Like it’s predecessor, the M2’s top and bottom plates were made of brass and its shutter goes from 1 second to 1/1000th. This means the M2’s viewfinder is wider than the M3’s, showing more of the scene but becoming less precise with the standard 50mm frame lines because of it. The M2’s viewfinder has built-in framelines for 35mm, 50mm, and 90mm instead of the M3’s 50mm, 90mm, and 135mm. The viewfinder is quite a bit different, though. While the frame counter on the M2 will advance automatically, it must be manually reset to zero when a new roll is inserted. The main differences between the M2 and M3 are the frame counter and viewfinder. The M2 was the second model from Leica’s M series. When it was released in 1957, the M2 was marketed as a budget alternative to the M3, and the prices reflect that today. If you insist on getting a Leica camera, the Leica M2 is worth considering. Fortunately, there are many capable Leica technicians around the world who can at least CLA (Clean, Lubricate, and Adjust) an M3.īut this article is about alternatives to the M3! If you’ve been turned off by the price, or simply can’t find one in good condition, here are a few other options to consider. Leica owners tend to treat their cameras very well.Įven if you manage to find an M3 in excellent condition, though, we recommend you bring it to a respected technician who can give it the love and care it deserves.
#LEICA RANGEFINDER FREE#
Many of them will be free of scratches or dents because these cameras were seen as an investment and a precision photographic tool.
#LEICA RANGEFINDER WINDOWS#
It’s a bit like a picture frame! If the windows are raised on a Leica M, you know you’re looking at an M3.Ĭonsidering the age and popularity of the Leica M3, it’s surprising how many of them are in excellent cosmetic condition. The three windows on the front - the rangefinder, viewfinder, and light-gathering windows - all will have a slightly raised border around them. The Leica M3 is an iconic camera that’s easy to identify, even when put next to other Leicas. If you’re mainly a 50mm user, the M3’s viewfinder may be the way to go. Because of this, the standard 50mm framelines are smaller and less precise. With other Leicas, the viewfinders are designed for use with wider lenses, like 35mm or 28mm. The M3’s viewfinder is designed for efficiency with this normal focal length, and has magnification that makes 50mm framing precise and simple. With a standard 50mm lens, though, the M3 shines. So wider lenses are a bit difficult to shoot on an M3. This means you cannot accurately frame your photos without an external viewfinder. When shooting with lenses wider than 50mm, you won’t have the right frame lines. This means there are two important things to consider when buying an M3: These frame lines - 50mm, 90mm, and 135mm - automatically appear in the viewfinder when a lens of one of these focal lengths is attached. The three in M3 stands for the camera’s three available frame lines. It does have an automatic frame counter and frame line selector, though. There is no meter, battery, or electronics. You can load and advance the film, change the shutter speed, and focus the lens. The Leica M3 is a very bare bones camera. This, of course, is up for debate depending on your preferences. Many photographers consider this the best Leica M mount camera due to its simple, iconic, and well-rounded performance.
The M3 was the first Leica camera to feature the M bayonet mount, and replaced the aging thread mount cameras. The Leica M3 is a mechanical 35mm rangefinder camera with interchangeable lenses. Why do people want the M3 in the first place? What’s so special about this 70 year old German metal? We’ll discuss both below.īut first, let’s take a look at the M3 and see what we’re attempting to emulate. Some questions worth asking are “do I need interchangeable lenses?”, or “do I want a light meter?”. There are plenty of options when it comes to buying a rangefinder camera. Here we’ll outline a few, share our thoughts, and provide some basic information about them. Many cameras even outperform it in one way or another. There are plenty of solid, capable alternatives to the M3. Is it necessary to turn to this German icon for a true rangefinder experience?
As prices rise and stock diminishes, there is an interesting debate about who the M3 is for. The Leica M3 is, as with all Leicas, an incredibly popular camera.