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LEICA M3 User's Guide
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LEICA M3

1955 LEICA M3 und LEICA SUMMILUX 50mm f/1.4. enlarge. This free website's biggest source of support is when you use any of these links, especially this direct link to the M3 at eBay (see How to Win at eBay), and you also can get them from Adorama and OC Camera. It helps me keep reviewing these oldies when you get yours through these links, thanks! Ken.

 

November 2010  LEICA M3 Review  More LEICA Reviews  LEICA Lens Reviews

Rangefinder vs. SLR Cameras.

LEICA M3 Buyer's Guide, including the various versions.

The LEICAMETER.

 

Deployment

With the LEICA M3, you have an unlimited choice of every lens ever made for Leica M and M39 at your disposal. Unlike newer cameras, no lens is incompatible.

 

50mm

Ideally, all you need is one 50mm lens, and Leica's best 50mm lens ever is the LEICA SUMMICRON 50mm f/2 with near-focusing range, dubbed "Dual Range," or "DR," in street slang. This lens has on-film performance as good as anything ever from LEICA (today's 50mm SUMMICRON-M is not significantly better optically), and the SUMMICRON with near-focusing range additionally offers the finest and most solid mechanics of any LEICA SUMMICRON 50mm lens ever made, and offers the closest focusing, to 476 millimeters, with its included near-focusing attachment. The lens focuses this close on its own; this attachment is to optimize the LEICA M3's rangefinder and viewfinder for its near range.

 

Other Lenses

If you must distract yourself with other lenses, I prefer to use real LEICA lenses, which are defined as those that can take 39mm filters. As explained at Assembling a System, if you field lenses with more than one filter size, you'll go insane trying to manage all the disparate filter sizes.

Of course you'll need to use a separate viewfinder with lenses wider than 35mm.

 

21mm & 28mm

Our choice of 21mm and 28mm lenses is simple: only the LEITZ SUPER-ANGULON 21mm f/4 and LEICA ELMARIT-M 28mm f/2.8 use 39mm filters, and they both are excellent lenses.

I use the LEITZ SUPER-ANGULON 21mm f/4 with the SBKOO or 12 002 L chrome metal finder.

Forget the 28mm; it would require another finder, and we're going to field a 35mm lens, which makes the 28mm lens redundant. If you insist on fielding both a 21mm and 28mm lens, use the LEICA UNIVERSAL WIDE FINDER, which covers both of these lenses and more.

As either of these lenses requires an external finder, you must remove the LEICAMETER to use the acessory shoe. This is a pain, but as this is the biggest limitation to the LEICA M3, this is still a good thing.

 

35mm

For a 35mm lens, the choice is easy: one of my favorite lenses of all time is the LEICA SUMMICRON 35mm f/2, specifically, the 1958-1969 version, also referred to as the "8-element" in street slang. It is available with the special finder optics that optimize the LEICA M3's finder, and has extraordinary optics, with none of the geometric distortion of today's ASPH 35mm lenses.

The 35mm SUMMICRON is my go-to lens for low light because so much more is in focus at f/2 with a 35mm lens compared to a 50mm at f/2.

The LEICA SUMMARON 35mm f/2.8 is a good budget choice, but I really do use f/2 often in low-light.

I'd pass on the LEICA SUMMILUX 35mm f/1.4, which also comes in a version with auxiliary optics for the LEICA M3, because I prefer the optical performance of the 35mm SUMMICRON. The 35mm SUMMILUX is soft and dreamy at f/1.4, so I'd usually shoot it at f/2 where the SUMMICRON is already superior, and more importantly, the SUMMILUX can't use 39mm filters, rendering it a logistical nightmare to field with other lenses.

 

90mm

Leica has made a zillion kinds of 90mm lens, all of which work great on the LEICA M3. Let's stick to 39mm filters, and of those, my favorites are either the LEICA TELE-ELMARIT-M 90mm f/2.8 for small size, or the LEICA ELMARIT 90mm f/2.8 for period authenticity.

 

135mm

My favorite is also period-authentic: the LEICA ELMAR 135mm f/4.

 

Loading, Advance and Rewind

Loading

1.) Hold the LEICA M3 upside-down, with the lens facing you. The LEICA Akademie demands that we not "load in the air," and compels us to go sit down some place, but as an unruly American, I load in the field.

2.) Flip up and rotate the catch on the bottom plate.

3.) Remove and reserve the bottom plate. I stick it under my arm, and you may stick it anyplace you like.

4.) Flip open the back pressure plate.

5.) Pull up the chrome tip of the take-up spool. The counter automatically resets at this point, you may hear it doing this as you remove the spool.

6.) Follow the diagram staring you in the face on the bottom of the LEICA M3: slip the leader under the spring of the take-up spool while holding everything exactly as shown.

If pulling out the spool and slipping the film under the spring catch is too much work for you, Leica announced a quick-loading conversion kit in the second issue of 1968 of LEICA Photographie magazine, part nr. 14 260,which sold for $60 corrected for inflation in 2011 ($9 in 1968). It's the newer forked spool and a clamp-on film positioning bar, giving loading akin to the newest LEICAs.

7.) Using both hands, set both supply and take-up spools into their holes. If you've done this correctly, you'll pull-out just enough film as you descend into the camera so that there is just the right length of film between both spools.

8.) Ensure that the sprockets are engaged, close the back, and replace the LEICA M3's bottom.

9.) I advance one frame, and then one more frame so the counter reads 0. I shoot this as my first frame. The more squeamish may prefer to waste this frame, which usually is on frame 00 as printed on my film. I do this to get 39 shots per roll.

10.) Watch for the line, dot or dots inside the rewind knob to ensure film is actually advancing.

11.) Set the film reminder on the back of the camera.

 

Achtung: Don't lose the take-up-spool, or you're dead until it's replaced.

Achtung: Don't loose the camera bottom, either.

Achtung: Keep your fingers out of the shutter, especially if you're positioning the film in the channel or positioning sprocket holes.

 

Advance

Stroke the lever.

With older "Doppel Verschlusssaufzug und Filmtransport mit einem Hebelschwung" (double stroke) models, be sure to move the lever twice.

Shoot. Squeeze the shutter button as you fire a rifle: slowly and smoothly in one continuous pull.

Watch for the line, dot or dots inside the rewind knob to ensure film is actually advancing.

Keep shooting until the film won't advance smoothly, which is usually just as the frame counter would be advancing to 39 with Fuji film, or to 38 with Kodak. Since we shot frame 0, this means we usually get 39 frames on Fuji, and 38 on Kodak.

 

Rewind

1.) Move rewind lever, on the front near the shutter release, to "R."

The rewind lever resets itself automatically as soon as the wind-lever is stroked again.

2.) Lift the knurled rewind knob, and twist.

The rewind knob does not rotate as the film advances; it only connects with the film spool when raised.

Real LEICA photographers grab only the rewind knob and use it as a pivot with which to spin the entire camera around while holding it over their heads more quickly; I don't do that.

Try rewinding with right hand thumb and forefinger. Try applying friction with left pointer finger to prevent the knob from slipping back between twists.

 

Unloading

1.) Hold the LEICA M3 upside-down, with the lens facing you.

2.) Remove and reserve the bottom plate.

3.) Pull-up the film can, or right the LEICA M3 and the film spool drops into your hand. The take-up spool is retained by a spring, ya.

4.) Reset the film reminder to null.

To mimic a digital camera, you would simply hold the LEICA M3 over a trash can, and the film would flop right out into the trash to dispose of your images promptly. I don't understand digital shooters' fascination with their ease of deleting pictures; but if this is your preference, this is a no-step process straight to the trash for images with the LEICA M3.

 

Metering and Exposure

Real LEICA photographers simply guess from experience, and if they are unsure, simply make a second exposure adding 1/3 more exposure in good light, and 3 times more in bad. For them, the camera and lens as shown at the top with no meter is ideal.

Today, especially for color work, many photographers prefer to use an electric exposure meter, especially the LEICAMETER.

The LEICA M3 shoots best when used with a genuine LEICAMETER, especially the LEICAMETER MR or LEICAMETER MR-4.

The shutter speed dial of the M3 is not intended to be turned directly; it is too small. The LEICAMETER has a much larger knob which couples directly to the camera's speed dial, and the LEICAMETER's dial is so big and well knurled that speeds are easily set with one's shutter finger from the front of the camera.

With these LEICAMETERs, simply press the metering button, set the lens, and shoot. It's impossible to make a bad exposure.

See The LEICAMETER for full instructions for use with the LEICAMETERs.

LEICA M3 with LEICAMETER MR-4

LEICAMETER MR-4 atop a 1963 LEICA M3 with LEICA SUMMICRON 50mm f/2 with near-focusing range. enlarge.

 

Shooting

Be sure to remove your lens cap as you shoot. Unless your subject corrects you, there is no other indication that you're photographing the back of your lens cap.

It's a good idea to cap the lens between shots if you're outdoors. The sun will burn a hole in your black cloth shutter if you keep your camera pointed at the sun with a wide-open lens, and more commonly with rangefinder cameras, light can sneak around the top or bottom of the shutter curtains and fog your film. This is why LEICA invented lens caps.

Be sure to extend your collapsible lens before shooting, there is no stupid-proofing with 50mm lenses as there is with the 90mm f/4. A simpleton could shoot all day with a capped or collapsed lens. This isn't a problem; simpletons don't shoot LEICA M3s.

Real LEICA shooters focus simply by feel: the lens' focus tab or lever has only one position for each distance, so LEICA shooters instinctively know by feel how to guess and set the distance as they turn to shoot some rapidly developing event.

 

Lens Compatibility

All LEICA-M lenses, 1954-present, work perfectly.

All LEICA screw-mount (M39) lenses, 1933-present, also work perfectly, with an adapter. With these adapters, the framelines automatically set themselves, and focus works perfectly.

 

Flash Sync

The rear sync terminals are unique, use adapters with common PC cords.

You may use both connections at the same time.

Flashbulbs: Fully automatic synchronization to 1/1,000.

Electronic flash: Only to 1/50.

 

Shutter

Unlike "digital" cameras, the LEICA M3 offers infinitely variable manual shutter speeds between 1/50 and 1/1,000.

The early LEICA M3, with scientific shutter speeds (1-2-5-10 dial), may be set to any speed between 1 and 1/5, and to any speed between 1/50 and 1/1,000 (per LEICA manual, 1955).

The newer version LEICA M3 with geometric speeds (1-2-4-8 dial) may be set to any speed between 1 and 1/8, and to any speed between1/50 and 1/1,000.

Slower speeds (like 1 second) will have some afterbuzz, meaning that they are supposed to buzz a little bit after the exposure completes. Feel free to advance the film without waiting for the buzz to stop.

 

Tripod Thread

Early LEICA M3s have professional 3/8" tripod socket threads, while and newer LEICA M3s use the more common amateur 1/4"-20 threads

Most Americans use 1/4" tripod screws, in which case a simple bushing will change the 3/8" to a 1/4" thread.

 

See Also

LEICA M3 Review  More LEICA Reviews  LEICA Lens Reviews

Rangefinder vs. SLR Cameras.

LEICA M3 Buyer's Guide, including the various versions.

The LEICAMETER.

 

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Private Daten. Your results will vary, these are with my samples as note to myself. Keep out. fernhalten! nicht betreten!

 

1955 after gus 30 oct-13 Nov 2010 roll 7093 focus tests.

-

New 1963 M3 serie 1 072 RF does not quite go to inf w/ 35/2 serie 2099, before Gus

After Gus Fall 2010:

LEICA M3 1963 RVP50 29 Sep 2010 Roll 4160
No filters
EI40 first quarter roll, then EI50.
M3 1955 785 000
LEICAMETER MR chrome 245
all look OK on film at 8x, notes at 3600 DPI

01 dresser 50/1.4 1.4/50 AOK
02 palm 1.4/25 13'
03 Volvo 1.4/25 25'

30 Sep 2010
04 View 50/2M 2/1000 (first wind after overnight) AOK
05 toy story 50/2M 2/100

06 toy story 50/1.4 250 2m EI40 AOK

07 palm 35/2 1000 11' 2099 EI50 AOK

50/2 DR 1467 AOK
08 palm 50DR 2/1000 4m
09 flowers FOH 50DR 2/1000 12m
10 lamp 50/2DR 1.15m 4/1000
11 magazine 50/2/100 0.727m
12 palm 0.580m 2/1000

90/2.8M 3824 OK or close?
13 palm 2.8/500 3.55m
14 flowers FOH 2.8/500 40'

90/2 APO 3875 CLOSE
15 palm 2/750 3.8m
16 flowers 2/1000 40'
17 lamp 2/1000 5'

90/2.8 chrome 2044 FAR
18 palm 4m 2.8/320 FAR
19 flowers 19m 2.8/350 FAR
20 lamp 1.45m 2.8/500

90/2.8M 3944
21 palm 2.8/250 3.9m
22 lamp 2.8/250 4'
23 flowers 2.8/250 40' CLOSE but good

135 tele 39mm black 2461 OK?
24 palm 4/100 12'
25 flowers 4/100 50'
26 huggies 30' 4/100 far

90/2 chrome 1740 Close
27 palm 2/250 11' close
28 flowers 2/250 45' CLOSE
29 mustang 180' 2/250

135/4 chrome 1881 AOK
30 flowers 4/50 16m
31 palm 4/50 4.95m
32 huggies 4/50 10m

90/2.8 tele 3452 AOK
33 palm 2.8/100 15'
34 flowers 2.8/100 50'
35 lamp 2.8/100 1.3m

135/4 tele 46mm CLOSE
36 palm 4/50 13' close
37 flowers 4/100 40' close

School:
38 flower 50/2 dr 2/250 1.2m
39 trikes 50DR 2.5/250 2.3m 1156AM

----------

October 2010 Roll 4804 10/10/10

90/2 Canada black * NF a little close
25 palm 2.8/1k
26 johns 2/500
27 flowers 2.8/1k 8m

90/2.8 chrome 2044 81a? Far
28 palm 3.95m 3.4/500
29 flowers 2.8/1k 10m
30 frond 2.8/1k 1.85m
31 Gaby car 2.8/750 14m

135/2.8 2849 + B+W KR3 a little close
32 2.8/1k 29' flowers
33 2.8/500 11' palm
34 2.8/500 43' johns -1/2

135/4 tele 39mm 2481 81a Far (a little)
35 flowers 4/500 9.55m
36 brush 4/320 20m
37 palm 4/400 4.8m

50/2M 3766 81A AOK
38 palm 2.4/1k 4m
39 brush 10m (focus maybe far?) 2.4/1k

 

31 March 2009 after I recalibrated 1955's RF:

90/2 canada CLOSE at 7m, far at 8 ft., OK 28 ft

90/2.8 1960 beater 1752794: 7m far, 28ft far,

90 APO : OK (close?) 28 ft, close 7m,

90/2.8 394-- elmarit OK-close 8 ft, close 7m, OK-close 6m, close 28 ft.

 

26 October 2009 (end of fourth Yosemite roll on 1955 M3)

old 1960 90/2.8: way close, even after Gus

1961 135/4: perfect!

Old 35/2 1964: too close

1970 50/2: moderately close

 

M3 1955 before Gus:

Marked
Actual, s
Actual, 1/
target, s
target, 1/
error
1
0.867
1.15
1
1
-0.2
2
0.453
2.2
0.5
2
-0.14
5
0.187
5.3
0.198
5
-0.08
10
0.0987
10
0.0992
10
-0.007
25
0.039
26
0.0394
25
-0.015
50
0.0187
53
0.0197
51
-0.075
100
0.00912
110
0.00984
102
-0.11
250
0.00365
274
0.0039
256
-0.10
500
OK
 
0.00195
512
OK
1,000
OK
 
0.00098
1.024
OK