35mm on M3?

[ronald_blachly]

Hello, everybody. I've been following this site for the past couple of months now, after purchasing a used M6 and 35mm summicron (my other lens is a 90mm Elmarit-M). I'd like to know if anybody has used a newer 35mm summicron on an M3 body - is this possible? Are there any problems, other than the obvious that there are no 35mm framelines? I'd like to get a second body - M2 or M3 (I know the M2 has different framelines); the M2 is much scarcer while M3s seem to be abundant. So, would it work?

[albert_smith]

Ronald,

 

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You can mount any M mount lens on the M3. It will focus fine, but as

you know there is no 35mm frame. You can do one of a couple of

things. I used the 35mm lens on my M3 for a couple of years by using

the whole frame, (out to the metal), and moving my eye around the

finder to see the edges. this is pretty close to the 35mm lens, but

it is a slower process and you lose the parallax correction for close

focusing, (no moving frame lines). If you are serious about using

the 35mm lens on the M3 you can locate a shoe mounted finder for that

lens. This was a lot harder just a couple of years ago, but Cosina,

(Voightlander), has reintroduced several finders which will work fine

on the M3. This would essentially let you use your M3 / 35mm

combination like an M6 user would with the 24mm or 21mm lenses.

 

<p>

 

My personal choice for your second camera would be the M2 if you

could locate one. I am using an M6 and M2 pair with good results.

If you go with the M3, it might be better to marry the 90mm to it,

and keep the 35mm lens on the M6. The enlarged finder of the M3

would really make the 90mm lens more user friendly.

[steve_lehuray1]

I agree with everything Al says above. It is funny how the market for

old M's goes. A couple of years ago there was a glut of M2's on the

market, now they are hard to find, but, there are plenty of M3's. In

general, older M's are hard to find but they are there if you look

around, although the prices for M2's and M3's have gone through the

roof. What I would do is consider a used M6, or even M4P or M42 which

are going for lower prices.

[john_collier]

If you are going to use a modern 35mm lens on a M3, put a

piece of black tape on the rangefinder illumination window (the

one next to the viewfinder). This will give you a completely clear

viewfinder (except for the focusing patch).

 

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Cheers

[bobtodrick]

Leica does make a really nice 35mm finder for the new screw mount

35mm lenses they introduced a couple of years ago. They are usually

not listed in there standard literature, so many dealers do not know

they are available. I got mine from Kindermann Canada to use with

the 35mm Summicron Asph on a IIIg. The finder works like a charm.

[iv_n_barrientos]

I own two M3's and would never buy any other Leica RF model. But the

point is that one of them came with a 35 mm lens with "eyes" attached

and working with it has been really easy and satisfactory: you see

the proper field and don't have to attach anything else to the camera

but the lens itself. I don't know if there are "eyes" still available

for your lens but I think using them would be worth considering if

possible.

And guess what I would recommend as a second body ...

Yes you guessed right: M3 of course.

Have fun with your gear!