Hi Everyone, My Name is Bill and I have a Leica M3

[Uncle Bill]

I inherited from my dad, he gave it to me before he passed on this past March. I love this camera, it has had its CLA with a Leica tech but I do have a skill testing question. The framelines in the rangefinder are 50,90,135. which we all know. Now I picked up recently a Voightlander 35/2.5 screwmount, I had spare M bayonat adapter for 12/35/135. Now the lens couples nicely, do I need the accessory viewfinder? I am not wearing glasses yet. This camera goes to my children and grandchildren. Should I spring for it?

Bill

 

[ray_g]

Bill, the title of your post sounds like an introduction at an AA meeting, like Leica's are some sort of addiction. 🙂

Very appropriate.

To answer your question, the M3 finder in its entirety closely approximates the 35/40mm FOV. Try it and see for yourself how comfortable you are working with it. If not, just get a 35mm FSU accessory VF. I got mine from Yuri at www.fedka.com but that was more for use with a IIIf. For the M3, you may find you dont need it.

-Ray

 

[back alley]

rf cameras are not that precise, frame wise, to begin with.
i'm with ray, shoot and see if it makes that much of difference to you.
i doubt that it would for me.

i shoot an 85 and use the 100 framelines in my p, kinda works ok.

but then, i'm a sloppy worker...
joe

 

[Todd.Hanz]

howdy uncle bill!
the M3 finder, edge to edge, is closer to 40mm field of view, if you can get everything you want in that area then you are good to go!

Todd

 

[Uncle Bill]

Well, I guess my question got answered and I saved some money. Yes I did sound like an addict a bit (ok a lot in the intro). I have to remind myself to pick up the Nikon F and Nikkormat I own as well and shoot SLR once and a while. I also own a Contax IIIa but that is another forum. Thank you for the welcome. Are there fans of the 50/1.4 screwmount from Canon. I shot half my first roll of film in the M3 with it and I am blown away at how sharp it is. I shoot mosly Agfa/ Ilford black and white but I want to run some colour film through the M3 as well.

Bill

 

[RubenBlaedel]

congrats and welcome Bill - I have just entered the M3 world (se the thread really, really bad GAS) and I can not wait for it to arrive. I have been used to M6 with the .72 finder with my 35 mm lens so I have not given your dilemma a thught but I gues the advice of testing it with the exhisting viewfinder could spare you the cost of an external finder 🙂
when in need for colour I shoot Agfa slide RSX II with my Leica Glass and the old lenses perform great with that film

 

[Beniliam]

Welcome Bill!! 🙂