Poravich Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 Hi all, Using and owning Leica M6 years ago, now I just recently switch to M3 for my personal reason over its build & smooth quality (s/n 1,xxx,xxx). I usually shoot bw on 50mm/2.0 Leitz lens and seldom use the light meter. So, the meter in M6 is nothing for me. I've just been wondering whether Leitz/Leica has ever made a better build qulaity body on its other M model, e.g. the 1st or last MP, of which I never ever has a chance to use it. Thank for all kind response, Pat<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul hart Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 This is a question to which you will rarely get a truly objective response, so I'll try. The M3 with a serial number above 1.1M is the best. No question about it. Oh, that is apart from my M4.<p><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ paul_hart/475334616/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/ 170/475334616_6d8a0deb37.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Leica M4" /></a></ center><p>Oh, and perhaps my M2.<p><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/ photos/paul_hart/475342203/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http:// farm1.static.flickr.com/172/475342203_9a36172de4.jpg" width="500" height="356" alt="Leica M2" /></a></center> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronald_moravec1 Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 Beautiful collection. It would be a shame to scuff one of these by actually taking pictures though. Early M`s were all built well, but age is taking it toll with rubber parts going bad and balsam cement deteriorating. All can be fixed if you are willing to spend the money. M4-2 and later are built as well, just differently. High accuracy NC machining has allowed fewer adjustment points because the parts are supposed to fit together better. Steel gears have replaced softer brass gears with some increase in roughness on advancing, a problem that was solved with the MP. They spent more money finishing the steel ones to get the feel of the old brass. You now have the best of both worlds. Balsam cement has been with a light cured something and it is a better procuct. The cameras are still engineered to last as long and work as many cycles. Gone is the vulcanite (rubber) covering, replaced with some stick on stuff. It is not bad. Vulcanite is vulcanised (read baked) on a bare body and can not be repaired in kind. Scrape off and use sticky variety. So you decide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vincenzo_maielli Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 Hi, Poravich. The firts version of the Leica M4 (in the lessmeter range cameras) have the same buid quality level of the Leica M3, while in the metered range cameras, the Leica M5 is smooth as silk, and have the same build quality level as the Leica M3. Actually, the camera that is more near to the build quality level of the Leica M3, is the MP. The best rangefinders are those of the M3 and MP, for the flare resistance. See the Erwin Puts website for more infos about the Leica M3, MP and the other models. I own the Leica M2, M4, M5 and MP. Ciao. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_brewton Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 I have a late M3 and a first year M4. The M4 is my old friend, always there when I need it, a little rough around the edges so I'm not afraid to bang it around a bit. The M3 is a jewel. After all these years it is still in excellent condition and I prefer the film loading, framelines and rangefinder patch over the M4. I'm sure the new MP is an awesome body, but Leica will never duplicate the viewfinder of the M3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_gleason1 Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 John --- You're probably right about the M3 viewfinder. Still, I've got a late M3 DS with a very crisp viewfinder, and I've also got a mint MP with 0.85 finder. The MP finder may not be the equal of the M3 finder, but it's close, very close. (Then again, I prefer the M3 DS to the M3 SS, so what would I know?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_r._fulton_jr. Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 The best Leica M is the one you're out shooting with. They all work great and were made to be used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Blackwell Images Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 "...any better build M body over M3?" The right answer is, NO. Don "DAG" Goldberg said to me recently, "they made it so well the first time out there was nothing to improve upon." There have indeed been some improvements such as film loading, but since the M3, Leica has been looking for ways to build the M camera for less - and that means making it with cheaper design and materials. “When you come to a fork in the road, take it ...” – Yogi Berra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Blackwell Images Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 The best of both worlds...<div></div> “When you come to a fork in the road, take it ...” – Yogi Berra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asher Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 I think you're splitting hairs. All the M's I've ever used, including my current 1954 M3, are more than solid enough for rigorous use (to take photos, that is). Perhaps running a car over them would reveal some differences, but I don't usually try to take pictures of tire treads, at least not from underneath. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob F. Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 Paul: M4-1? Dash-one? Serial number 880? M4, yes. M4-2, yes. But dash-one? It's a custom job, no? You bought a blank top plate and had it engraved, I perceive. Like Tom A. does sometimes. What's up with this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul hart Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 Rob: it's a standard M4 that has been black enamelled and CLA'd by CRR of Luton. I blanked out part of the serial number in Lightroom. It's the smoothest and quietest Leica I have ever owned, and I have an MP. The CRR finish is extraordinary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allen Herbert Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 but age is taking it toll with rubber parts going bad and balsam cement deteriorating Tempus Fugus. Never noticed on my old M's .Reckon they will still be plodding on in for the next 50 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry_kincaid1 Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 After all these nice photographs, it's pretty hard not to ask: Which M is the most photogenic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Blackwell Images Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 "I think you're splitting hairs." In the whole scheme of things, most likely so... “When you come to a fork in the road, take it ...” – Yogi Berra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff_s Posted April 29, 2007 Share Posted April 29, 2007 In some ways, the later dual-stroke M3s are nicer than the 1M+ models in that they have additional details which were subsequently removed, like the bright, spun-finish shutter speed dial and the extra ball bearing catches on the rear door. But that said, I use the M8 much more often :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin jackson Posted April 29, 2007 Share Posted April 29, 2007 I have both MP and M3 and the M3 is better on a few counts. Viewfinders are not the same and the .85 MP will flare occasionally but the M3 never flares. MP went back to Leica to fix sticky shutter button and is much better but the M3 is still best and seems to respond to my instincts with it's lovely little snicky shutter. The rewind stalk on MP is wobbly and the M3 42 year old stalk is rock solid. I don't find the loading of the M3 to be a problem, a little slower but never fails where a little carelessness with the MP loading and I end up with a non advancing film. I don't think the MP can match the M3 build from my experience. These are the only models that I am familiar with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poravich Posted April 30, 2007 Author Share Posted April 30, 2007 Colin, Thanks for much details. Have you ever has a chance to use the 1st MP model? Yes, it's rare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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