M3 with 35mm Color Skopar ?

[hans voralberg]

First off i just want to inform you guys im a total RF noobs, i shoot SLR mostly but just got my hand on an M3 from an old friend. I quite like the classic 35mm color skopar but as far as i know the M3 does not have frame line for 35mm right ? But what is frame line, is it the coverage area of a lens ? How does it affect focus accuracy if I use the 35mm?

 

[rover]

Hi Hans, correct, the M3 does not have frame lines for a 35mm lens. The finder is also highly magnified compared to other RF cameras, so the area of the entire visible finder is about 40mm give or take a couple mm. Focusing is not effected by this, all coupled M lenses or LTM lenses with an adaptor will focus properly on an M3.

If you like the 35mm focal length, and particularly the skopar, I suggest considering an M2. You will find it to have like qualities as those found on the M3 but with frame lines for 35, 50 and 90mm lenses.

 

[hans voralberg]

Well being a student I cant afford a leica on my own. This M3 is free so I cant complain, so basically on an M3 the viewfinder does not show the entire area being recorded ?

 

[vrgard]

An M3 for free is quite a deal!

An M3 will capture on film what is shown in the framelines of the viewfinder for a 50, 90 or 135mm lens. For a lens of any other size, while you can still focus using the M3 viewfinder, you need an external viewfinder to judge what will be captured on film. Some exceptions apply such as using the 90mm framelines to estimate when using an 85mm lens or ignoring the framelines entirely and instead using the entire viewfinder when using a 40mm lens. Note that Cosina Voigtlander (see cameraquest.com for ordering one) makes a very nice combined 28/35 minifinder which works for 28mm and 35mm lenses and looks like it was made to match the look and finish of the M3. That's what I use with my M3.

-Randy

 

[jbf]

From what I have heard from other M3 users they use the entire frame of their viewfinder as a "guestimation" of the 35mm framelines.

The focus accuracy remains the same no matter the lens (in general) due to the way a rangefinder is setup.

So you can most certainly use the 35mm color skopar, you would just need either an external viewfinder or guestimate the framelines in the VF.

 

[ferider]

Welcome Hans !

If you have a 35mm lens for an SLR and access to the M3, do compare the two
and you will see.

I think a 40mm lens might not be much more expensive and easier to use.

Best,

Roland.

 

[LazyHammock]

If you are not tied to the wider 35/40 field of view get an good older 50mm - there are MANY around and pretty cheap, you might get hooked.
Good luck,
Nick

 

[FrankS]

The M3 and 50mm lens were made for each other.

 

[Bingley]

But if you decide you really want to go w/ the 35/2.5 skopar (which is a great little lens and pretty inexpensive), the CV 28/35 minifinder is a good companion. I use one on my P w/ the CV 28/3.5. Very bright, compact, and framelines are easy to see.

 

[MikeL]

I don't know if you are a right-eyed shooter, but with both eyes open, it's not too hard to imagine where the 35 frame will be. Yes, it won't be perfect but neither are the framelines. Ferider has some nice frame diagrams on his site that can give you a good feeling for the difference. I used an S2 with a 35mm and no finder for awhile and it just takes a little practice. But again, I use both eyes open when I'm doing it so I can see what's outside the 50 framelines.

 

[splitimageview]

I use a 35mm on my M3 quite a bit without an add-on viewfinder. I don't find any issues with it; a couple of rolls of film was all it took to get a good feel for what was going to be in the field of view. Very few of my shots are perfect with zero cropping anyway.

I am going to order one of the Voigtlander minifinders tho; since it offers both 28 and 35 framelines.

 

[ferider]

Ferider has some nice frame diagrams on his site that can give you a good feeling for the difference.

A picture speaks more than a 1000 words ...

The M3 has 50, 90, 135, the viewfinder outside to 50 lines roughly covers 40mm.

Unlike with other Ms (unless you use a magnifier) with the M3 you can keep
both eyes open which I like a lot.

Best,

Roland.

 

[MikeL]

Thanks Roland, I don't like linking to people's sites without permission.

 

[MichaelHarris]

And I just happen to have a 35mm CV color Skopar for sale. The CL sold.

 

[hans voralberg]

Reason is I like 35mm, it personally feels right to me and it appears to be the cheapest I can find. I live in the UK btw, plan on getting the Skopar from RobertWhites for ~£180, whereas the 40mm Nokton is ~£240 which is a bit out of my budget 😀 Thanks you all for your advices.

Oh I found a Leica M Summicron DR 50mm f/2 +eyes #1582395 for roughly the same prices as the Skopar, around $380, is that expensive ? Taken into account the extorniate exchange rate in the UK ?



And yeah Im a right eyed shooter 😀 shoots mostly with my Nikon FE2 with 35mm O.C and/or OM-2SP + 50mm f2

 

[ferider]

Oh I found a Leica M Summicron DR 50mm f/2 +eyes #1582395 for roughly the same prices as the Skopar, around $380, is that expensive ? Taken into account the extorniate exchange rate in the UK ?

If it's clean, this is a very good price. For some this is the favorite
Leica lens.

Best,

Roland.

 

[pvdhaar]

Reason is I like 35mm, it personally feels right to me and it appears to be the cheapest I can find. I live in the UK btw, plan on getting the Skopar from RobertWhites for ~£180, whereas the 40mm Nokton is ~£240 which is a bit out of my budget 😀 Thanks you all for your advices.

Oh I found a Leica M Summicron DR 50mm f/2 +eyes #1582395 for roughly the same prices as the Skopar, around $380, is that expensive ? Taken into account the extorniate exchange rate in the UK ?

You did factor in the cost of the LTM-M adapter when checking out the 35mm Skopar, didn't you?

A second hand M-mount 50mm Leica may even be cheaper.

 

[ferider]

A second hand M-mount 50mm Leica may even be cheaper.

Yep. In fact there is a good looking 50/2 in the classifieds right now.

 

[hans voralberg]

Hmm I think I'd try my luck with the Summicron DR I found 😀 Will report back as soons as I get a roll through it :

 

[john neal]

Hans,

If you don't get the DR - one way of using a 35 with the M3 is to simply put a piece of black tape over the window that illuminates the framelines and use the full VF (OK, you will only get 40mm field of view) it's close enough for jazz, and I can't believe that it has not been suggested before....