A really stupid question... ISO setting an early M3...

[Ryan1938]

Please don't laugh.

I just stumbled upon an early Double-Stroke Leica M3. I took delivery today and have been messing with this impressive piece all night.

Anyway, I was looking at the film iso selector on the camera back and noticed it only goes to 200. What's a fella to do if he wants to use 400 film?

I know I am missing something here...

 

[cnphoto]

That is a reminder dial, akin to putting a piece of the packaging in the hot/cold shoe to remind yourself what film is in the camera. There is no meter, so there is no 'ISO setting' or DX coding etc. it is irrelevant.

 

[JRG]

Well, the M3 doesn't have a built-in meter, so that ISO dial is just a reminder of what film you've got inside. You need an external meter for determining exposure settings.

 

[Keith]

No laughing here because until a few years ago I didn't know what 'focal length' meant! 😀

It's a fully manual camera and that dial is only a visual reminder to let you know what film you actually have in the camera. You can use whatever ISO film you choose and meter your exposures accordingly.

🙂

 

[Ryan1938]

I'm an idiot... Of course... Sorry fellas... And thanks for the help.

 

[coelacanth]

As others said, there is no "iso setting" on meterless leica. The dial is just a reminder so use whatever method you like to remind yourself what speed of film you are shooting. For example, I use ASA 160 mark when I shoot 1600, 20 for 200 on my M2. It doesn't have to b the "right" value because it's not doing anything to the actual exposure. Alternatively, some people slip the lid of film package into flash shoe.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Never mind, you can use every ISO film on your M3... From 25 to 3200, and below or beyond if you find those ISO values on any film... The camera won't know your film's ISO. It won't know either if you are using the ISO reminder selector on it or not...

Cheers,

Juan

 

[chrispiper]

Don't be ashamed, I started with my first M a year ago - a M3 DS - and wondered the same thing.

I make it easy on myself, I only shoot 400 speed film so I never have to think about it : )