M3 which standard lens?

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Martin Horne

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Am hoping to take possession of a nice M3 in the next couple of weeks and it is likely to come without a lens. I will use this primarily as a travel/street camera.

Is there a matching collapsible 50mm that I should look out for (on the grounds of authenticity) and what am i likely to pay for a mint example?

Any other suggestions for a starters basic lens in mint condition?

What do M3 users out there do with regard to metering and how easy is it to find the authentic leica item again in mint/mint- condition and what could i expect to pay.

What are the best alternatives to the Leica meter if I can't find one?

Questions, questions!
 
for collapsible 50's consider the 50/2.8 elmar or the 50/2 summicron of that generation... no idea what a mint one from that generation would cost though as my elmar is far from mint..

why do you want mint condition equipment if you're going to travel/street shoot with it... what is now mint will quickly no longer be once you use it so no point in paying a premium for 'mint' unless you plan to keep it that way... just a thought that might save you quite a bit of money that you can spend on film!
 
Congrats on the new camera!
Check out the CV MeterII. Even better than the Leica meters, IMO.
As for (vintage approriate) lenses for travel, compactness is a factor, so that suggests a colapsible lens like the col. Summicron f2 or the f2.8 Elmar original. Figure $250 for the Elmar and $300 or so for the col. Summicron in very good shape.
 
FrankS has good suggestions w/ the CVII meter and lens recommendations. My first M3 lens was a Russian elmar copy (Industar-22). While it was far from mint glass, it still produced great "vintage" looking photos, at a reasonable price. I replaced that with a 2.8 Elmar-M that also is not mint glass, but is great for a travel lens and is capable of producing high quality prints (if I ever get to that level).

For mint glass, how about an alternative like the CV 50/2 Heliar-M?
 
Welcome to the M3 club.

The camera is a real treat. I just use my regular handheld meter for a lot of things, but often, I do not use a meter anymore. Recently, when using the camera for a day without one with Ilford XP-2, I found I was not off by more than a 1/2 stop on a total of three rolls, inside and outside, mixed conditions. At some point, I plan on getting a Gossen Digi-six for it's size.

As for a period lens, man, I just got done brooding over this for two weeks. All the popular opinion on here points to either a DR or a rigid Summicron, which are great lenses no doubt, but will fetch $400-$600 in minty condition. And despite what the poster above has said, do try to find one in that condition as if the lens is cheap, it might have the very common coating scratches or haze inside.

Look here at this link for the whole dialogue including my own experience:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31298

Since I already have the best 50mm lens in the world, the current 50mm aspheric Summilux, I really wanted a more nostalgic look for my very clean M3 to wear. I opted for the really cool little collapsible Summicron. I got a very clean copy for $300 that has some haze that needs to be cleaned up, about $100 for a complete overhaul to get it all up to spec, so ther we are, back up to that $400 figure again.

The collapsible is not as soft wide open as the measurebeaters on here would lead you to believe. The contrast will be a little lower and the flare will be a problem if you have haze and no shade.

The choice is up to you really, if money is no object, then either go for a mint version of the DR, rigid or collapsible if you need a period lens with that look. All this said, you could always opt for a chrome current summicron or summilux as well.

I use a pair of M6's with modern glass for work. But for vanity sake at high profile events or just for good old fun, the M3 comes out to play.

Good luck!
 
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If you are looking for compactness and speed the 50mm f/2 collapsible Summicron is a good choice.
 
I suggest you try a coated Summitar with an adaptor. You can buy one in really nice condition for around $200. In my mind, they compare well with the early Summicrons, and they're a better value.
 
The collapsible is not as soft wide open as the measurebeaters on here would lead you to believe. The contrast will be a little lower and the flare will be a problem if you have haze and no shade.
Click to expand...

This is true. It was my only Leica lens for quite a number of years and performed quite well, notwithstanding some coating scratches. My only frustration, which was minor, was the non-linear aperture ring. Sounds like a small thing and I admit that's a quirky opinion, so ymmv...still, for me, it kinda grated, but it never kept me from using the lens or getting the pic, either.
 
This is a question that comes up pretty often, it seems, and there's no right or wrong answer. The M3 is perfect with a 50mm lens (and pretty damn great with a 90mm or 135mm, too). It depends on your sensibility. If you want a period correct lens, there are a few to choose from- the Summicrons- DR, Rigid, or Collapsible; the Summitar or the Summar, both of which are highly regarded; the Elmars are very good lenses, too, especially if compact lenses are your thing. I use my M3's as my main shooters, so I don't worry about whether a lens is period correct most of the time. I will happily put modern glass on it. That new ASPH Summilux is looking pretty tempting- the best 50mm made for 35mm film, with arguably the best body made for a 50mm lens with 35mm film? Sounds good to me.

I have a Canon f1.2, my poor-man's Noctilux, when I need the speed, and it does a very fine job in low light. I think about getting some Russian lenses to play with sometimes, and I want a collapsible lens of some sort, just to try one and to have something small. Mostly, I shoot with the DR Summicron, since I have it, and it performs so well, but it is heavy.

As for meters, I don't like the camera mounted ones. I have an MC meter that works perfectly well, but I never use it. I carry a Sekonic hand-held much of the time, but honestly I've worked with meterless cameras so long that most of the time, like KM-25, I can work perfectly well without a meter. Get a good hand-held, take a few readings before you start shooting, and maybe if the light changes, and put it back in your pocket. There will come a point when the meter won't have to come out of your pocket much. It's a really liberating way to work. Whatever you decide, you pretty much can't go wrong- have fun!
 
I think it depends on how much you are thinking of spending. But as you requested advice about a 'starters' lens for a m3, this leads me to ask what the function will be: and you stated as a street shooter. Accordingly it comes down to looking at how fast you will need the lens to be. Will f/2 or less be necessary? Or could f2.8 or even f3.5 be quite fine? Considering the usual variance of light conditions for street shooting during the day, do you think you'd need a 5cm FL lens faster than f2? There are numerous options even if you want a leica but can't afford the apsh summilux 50/1.4 or the renowned noctilux. Find yourself a summarit 50mm f1.5; admittedly it is not a summilux, and you do have to find one w/o scratches, but it has a fine, uniquely wonderful signature! But again this comes down to how much you want to spend and what type of lens signature you desire. If I could afford any 50mm lens for general use, then I'd buy a new asph 50/1.4 summilux in a new york second:)
If i could go for any period lens, it would be the collasping elmar 2.8/50mm.
 
My M2 arrived with a collapsible f2.8 Elmar. Being the lens snob I was at the time, nothing would do but to add the DR f2 Summicron. Over the years that followed, I expect I wound up using the Elmar at least twice as often as the DR f2. The Elmar was compact, as sharp as needed and had such nice contrast. With today's modern emulsions, I expect even the older f3.5 collapsible Elmar would perform beautifully.
 
The M3 doesn't care whether a lens or meter is "period" or "authentic." (From a distance of a few yards all M cameras look alike.) Get a good meter and a good M-mount 50mm lens which does what you want (I'm partial to Leica/Leitz optics) and have fun!

Richard
 
Thank You All

Thank You All

Have today purchased a mint 1961 2.8 Elmar. Not a mark on it or in it and although I'm sure Ive paid over the odds (£235 gbp) I'm very happy with it.

:)
 
Congrats, Martin. That's a great lens (I'm biased - it's what is mounted on my M3 right now) and you'll forget all about how much you paid just as soon as you start seeing the great images you will get with it. Enjoy and post some pics when you have 'em!

-Randy
 
For me, my normal lens is the 40mm, be it the Cron, or Nokton. Even in my SLR days, I never got accustomed to the 50 so I used the 45 as normal. I like to shoot a little wider than the 50, but less than the 35. Just my opinion though for me, your choice will vary.
 
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