Thanks to those who answered my Leica M3 ?'s

A few months ago, I asked a few questions here about the gift Leica

M3 my father in law gave me as a gift out of the blue. I got a lot

of help from experienced Leica folks...thanks again.<br><br>

 

I finally got over to Adorama and picked up a light meter. Below are

two shots I got out of my first roll of film out of this gem...they

are pics of my niece.<br><br>

 

<img src="http://home.nyc.rr.com/pso/jessica6.jpg"><br><br>

<img src="http://home.nyc.rr.com/pso/jessica3.jpg"><br><br>

 

I really love this camera...so compact and discrete yet built like a

fort. Thanks again! : ))) The adjustment to a fully manual

everything camera really wasn't that tough at all.

lovely shots and a nice story. use it in just that way!

I am glad you kept it. . . and resisted the urge to "cash it in"!

Someone on the LUG is selling a Kodak DSC200, one of the earlier digital SLR's, based on the Nikon 8008. Originally that camera was thousands of dollars. Now, the asking price is $200. The M3 continues to work superbly 50 years after it was made AND hold it's value. Thanks for sharing and for using the camera instead of adding it to a collector's shelf. Cheers

Thanks guys for the nice words. I've been itching to use it for a long while but had to save some cash up for the light meter. Thank goodness for overtime (a photog's second best friend to his gear?).

<br><br>Donald and Patrick J, I actually never had an urge to sell this gem. First, my father in law is getting up there in age but he used this camera to take my wife's family pictures since forever. I would really feel strange selling a part of their history. And second, when I got this beauty, I knew I had a piece of photography history in my hand.<br><br>

In my camera timeline, I've owned a bunch of digital cameras and was never really quite satisfied with the quality of the images...and I am not talking about "blaming the camera" type of thing. I really mean the images never had that feel to it. I sold my last digital camera and now I am totally film again. Even if I get a dSLR one day, I will still keep this camera with me for all of my black and white shooting.

"The M3 continues to work superbly 50 years after it was made AND hold it's value"

 

Hold its value, If you check what a M3 went for in 1954, I sure you will find even the most beat-up example will sell for way more than the original price......and lets not even think about "MINT" units.

 

Bought a 1956 DS just recently, after a CLA it is smoother than my M6.

I recently picked up an early model M3 DS (in like new condition), 50/f2 collapsable summicron, & a fitted leather Leica case at a yard sale for a grand total of $5. The shutter brake on the camera was jammed so I sent it to DAG for a repair & CLA. The original owner apparently had the shutter brake jam early in its life & never bothered to have it repaired so it sat unused for almost 50 years. Looks like a good deal to me. I will use it and cherish it. It will not sit on a shelf for another 50 years. Its not often to come across a find like this. 8-)

Ron, that does sound like a great deal. BTW, what is meant by a collapsable Summicron? Is that the same as the Summicron w/ the removable eyes? Pardon my ignorance...I am still very new to the Leica world.

Dave... compared to other cameras, its held its value. Compared to inflation corrected dollars, as always, its a loser as an investment.

The collapsible Summicron compresses into itself to take up less space. The lens head rotates about 20 degrees in the focus mount, then slides in about 15-20mm. This allows the camera and lens to fit in a pocket much easier. The one with eyes (NF, near focus or DR, Dual Range) is different and has a set of auxialliary eyes that mount on the top of the lens to adjust the rangefinder and allow use of the lens from 1 meter to 1/2 meter. The collapsible is a very light, compact lens where-as the DR is much heavier but will focus closely.

Enjoy your new tool, they are great to use and last a LONG time.

 

Cheers.

Mark J., thanks a lot for the info. It is tough to be an equipment newbie again...but in a way a lot of fun too to discover a new world of options and possibilities. <br><br>: )