up with a 35mm lens for the m3 and one for my m10. Ideally I wanted to use the same 35mm summicron pre-asph on both analog and digital cameras.

 

I received the M3 sight unseen, it wasn't until I had outfitted it with a 50 that I realized it had an M4 viewfinder/rangefinder. In the historical section of LUF it was explained that early M3s had a habit of viewfinders delaminating and it was easier to replace the whole assembly. I suspect that the friend who owned the camera had this done in the 1970's. While in college there was a Leica repair person in town who would do this kind of repair. He would buy up wrecked Ms, fix them up and sell them cheap to photography students. I had put her in touch with him and she ended up with the M3. 

[Guest Nowhereman]

2 hours ago, gettons said:

...Regardless of the finder in itself, would you say the overall experience of using an external viewfinder for 35mm lenses attached to an m3 is not too bad?

Especially considering you *may* have to focus and frame on two different pieces of glass.

Having shot with a Leica IIIc years ago, which has separate viewfinder and rangefinder windows, this doesn't bother me. I also use a separate viewfinder on my M10 when shooting with a 21mm lens.
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[TomB_tx]

I passed on a new M3 in 1968 in favor of an M4 because of the VF. I didn't like the prominent 50 frames always in view on the M3 finder, and I've never regretted the decision.

However, since then I've acquired a couple of M3s (SS & DS), along with a goggled 35 Summicron (v1). The goggled view was not good until I had both the lens and body CLA'd. Since then the use of the goggled 35 is quite nice - but I still prefer the M4 VF.

[a.noctilux]

For decades, I'm used to external viewfinder for M.

Just found what I used some time back two Leica M with two Canon lenses that not existed in Leitz/Leica.

Leitz/Leica viewfinders that I found/used over years before the liveview period.

For fun, I've "rebuilt" to take some pics of the "monsters" 😉.

 

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Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

 

double-shoe for 21+35 : in 21mm a bit of the 20-35 FDL lens front can be seen when viewing

nothing to say more for the SBOOI (my best viewfinder on any Leica LTM or M )

 

[RayD28]

I use a 28mm with an M3 + external finder.  Workflow is estimate exposure (f stop/shutter speed), focus with the internal finder, and move your eye two inches and compose with the external finder.  It's not that big of a deal but the extra step takes a few seconds so it's possible to miss the shot.  With zone focusing or f11 you go straight to the external finder.  

I'm lucky to have other film cameras that have 50 & 28mm frame lines.  I'd NEVER depart with the M3.  

 

[Anbaric]

I have a SBLOO (bought for LTM, where of course the rangefinder is always separate). It's a great finder, if rather large, but a nice one now costs perhaps 25-30% of the price of a user M2, which might give you pause for thought. Not as crazy as that 28/35 Voigtlander finder, but not cheap either. I think the single focal length metal 35mm Voigtlander finder is also discontinued, though prices were much more reasonable the last time I looked. It's smaller and more in the style of the longer focal length Leica finders than is Leica's own SBLOO. I prefer the view through the SBLOO, but would be happy with the Voigtlander. Apart from the Leica and Voigtlander finders, what else would do justice to an M3? I've looked through some of those generic vintage Tele-Wide finders from Japan (the wide framelines are somewhere in the 35mm-40mm range) and they weren't great. Haven't tried a Soviet finder (no framelines?) or any of the modern generic finders from China.

[Pyrogallol]

The earlier Canon finder can be found relatively cheap(on the left), the Nikon version is very similar but not so common. Both are smaller than the Leica version. Then there is also the TEWE variable zoom finder 35-200mm. 

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