A few M3 questions

[navilluspm]

Hi all,

Last night I met a very nice and (possibly) very generous camera collector at my local camera store. He seemed well known to the worker I was buying film from. Anyway, he is starting to sell of his collection - including some of his Leica's. The camera store worker told me that this is the man I want to see if I want to buy a Leica. He said this because everytime I come in, I ask if he has any rangefinders for sale - to no avail.

Anyway, he told me that he had a few for sale and asked what I wanted. I told him truthfully that I probably can't afford any Leicas. He said: an older one then. He said that he had an M3 DS, CLA's 3 years ago sitting in drawer that he doesn't use and that he would sell it to me with a Elmar 5cm lens (adapted) for $500 CAD.

Needless to say, my ears perked up. I think this is a good deal. The guy at the counter told me that this guys collection is immaculate (he is considering buying a Sinar for personal use off him which looked really nice).

So, is this a good deal? What are some things I should look for?

He will be calling me with the serial numbers tonight.

Another question I have is how well a 40mm lens works on an M3. Is was thinking that if I get this camera, then maybe I would save up for a nice 40mm - if it were possible to use that through the regular view finder. (I know that an M3 only has lines for 50, 90, 135, but I was thinking that maybe to overall view finder was close to a 40? Am I wrong?

Thanks for any input.

BTW - This is not a done deal. And I told the man (and he knew) that he could probably get more money elsewhere, but he seems to want to sell it locally.

Michael

 

[ferider]

Great deal since you can check it out. The question is what Heliar ? 15, 50/2, 50/3.5, or 75/2.5 ?

40mm works great on M3. Just use the full finder at infinity and the framelines at close focus.

Roland.

 

[navilluspm]

Great deal since you can check it out. The question is what Heliar ? 15, 50/2, 50/3.5, or 75/2.5 ?

40mm works great on M3. Just use the full finder at infinity and the framelines at close focus.

Roland.

My bad - I was just looking at cameraquest, so I had the wrong lens in mind. It actually is a Elmar 5cm 3,5. I will edit my original post.

 

[Keith]

The Elmar is a good little lens and you should be able to sell it for at least $150.00 if it's in good nick if you don't want it ... which would mean you have an M3 that owes you $350.00.

I'd do it without hesitation!

 

[Kozhe]

500 canadian dollars = 400 US dollars...

And with an Elmar 3.5... jesus

 

[BTMarcais]

Tell the gentleman to post the rest of his leicas here on RFF... they won't last more than a couple hours at those kind of prices...!!
-Brian

 

[rover]

A very big green light on this one!!!!

Go get it.

 

[navilluspm]

Thanks everyone. I still have to wait for his call tonight. I think he is being very generous for me because he sort of could tell that I otherwise could not afford a Leica. I hope this isn't an April Fool's joke on me.

 

[dfoo]

Don't rip off that old guy... send me his phone number! 😀

 

[Benjamin Marks]

My guess is that you are buying a camera from someone who knows the pleasure that using a good tool can bring and wants a younger photographer to have that experience. Whether this is "market value" for the gear he is selling depends on the mechanical and aesthetic condition of the piece. If the camera is dinged up or if there is damage to the finish (e.g. bright marks on the top plate, vlucanite missing, dents etc.) it may well be a fair price, as long as the camera functions. Your seller says that the camera was CLA'd a little while ago, so the camera's functioning should be easy to verify. Ask whether you can shoot a test roll and check the shutter at all speeds with a roll of film. This will let you check the light-tightness, RF accuracy and shutter performance. Assuming the camera checks out, it is a very nice way to get into RF photography. My first Leica was an M3 SS with a 50/1.5 Summarit that I bought from a local shop in Oakland in 1992. It is still clicking away!

Ben Marks

 

[payasam]

"Elmar 5cm lens (adapted)". What kind of adaptation? None should be necessary. Or maybe a screw mount lens with M adapter is what is meant.

 

[navilluspm]

"Elmar 5cm lens (adapted)". What kind of adaptation? None should be necessary. Or maybe a screw mount lens with M adapter is what is meant.

That is exactly what I meant - a screw mount Elmar with the M adapter. Sorry for the confusion.

I also informed him last night when I met him that I am sure that he could get a lot more selling it on the internet, but he said that he would rather not bother. Still, I need to wait for him to call me as I do not have his phone number.

 

[navilluspm]

Well, it looks like the camera colletor might have change his mind. No phone call or message from him tonight. To bad for me.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Either his wife got wind of his offer, or he forgot to call. Get back to that store and leave your phone number with the employee. Better yet, get the man's phone number from the employee! 😱 That's a sweet deal...

One thing: I wouldn't attach a 40mm lens on any M3. The viewfinder alone casts the 50mm focal length under a new, invigorating and fascinating light. I'd say that the M3 is the perfect camera for a 50mm lens... and for a 90mm one too. Anything wider or longer just doesn't do it justice. Don't bother with a 40mm. If you find this little Elmar too slow, sell it and get a 'cron (the collapsible type) in good shape; there you go with a real classic Leica. 🙂

Good luck!

 

[navilluspm]

I took your advise Fancisco and left my number with the Camera store employee. He said that he will be seeing him later on this afternoon (working out a deal on a Sinar). He will pass on my number to him again and tell him that my wife Ok'd the camera purchase - and that I am eagerly awaiting his call. The camera store employee is possitive the guy will want to sell his Leica to me - so here's to hoping. . .

Now, if I could only find a Noctilux for another $500 . . .

 

[HuubL]

Michael, I can feel your adrenaline. If this works out you'll have a great deal. Let us know how this develops! And I agree with Francisco: go for a 50mm Summicron. The collapsible will be a reasonably priced contemporary!

 

[navilluspm]

Thanks. Maybe I will just stick with a 50 then. The only reason I was wondering about the 40mm is the the 40 Summicron for the CL seems like an inexspensive lens with a good reputation.

Is the Elmar (the srewmount coming with the camera) a descent lens?

 

[HuubL]

Nothing wrong with the Elmar. It's not an M-mount, so a 2.8 M-mount Elmar would be more appropriate, but it's an excellent, little, collapsible performer. I guess it is a post-war coated version. Typical Old-Time Leica drawing lens, according to the consensus here. Make sure it has clear glass. I wouldn't change it for a VC.

And BTW, the 40 Summicron is generally considered an outstanding lens, probably better than the 3.5 Elmar. The only thing is, it's of a later age. I'm a purist who happens to like chrome contemporaries on chrome M3s 🙂

 

[hans voralberg]

The Cron is faster, the Elmar is the smallest lens you can get to fit on that M3, each has it own charm, get both 😉

 

[thomasw_]

A M3 wth a 50/3,5 is a great kit to start, Michael. You might like to sell the 50/3,5 and use the loonies toward a collapsible summicron 50/2 or dr summicron 50/2 eventually if you want the extra speed. The M3 has an excellent VF in low light and so you may want a slightly faster lens if you shoot in low light with the M3.

I wish you the best, Michael.

Regards, TW