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Converting the old M3 exposure times to the current standard


Finnkare

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My M3 (below 800000) has the old exposure times. Is it possible to adjust the times to the current standard ones, and is it easy and wise? It would make life a bit easier.

 

Two reasons not to do it, even if it were possible. First reason is, there are tolerances anyway, so in real life there may be no noticeable difference between, say, 1/50 (old times) and 1/60 (new times) or even between 1/100 (old times) and 1/125 (new times). Second reason, with the M3 (and with any other M except the M7 and M8) it is possible to use settings in between marked times (there are but two exceptions, I believe between 1/30 and 1/60 and between 1/4 and 1/8, others please correct me if I am wrong), so you could simply turn your shutter dial to the new times, if that's what you want.

 

Andy

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Two reasons not to do it, even if it were possible. First reason is, there are tolerances anyway, so in real life there may be no noticeable difference between, say, 1/50 (old times) and 1/60 (new times) or even between 1/100 (old times) and 1/125 (new times). Second reason, with the M3 (and with any other M except the M7 and M8) it is possible to use settings in between marked times (there are but two exceptions, I believe between 1/30 and 1/60 and between 1/4 and 1/8, others please correct me if I am wrong), so you could simply turn your shutter dial to the new times, if that's what you want.

 

Andy

 

A fellow named Ernst at Leica USA nearly shouted at me when he told me not to even try it with my 1985 M6. He said the shutter would never know which speed to use and would always be erratic.

 

Empirical testing with my M6 showed Ernst was correct. In an intermediate position, the shutter would always fire at the lower or the higher marked speed, and its choice of shutter speed each time I tried it was as random as Ernst said it would be.

 

I will say that I've read in old manuals that it was possible, even encouraged, with the M5.

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Never been a problem with my lllf, I just use the nearest speed/aperture depending on the light and my own 'reading' of the subject. Most films will have enough latitude in any case.

 

Snap.

 

If this is in your Circle of Doom you really have too little else to worry about! :rolleyes:

 

Regards,

 

Bill

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