Tom A
RFF Sponsor
It certainly looks like an original early M3. The DS to SS upgrade is quite common. The early DS M3's has a different shutter brake and when they give problems, the solution is to upgrade to a SS style brake, which is more reliable. The preview lever could have been installed at the same time.
The film rewind knob is typical of these early M3's. Leica was fiddling with these, the slotted screw in the first batch (i think the first 5-600), then the single off set dot (as in this case), later the two dots. The rewind mechanism in the early M3's could give problems - though consider the fact that a lot of these were sold to and used by professional shooters who put a LOT of films through them and, maybe were not as gentle with the rewind as the rest of us. Like holding the camera by the knob and "spinning" it backwards to do a quick rewind!!!! In 1954 this was a new camera and a new concept for Leica and they had lots of input from the heavy users and responded to the ideas put forward.
I have had multiple early M3's over the years, from 7003xx (cant remember that last 2 digits) through several 701 xxx and 702 xxx models. On at least 1/2 the brake was replaced as it was giving problems (either by me or former owners).
What you need for this M3 is now a Summaron 35f3.5 with goggles, a 90 mm f4 collapsible Elmar, some Tri X and you can relive the 50's. All right, if you REALLY want to do that, a 85f1.5 mm Summarex with the SGOOD finder would work too.
The film rewind knob is typical of these early M3's. Leica was fiddling with these, the slotted screw in the first batch (i think the first 5-600), then the single off set dot (as in this case), later the two dots. The rewind mechanism in the early M3's could give problems - though consider the fact that a lot of these were sold to and used by professional shooters who put a LOT of films through them and, maybe were not as gentle with the rewind as the rest of us. Like holding the camera by the knob and "spinning" it backwards to do a quick rewind!!!! In 1954 this was a new camera and a new concept for Leica and they had lots of input from the heavy users and responded to the ideas put forward.
I have had multiple early M3's over the years, from 7003xx (cant remember that last 2 digits) through several 701 xxx and 702 xxx models. On at least 1/2 the brake was replaced as it was giving problems (either by me or former owners).
What you need for this M3 is now a Summaron 35f3.5 with goggles, a 90 mm f4 collapsible Elmar, some Tri X and you can relive the 50's. All right, if you REALLY want to do that, a 85f1.5 mm Summarex with the SGOOD finder would work too.