"M" Testing & Acquisition

[pridbor]

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Gents,

I may have a chance to acquire an M3 and a Leica IIIc.  They are supposedly in good shape, although the owner, an extended family member, hasn’t used them for many years.

He has also allowed me to test these before purchasing.

My question is, how shall I go about testing these cameras to a degree which gives me confidence that they operate correctly?

I have an M7 with a few lenses which I was thinking of using for testing purposes, but how do I test, e.g., speed, etc.

 

Thanks in advance for your insight/suggestions, and should you wonder, yes it's a question of GAS:-)

Preben

 

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[Steve Ash]

I would take images of evenly lit plain surfaces at different shutter speeds to see if the travelling time of the shutter is even.

[jaapv]

If the cameras have been unused for many years, they will need to have a thorough CLA in any case. That means that there is no need to worry about things like shutter speed and RF calibration etc. Testing is quite irrelevant. . I can tell you now that the highest shutterspeeds will be slow or even stuck. That does not disqualify the camera as replacing the lubricant will solve it. Light leaks by deteriorated seals are no problem either. Of course, provided the price is right.
Check that the RF patch is clear and that you see nothing strange in the viewfinder. Repairs for desilvering and balsam separation can be quite expensive. Make sure that the shutter curtains are in decent shape, although replacement is fairly straightforward. Above all look for signs that the cameras have been stored in moist conditions. A camera that looks nice cosmetically but is corroded inside is a writeoff.

[SrMi]

It seems that, unfortunately, the repair shops (CLA) in the USA are being overwhelmed and that month long waits are to be expected.