m3 is sweet

FrankS said:
Resistance is futile. :)
And congrats on your new M2, Oscar!
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Thanks Frank ! :D

Probably you don't know, but I looked MANY times to the gear section on your gallery while I was waiting for it to show up, lol !
 
Joe - how do you rate the M3 against the P for smoothness in winding on the film? I've read the DS are smoother for their brass gears. My P is definitely smoother than my M4 (with steel gears) in that respect. The P is buttery-smooth - a real treat for the tactile senses!
 
can't say that there is a big difference to me.
the p is smooth and the m3 is smooth too.

if i had to one line it i'd say the m3 is a bit more refined than the p and the p feels more rugged than the m3.
joe
 
Fred said:
"Is the M3 viewfinder 'that' much better than an M7 like R3a ? :cool: "

:)
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I had an R3a and have an M3. Yes, the R3a viewfinder is new and bright and has a 1:1 magnification.

The R3a doesn't hold a candle to the M3 viewfinder. Even with the 1:1 magnification the EBL is very short. It is very good, but in no way is the match of the confident focusing afforded by the big bright long EBL finder of the M3 finder.
 
I did a side to side comparison yesterday, it may be my specific P, but as it already happened with a M4 I tried some time ago, the chrome work on my P is (honestly) of a better quality and finish than the M2 (and than that M4 too).

Winding is way different, the P is butter smooth but the M2 seems to almost wind on its own once you start the movement, strange but sweet, with the P I have the feeling that I have to 'finish' the movement with more decision. Longer run, probably.

P has a (believe it or not) more hefty and massive, solid quality to it. Seems to have 'more things inside'.

M2 finder wins clearly. Even though mine has some haze in the front window, it's surprisingly brighter than the P one. I also prefer the slightly bluish tint on the M2 vs the clearer one on the P (this is also why I like my Canon 7 finder better than the P as well). The patch is absolutely lovely, as everybody says, seems to be put there with a xacto knife. Opposite to Joe, I have had problems in the past with the fuzzy borders of the P patch but mainly due to the lack of contrast between the patch and the whole finder area.

I was really curious about those DOF markings in the patch, now that I've played a bit around with the camera, to me they seem all but useless. Checking if the focus is in the f/16 range takes even more than taking care to focus correctly, not to speak about the f/5.6 one... Maybe this could change with time, but now I don't see myself using them a lot...

I like the fact that focal lenghts are marked in the framelines of the P (and 7).

Shutter on the M2 is quieter, no doubt. They both could be scared to listen to a Bessa-T though, but then you put a Zenit B on the list and so on :D

And round and round it goes... Summilux ? 1970s 35 pre-asph ?

Hmmm... :rolleyes:
 
"m3 is sweet "

uh . . . duh. Mr. Obvious Man. :D

I know I held one once . . twice, actually but the second time it was in a bag. Have not been the same since.

love it
 
They just don't make um the way they used to Oscar. No surprise to me to hear that the Canon P and your M2 compare favorably to each other. The 1950s was the golden era of rangefinder cameras, I think we are safe to say that the offerings from the big 4 were all excellent cameras, each just a little different from the others.
 
rover said:
They just don't make um the way they used to Oscar. No surprise to me to hear that the Canon P and your M2 compare favorably to each other. The 1950s was the golden era of rangefinder cameras, I think we are safe to say that the offerings from the big 4 were all excellent cameras, each just a little different from the others.
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Yep, I have to be fair and objective.

My conclusion ? Everybody should have an M2/M3/M4 AND a Canon P/V/VI ;)
 
I want a 1950s type set now. I have the M3, Contax IIa in process and Canons IV and V. I am giving serious thought to a Nikon.
 
my m3 is from 1955 if the serial number info on cameraquest is correct.

i was a mere 5 years old when this came off the line.
joe
 
I think everyone should have a 1950's set of RF cameras.

Canon-Contax-Leica-Nikon-Retina-Voigtlander

My M3 DS was made in August 1957. I was one month old.
 
Brian Sweeney said:
I think everyone should have a 1950's set of RF cameras.

Canon-Contax-Leica-Nikon-Retina-Voigtlander

My M3 DS was made in August 1957. I was one month old.
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OK, you are adding to my collection Brian. Which Voigtlander would you suggest.
 
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