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This is more a buyers guide than a review, and aimed more at the photographer who wants to actually use the camera as intended, not park it on the shelf and occasionally fondle it. I shot with an M3 for years in the 80s and to this day can pick out those Leica slides from the contemporary Olympus OM stuff I was also shooting. The lenses are that much better, and the rangefinder workflow of operating one of these seems to make me concentrate a bit more on composition. The price of these cameras has been trending down for some time as film is less and less popular as a medium, and I finally was able to replace my old M3 that I sold to get a Hasselblad back in the day. THe M3 is a great camera - completely mechanical, with a solid, authoritative feel to it. Coupled with the excellent Leica lenses, yes, sure, you could shoot as well as Besson or Eisenstadt. But of course, if you are buying an M3, you are also buying at least a 50 year old piece of gear. If the seller does not list a date that the camera was "CLA'd" (Cleaned, Lubed, and Adjusted) then I would strongly advise you go ahead and budget for that in your purchase price. The exterior condition of the camera does not indicate at all whether this will be needed - in fact, I could argue that a pristine, clean example may be more in need of adjustment than a battle scarred example. Why? Well, again, this is a mechanical unit, with many small springs, gears, counterweights and such to make the various functions (shutter, film transport, focus coupling) work well. That pristine example may have sat on someones "Love me" shelf for the past 30 years...all the while lubricants are drying up, internal adhesives are coming apart, springs may be stuck under a certain tension...none of which is at al healthy for this little mechanism. That scratched up, brassy one may have gotten more exercise and therefore be in better shape than the a museum piece for actual photography. Now, this doesn't apply to collectors, and if you are a collector, well, more power to you. I'm a photographer. I don't abuse my gear but I don't baby it either. A tuned up, CLA'd M3 will stand up to normal use just fine, that's what it was made for. That said, do be cautious if your prospective M Series camera has any dents or depressions in the top surface or the upper sides. The M3 has a relatively delicate rangefinder assembly compared to later models, and a good shot to the top area may knock it out of adjustment or worse, delaminate some of the components. This will be expensive to rectify. If I was going to ask one question about an M3 or any mechanical shutter camera, it would be "How are the slow shutter speeds?". Because of those little springs and such inside the shutter, a problem will usually show up first at the lowest speeds. A quick and dirty test is the old "One Mississippi". Set the shutter for one second, trigger it and say "one Mississippi" out loud. The shutter should close at the moment you complete the second word. I admit, this is not the most tightly calibrated test, but any wide deviance from the expected behavior indicates more extensive bench testing and repair are in the camera's future. If the shutter speeds are ok, and the rangefinder works correctly, you have a good camera. Taken care of and maintained, it will last the rest of your life. There is no shortage of these, so take your time and find a good one.Read full review
Delighted with this M3. It works as advertised; smooth shutter, clear optics, easy to focus. Minor blemishes on the case, also as advertised. Great price for a great camera.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
For anyone still using film, or thinking about using film again (or for the first time...), all those pros out there who say the Leica M3 is still the best 35mm camera in the world are right. This thing is built with a precision and attention to detail that almost makes my M6 seem rough, by comparison. Smooth, quiet, precise...you couldn't ask for more. If you can find a lightly used M3 that has recently been serviced by a top mechanic, you will be very happy and have access to thousands of equally great lenses. The large, bright viewfinder of the M3 is the best and most accurate of any Leica rangefinder ever built, letting that legendary Leica glass perform at its very best.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
The Leica M3 is widely considered not only the finest camera ever produced by Leica, but the finest camera ever produced. Or, the finest mechanical object ever produced. Take that with a grain of salt, read the reviews pro and con and decide just how much hyperbole is involved. One data point, however, is telling. Almost sixty years after the M3 hit the scene, Leica's latest film camera, the Leica M-A, is as close to a complete duplicate of an M3 as they were able to produce in 2014. IMHO it falls short, at least in the .72x rangefinder, but it is a good try for "only" $4,200 or so. Or, get the real thing, a high-end M3, for a quarter of that. 'Nuff said - do your homework, come to your own conclusions. I love mine.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Fantastic rangefinder camera. The Leica M3 is still among the best out there even when compared to its modern descendants. Provided you find a good example, it gives you Leica quality for a fraction of the new prices. The mechanical parts are all solid. The camera body is heavy compared to modern cameras, but that only indicates its sturdiness. Everything is built to last. It'll outlast you. Coupled with a 50mm Summicron DR lens it makes a great start before you start exploring other lenses. Put on a classy looking Voigtlander VC Meter II and it'll give you some exposure security for those who want to shoot with a light meter but don't want the hassle of a handheld version.
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