Victor Mercado
Member
I own a Leica M3 and find it very difficult to focus in low light (90mm Elmarit), especially in night street photography. Does the Bessa R3A have a better rangefinder for focusing in low light? Does anyone with hands on experience with the R3M have any comments? ~vm~
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david.elliott
Well-known
My M3 is as good as my R3M. I have no trouble with either.
Maybe your M3 needs a cla?
Maybe your M3 needs a cla?
furcafe
Veteran
M3 VFs are slightly tinted, so the Bessa will be slightly brighter, but the difference shouldn't be huge.
Disaster_Area
Gadget Monger
I find focusing at night is both easier and harder with a RF. It can be harder to find a nice contrasty part of the image to focus on that's were you actually want to focus... but when you do find one it's much easier to see as the contrast is higher than in well lit situations.
maddoc
... likes film again.
Nothing is easier to focus at night (dim light) than a well maintained Leica M3 ... 
(from my experience)
(from my experience)
ferider
Veteran
My M3s viewfinders are slightly darker than a Bessa's or ZI's but easier to focus in the dark due to higher patch contrast.
Sounds like your M3 needs a CLA.
Roland.
Sounds like your M3 needs a CLA.
Roland.
newspaperguy
Well-known
Personally, I use an old Voightlander Kontur finder (literally see in the dark) and estimate distances.
Victor Mercado
Member
After a brief read on Camerquest the Voightlander Kontur looks tempting. My M3 is enroute for a CLA, in the meantime I'm jonesing for a backup 35mm rangefinder to cover street. The M3a seems to be the most popular workhorse in this price range. ~vm~
gilpen123
Gil
It's an R3a not M3a Victor. Anyway, I also find the M3 the easiest to focus on real lowlight conditions. Finding the focus point in lowlight is difficult specially focusing on human body/face. The best IMO is scale focus for night street shots where timing is crucial.