Laurentum Posted September 1, 2007 Share #1 Posted September 1, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi, I am new to film photography and Leicas so sorry if any of this sounds ignorant - I really know almost nothing! I inherited a Leica M3 that was my great-grandfather's. I am looking for information on how to tell if it should be serviced, where I should get it serviced (local shop? send it in to Leica?) and any other pertinent information I need before I go about using it - even just how to maintain it - anything! I would like to use it for photography so it's not going to just sit on a shelf. If you need any other information, please let me know, I'm not sure what is important and what isn't. Thank you! Also, the serial number is M3- 910 050. -KM Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 1, 2007 Posted September 1, 2007 Hi Laurentum, Take a look here What needs to be done with my inherited Leica M3?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
luigi bertolotti Posted September 1, 2007 Share #2 Posted September 1, 2007 kathy, You've got a splendid camera of exactly half a century ago (from the number you quote is easy to recap the year of production : is 1957); M3 is one of the legendary models of Leica, the first with lenses with bayonet mount, with multi focal viewfinder (you have internal white frames that adapt to the lens mounted 50 - 90 - 135 mm); your camera is of a series of M3 which has as principal noticeable feature the cocking shutter arm that has to be activated TWICE to cock shutter/advance film : in Leica world, is known as the "two strokes" model (1 year after yours, at # 915.000 about, they were modified to activate once only the lever). If you are new at all to Leica world and likes to use it...you're lucky : 1) Have a very fine camera 2) On the Net, you can find lot of infos, and even the PDF files of the original user manual. 3) In USA, you can easily find a trustable repair shop that can well make a fine complete revision: it is worth ANYWAY: American people in this forum can give you, obviously, better advices than me. But there is a final question : what about THE LENS ? What is written in front of it ? I wait for your answer: all Leicaphiles are terribly "lens oriented".... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurentum Posted September 1, 2007 Author Share #3 Posted September 1, 2007 grazie mille! vado a vedere subito... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurentum Posted September 1, 2007 Author Share #4 Posted September 1, 2007 ok, i hope this is what i am supposed to be looking at... Ernst Leitz GmbH Wetzlar Summicron f=5cm 1:2 Nr. 1476192 is that it? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurentum Posted September 1, 2007 Author Share #5 Posted September 1, 2007 ok, there's also another one in a leather case that says 1733871 ELMAR 1:4/135 LEITZ WETZLAR i am so in over my head here! it will be fun learning how to use it though. it has the original manual so i will be reading it when i have some free time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted September 1, 2007 Share #6 Posted September 1, 2007 WOW ! Better and better : the standard lens is a legendary one - Summicron 50 surely bought with the camera (same year). If its glass is good, is a lens that can still stand as one of the best standard lens one can enjoy: is sufficient to say that a Summicon 50 f2 is still today on Leica price list.. ok is a new glass... but I think that Leica will never dare to put out of their offer a lens with this name... and the credit goes to Your lens that, at that times, surprised the photo world for its astonishing performance. The other, a little younger (1960) is a very good tele 135 (the engraved name "Elmar" is another legendary Leitz brand name), still very usable (check glass clairity and coating, of course). If you mount it on the body, in the viewfinder you'll see the white frame corresponding to its field of taking. Then you'll have to learn how to focus... how to load film on camera (from the bottom... strange for a newcomer, but easy to learn)... you can find it all in the manual... I repeat, Kathy, you're lucky to have got such an outfit... it has also a good money value (say, something over 1K$ the outfit)... but if you like to take photos you have the opportunity to enjoy the use, and the quality, of a little piece of history in the photo world... do some navigation in this and other forums... take some book.. you'll understand what I mean... P.S. : thank you for the kind Italian sentence... how do you know it so well ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
budrichard Posted September 2, 2007 Share #7 Posted September 2, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) First, remove the lens by pushing the red lens mount button and twisting the lens easily one way or another. Look at the top hole in the lens mount. It will have somehting in it. Is there anything marked in the hole and is it raised or sunken. If a raised L, then your Leica has never been serviced, if still an L then it has been serviced by Leica a long time ago but don't despair, I purchased a 1963 M3 in the early 1990's that had never been serviced, EVERYTHIG worked fine at a Leica 'Clean & Check' day. Remove the back and with your eye looking at the shutter curtain, run through ALL the shutter speeds to determine if the shutter is going across the back correctly and you can also gain a quantatative idea if the speeds are close to what is marked on the dial. Next purchase some Positive (Slide) film and run a roll through the camera at different speeds that will give a correct exposure. Have the film developed and view slides. If exposure, framing with no artifacts is good, then your M3 is OK to use. If something is amiss, send to Leica or DAG for a CLA(Clean, Lube, Adjustment). Cheap maintanance on the best RF ever made.-Dick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurentum Posted September 2, 2007 Author Share #8 Posted September 2, 2007 thanks for all the information, both of you! i will get to work figuring the camera out and researching around the forum too. luigi, io abitavo a roma 10 anni fa e ricordo la lingua un po...(sorry, i have no idea how to do accent marks on the computer!) but conversational is about as much as i can do. it is neat to have such a diverse group on this forum Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenf Posted September 3, 2007 Share #9 Posted September 3, 2007 Kathrine, as already mentioned you have a wonderfully useful keepsake from your Great-Grandfather. Your M3 is of the variation I find most desirable - it's still a "double-stroke", but it's late enough to have the modern shutter speed progression. Take care of it, and you have a camera for a lifetime. Enjoy! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurentum Posted September 3, 2007 Author Share #10 Posted September 3, 2007 I ran through the shutter speeds and she looks to be in good shape. I also learned how to load the film - hah! That was fun. I will get used to it Now, is there an appropriate place to post about the 30 little other gadgets/cords/round thingies/etc in the camera satchel? I have no clue what they are, what they are for, if they are necessary or not... also, the clear screw-on filter in front of the lens is pretty blurry/splotched, is it ok to shoot without it or should I get one that is in better condition? Y'all are so helpful. Yes, I say y'all. Yes, I'm from Texas. -KM Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted September 3, 2007 Share #11 Posted September 3, 2007 The clear filter (UV or sky) was put there for protection and sounds its done its job! you don't need it however so its perfectly OK to remove it and/or replace it. Post a photo of the other items for advice. I'm guessing they will include other filters, lens hoods, flash cords that sort of thing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountaineer-American Posted September 4, 2007 Share #12 Posted September 4, 2007 Kathrine, you are a lucky lady. Your inheiritance is something that was built as good as it could be built. No shortcuts, no planned obsolescence, just excellence. We do not own our Leicas, we hold them in trust for future generations. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron110n Posted September 10, 2007 Share #13 Posted September 10, 2007 Congrats Kathy, Your M3 is two yrs. older than mine. Take it for a spin and have the lab scan the negatives. Later post some pics. I will not recomend a CLA as of yet since my 1959 M3 never had one yet. Enjoy your new timeless toy! -Ron ________________ Caveman's Gallery Neolithic Artistry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Confusion Circle Posted September 10, 2007 Share #14 Posted September 10, 2007 Geez, some people have all the luck.... Congrats! You've got a great piece of kit there! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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