jacelech Posted March 20, 2008 Share #1 Â Posted March 20, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Has anyone had experience with replacing or restoring M3 viewfinders? Â Can M3 viewfinders be placed into later model M cameras like the M2 or the M4? Â Most of what I have read suggest that the viewfinder can be problem with this camera model. Perhaps some of the forum members can comment from personal experience? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 Hi jacelech, Take a look here M3 Viewfinder. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
luigi bertolotti Posted March 20, 2008 Share #2 Â Posted March 20, 2008 Many labs can do a good job in restoring a M3 VF/RF assembly, but of course it depends a lot on which kind of work has to be done... I had a M2 whose VF got BROKEN for camera fall... one of the best Italian lab told me "forget about repair... let's find a spare complete assembly (M2) and transplant..." the final cost wasn't much different from finding a good used M2 and have it CLAed... I did nothing an kept the M2 as a "21mm + Visoflex only" body... Â For what I know, the M3 VF/RF CANNOT be mounted on later bodies... and it would anyway be the "bastarding" of an original... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photoskeptic Posted March 20, 2008 Share #3 Â Posted March 20, 2008 The M3 used a balsam cement for the rangefinder patch. They sometimes de-cement, causing problems. After using any of the .72 rangefinders and going to an M3 it almost makes you cry - the difference is pretty dramatic. I use one with a dedicated 50 cron. Read more on Stephen Gandy's site. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyoung Posted March 20, 2008 Share #4  Posted March 20, 2008 Has anyone had experience with replacing or restoring M3 viewfinders? Can M3 viewfinders be placed into later model M cameras like the M2 or the M4?  Most of what I have read suggest that the viewfinder can be problem with this camera model. Perhaps some of the forum members can comment from personal experience?  I remember hearing a while ago that Leica was now out of M3 view/rangefinder parts, and that they could replace it with the M2/4/6/7 etc finder, presumably 0.85. But unless parts are physically broken I would have thought refurbishment would be possible by any of the usual repairers. Malcolm Taylor (in the UK) did my III with replacement parts a year or so ago, and the M3 was cleaned etc. by him about 10 years ago. He can do wonders!  Gerry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted March 20, 2008 Share #5 Â Posted March 20, 2008 You must to entrust your M3 to a valuable repair shop, as you must know, depending of the serial number, there is 3 model of rangefinder /viewfinder for the M3, and if you tell us where you are living may be some people here can tell you where to go or who to contact. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrid Posted March 21, 2008 Share #6 Â Posted March 21, 2008 I think Don Goldberg (DAG, dagcamera.com) and CRR are the only companies that will repair a separated prism block. Â Everyone else will want to swap out the M3 RF unit for a newer one from an M6 etc. But of course that is not the same, in particular in regards to the size of the frame lines, which will greatly affect framing accuracy. Â The prism blocks in the M3/M2 were glued with Canadian balsam. As the balsam ages it becomes brittle and if the camera receives a strong enough blow the blocks can separate. Starting with the M4 Leica appears to have switched to a synthetic UV cured glue that is much stronger and does not deteriorate with age. Â DAG Camera Parts <center>( Leica ) CAMERA REPAIRS & RESTORATION - LUTON , ENGLAND <p> <center> Wish you all a Healthy & Prosperous New Year 2008 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacelech Posted March 24, 2008 Author Share #7 Â Posted March 24, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Many thanks to all of you for your generous and helpful replies. As I use the 50 more and more, I will likely have to give this M3 a try at some point. Â Best wishes, Â Jacek Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
echorec Posted March 25, 2008 Share #8 Â Posted March 25, 2008 You must to entrust your M3 to a valuable repair shop, as you must know, depending of the serial number, there is 3 model of rangefinder /viewfinder for the M3, and if you tell us where you are living may be some people here can tell you where to go or who to contact. Â Hi JC, Â Would you care to expand on that? The M3 is my favourite camera and I love to learn more about it. Â Thanks, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyoung Posted March 25, 2008 Share #9 Â Posted March 25, 2008 I think Don Goldberg (DAG, dagcamera.com) and CRR are the only companies that will repair a separated prism block. Â Everyone else will want to swap out the M3 RF unit for a newer one from an M6 etc. But of course that is not the same, in particular in regards to the size of the frame lines, which will greatly affect framing accuracy. Â The prism blocks in the M3/M2 were glued with Canadian balsam. As the balsam ages it becomes brittle and if the camera receives a strong enough blow the blocks can separate. Starting with the M4 Leica appears to have switched to a synthetic UV cured glue that is much stronger and does not deteriorate with age. Â DAG Camera Parts <center>( Leica ) CAMERA REPAIRS & RESTORATION - LUTON , ENGLAND <p> <center> Wish you all a Healthy & Prosperous New Year 2008 Â Â I would think Malcolm Taylor could do that too, he can certainly recement elements in lenses together (Elmar 50mm for instance) so I would imagine that finder parts would be at least as easy. Â Gerry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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