mith986 Posted November 20, 2008 Share #1 Posted November 20, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) G’day I recently acquired a leica M3 DS. This is my second M3, but my first DS. The serial number is 733226, and it came with the ‘original’ receipt dating to 1954, box with serial number/ a tag (see pics). The leatherette on this camera looks like it has been redone as it feels more of the consistency of an M6 leather (lot smoother than my M3 SS). Other wise the camera is in mint condition and the lens has no marks at all.. I would like to know if its is possible for a n M3 with a serial number with 73326 to have been produced in 1954 (first year of production???). And the second image produced by the rangefinder is very faint and hard to see, what needs to be done to fix this? (I still haven’t put a film through it, can't wait!!!!) regards mith986 Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/69011-help-with-a-leica-m3-ds/?do=findComment&comment=721409'>More sharing options...
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phovsho Posted November 20, 2008 Share #2 Posted November 20, 2008 Can't help you with any of your questions, but just had to say....WOW Very cool. I have bought two mint m3s in the last 3 weeks. They are my new favourite cameras. Letting go of a couple of M6s to pay for them. Mine are at the other end of the production spectrum. One is a 1M+ and came with the 50/2 collapsible like yours. The other is 1.1M+ but no lens. I also bought a 90 (APO) so I would have something longer than 50 to put on them. I took one to Ha Noi with the 50/2 and worked using the sunny 16 rule - all my previous cameras have had light meters. Got half the photos back and around 50% are correctly exposed. 80% useable and the rest a disaster! But, by the end of the trip I would say 80% were near to correctly exposed - suggesting I'm getting better. I just loved used the camera and will persist with the aid of a light meter as a secondary measure in tough situations. I think you are going to love that camera. Really very beautiful. Murray Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted November 20, 2008 Share #3 Posted November 20, 2008 Welcome on the forum and congratulations on the acquisition of a wonderful set. To get an answer to your questions I would advise you repost this on the collectors forum. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k_g_wolf ✝ Posted November 20, 2008 Share #4 Posted November 20, 2008 Great camera ! Congratulations, it simply looks perfect. As you certainly know, LEICA M3 production started in 1954 with No. 700 000 and yours is from 1955 according to my books. So you have a wonderful premature example here with all the papers from 1954. Keep it in good shape and enjoy ! Best Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted November 20, 2008 Share #5 Posted November 20, 2008 Do not wait more, put a film in and enjoy this piece. I know that all the people in the factory were very proud of building and assembling M3s. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted November 20, 2008 Share #6 Posted November 20, 2008 Amazing - the original owner bought a Leica Meter with it, but he must have used it rarely. The usual meter scuffs are absent. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rona!d Posted November 20, 2008 Share #7 Posted November 20, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) The receipt looks great! All the details with the trade in of the IIIf etc. To bad the Vulkanit is not original, but the rest (also the matching box) is great! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steed Posted November 20, 2008 Share #8 Posted November 20, 2008 Jealous as all hell. Take good care of it, and put it to good use. Try Dan Goldberg in the US for service John W. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ron (Netherlands) Posted November 20, 2008 Share #9 Posted November 20, 2008 The problem of a very dim rangefinder view, which is quite common with very early M3 cameras, can only be fixed by resilvering the rangefinder prism, or - of course - by having another (newer) type of rangefinder put into your camera. The last option is hardly feasible since the M3 has another rangefinder system than the other M´s. So the best way is having your rangefinderprism resilvered. This can be done only by specialized companies like Luton in the UK. M2/3/4 Rangefinder Restoration Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted November 21, 2008 Share #10 Posted November 21, 2008 What a superfine set !!! The papers really add beauty, fascination, value to all this wondeful piece. The batch 730001 to 746450 was the second large production run of M3s... and usually is referred to as a "1955" batch... but nothing strange that the documents speak of December 1954: M3 was so an instant success worldwide that the factory sent out all they succeded in producing. The receipt is really interesting : the trade-in value of the IIIf was really good... and probably this convinced the buyer to acquire the M3 WITH the Summicron 50, even if he already had a good 50 f2 lens (the Summitar quoted in the receipt) that could have been easily fitted to the M3 with the adapter ring (the adapters were announced together with the M3, to guarantee Leica users that their past investiments on Leitz lenses weren't lost). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mith986 Posted November 23, 2008 Author Share #11 Posted November 23, 2008 Thank you for all your prompt replies, its great to have the inputs of those with a wealth of knowledge in this field. regards mith986 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbretteville Posted November 25, 2008 Share #12 Posted November 25, 2008 This summer I had my M3 DS (100.000 later than yours) and IIIf serviced my Don Goldberg in Wisconsin (DAG Camera Parts) Both came back as new with bright, clear VFs. Both cameras had a full service treatment (aka. CLA - Clean, Lubricate, Adjust). Not cheap: $295 for the M3 and $305 for the IIIf (it needed parts for $55 in addition to the CLA), but so worth it. Enjoy you M3! - Carl Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodaktrix Posted November 28, 2008 Share #13 Posted November 28, 2008 Single stroke M3 could be updated to double stroke. So a SS number with DS is nothing to worry about. Regards Oliver Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubice Posted November 28, 2008 Share #14 Posted November 28, 2008 Single stroke M3 could be updated to double stroke. So a SS number with DS is nothing to worry about. Regards Oliver Single stroke 'update' to double stroke???? All I have ever seen were updates from double stroke to single stroke. To go from single to double stroke would be called a 'downgrade'..... Unless, there was a serious problem with the SS wind system and the only replacement parts the technician had were from a DS body. This is however, highly unlikely. To the OP - a wonderful and complete outfit! Enjoy it! Best, Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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