Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/01/19
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]>The leader does not have to be cut at all for M3 or M2 with the stock >spool--either the commercial film trim, or a square cut on the end is usable. >There are three rewind knobs, the last model has two red dots on the knob, and >is the strongest. I didn't like the "quick load" or the rewind extension. The >glass pressure plate gave problems with static electricity marking on the film >when it was rewound in dry conditions. Never heard of one breaking. > >Gary and Dawn Klein wrote: > >> I do have a question about M3 cameras as I am not as well versed about these >> compared the M4-M6 range. Can a quick load spool be installed? I >> understand they load much like the IIIf did. I recall loading a IIIf with >> sucess in high school, but not sure if I want to deal with that should I buy >> an M3. If I recall correctly, the leader had to be exactly 3 inches long or >> it wouldn't load correctly. >> >> Is there in all reality a huge difference between the M3 earlier cameras vs >> the later models for reliability. Can any of you steer me what to look for >> when searching out a good user. I will be searching out a user camera in >> good shape. Could someone steer me in the right direction. When I say >> user, I mean a camera can have paint wear, but no major dings that would I have owned a single wind 1xxxxxx M3 body since 1965 and in 1998 had the black plastic body covering completely replaced by Kindermann Canada. I was told by them that the carrying strap lugs on M3 bodies can be either centred on either ends OR can be placed slightly forward on either end of the body. It seems that only those bodies with the off centred lugs can be completely recovered with one piece of material. If the lugs were centred, Kindermanns told me that they could only patch and fill the chipped and missing parts of the original body covering. As compared to what I imagine a patch and paste job could look like, Kindermann's did a first rate job and the body loks like new. >> cause usability problems. I want the M3 to be the camera where I have a 50mm >> planted on it at all times, leaving the wide work for my M4-2. I notice >> that some guys have these funny little rewind knob levers on their M3 >> cameras instead of the round knob which does slow down rewinding. Are those >> still available? It wouldn't be the end of the world if I couldn't get >> that, but I would like to know. I realize that if I get one of these Leica >> Icons, its going to be from 33 to 45 years old. M3's in top condition with serial numbers exceeding 1100000 are, I read somewhere, almost true collector's pieces. >> Is there any concern for the glass pressure plate models? Has anyone had >> the misfortune of it breaking? Or is that one of those convert it to metal >> type retrofit projects. >> >> Last but not least has anyone dealt with Jimmy Kuehl. If so were you >> treated fairly and was gear rated properly. >> >> Thanks >> >> gck > > >