Re: [Leica] Questions on M3

["John Black" <jblack@ambio.net>]

Xavier:

The M3 (and M2?) had a "notch" structure at the bottom of the rangefinder
patch which could be used only with 50mm lenses, I think, to determine depth
of field.  I don't know exactly how it worked but have seen descriptions of
it and find it mostly incomprehensible.  I don't think that it was a success
and was dropped from later models.

My love for the M3 stems from the viewfinder magnification (0.9 I think),
and the quickness and quietness of the shutter.  The M6 shutter release is
much longer because of the meter switch and therefore not as quick to
release as the M3 and IMHO the M3 has a quieter shutter.

I believe that the M3 is the finest rangefinder camera that Leica ever made.

JB


- ----- Original Message -----
From: Xavier Logean <xavier.logean@epfl.ch>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Thursday, November 18, 1999 4:15 AM
Subject: Re: [Leica] Questions on M3


> Nathan Wajsman wrote:
>
> > Xavier,
> >
> > My M3 is in the high 900000s and works just fine at all shutter speeds.
> > The ones with the serial numbers over 1000000 are collectors' items and
> > tend to be considerably more expensive. I would recommend looking for
> > one in the 900000 range. Just curious--what made you choose an M3
> > instead of an M6HM?
> >
>
> Hi Nathan, thanks for your answer
>
> The reasons for an M3 are the following
>
> - I already have a M6 and in some way I have problem to justify to have
> two "same" cameras.
> - I like the look of the M3 ("more metal, more mechanical")
> and all the magic behind having a ~40 years old camera that works
> perfectly
> with optics of the 90's
> - There is a diffference of ~$1000 between a M6HM and a M3
> - A lot of leica users thinks that the M3 is the best (or one of the best)
> leica M ever made,
> I am curious to see if it is true
>
> But at the end the reasons are subjective because I could
> make the same pictures with my M6. When you decide
> to buy something, you have to find good reasons to invest.
> When it is a passion, it is easier :-)
>
> I forget in my last message, I read that the late M3s have an aid in
> the finder to check for the depth of field.
> Is that usefull, I never read a discussion about that on the list.
>
> Thanks to Paul, Marc and Emmanuel for their information
>
> Xavier.
>
>
>
> Xavier.
>
> >
> > Nathan
> >
> > Xavier Logean wrote:
> >
> > > Hi there,
> > >
> > > I am envisaging the purchase of an M3.
> > > (some of you might remember that a few weeks ago a posted a message
> > > because I was hesitating between a M3 and a rapidwinder for my M6)
> > > Finally I made my mind for the M3 but I still have a few questions:
> > >
> > > - A friend of mine told me to avoid the M3 below 1000000 because the
> > > 1/1000s
> > > is not accurate, is that true ?
> > >
> > > - Are the first model with no mathematical progession shutter speed
> > > still
> > > a good bargain ?
> > >
> > > thanks in advance,
> > >
> > > XAvier
> >
> > --
> > Nathan Wajsman
> > Overijse, Belgium
> >
> > General photo site: http://belgiangator.tripod.com/
> > Belgium photo site: http://members.xoom.com/wajsman/
> > Motorcycle site: http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/1704/
>
> --
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Logean Xavier                            e-mail: xavier.logean@epfl.ch
> Swiss Federal Institute                  Phone : ++41 21 693 52 57
> of Technology Lausanne  (EPFL)           Fax   : ++41 21 693 66 10
> Computer Science Department (DI)         url   : http://icawww.epfl.ch
> Institute for computer Communications and Applications (ICA)
> CH-1015 Lausanne
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
>