M3 with M4 hardware?

[johnastovall]

Well the M3 finally fell of the UPS truck and it's most interesting. It is an M3 single stroke body but it has the M4 advance lever, frame preview and self timer levers. Should I assume this was done at some time in it's live or could it have come this way? It's serial 1022xxx but I've not yet check the production date but assume it's rather late. Looks like it's going to Sherry K. for original hardware.

Front



Back

 

[harry01562]

Well, my M3 is 1109xxx, and it has M3 hardware.. I'd say it's most definitely a substitution of later parts. As I recall the chronology, these parts were in production after the last of the M3's were produced. Since it has no direct effect in use, the non-specialist wouldn't give it a thought. While Sherry has the camera, she can also let you know if a CLA would be in order... one stop shopping...

Harry

 

[drewbarb]

Ask Sherry if she'd recommend replacing the strap lugs, while you're at it. The one on the advance lever side looks worn pretty thin in your picture.

I prefer the original M3 hardware, too. The M4 levers must have been someone's custom change. Too bad the person you bought it from didn't send the original levers with the camera. Probably long gone.

 

[visiondr]

That's wierd. Usually someone will exchange the M4 hardware for the M3/2 style, not the other way around.

Drewbarb is right. Those strap lugs look sketchy.

 

[johnastovall]

It's headed off to Sherry K. for a full work over. I'd noted this afternoon the eye's were serious worn.

 

[nobbylon]

It was probably changed to later stuff when the m4 came out as unlike us 'retro geeks', the fashion back then was to look as modern as possible.

 

[JNewell]

No way that's original. I like the M4 advance lever much better, but the prevailing fashion here is contrary.

 

[dreamsandart]

I'm one of those odd folks that actually like the M4 advance, softer and my thumb seems to work better with it, and if you use the frame pre-view the M4 style is larger and easier to use too. Unless you really want 'original' I'd keep it and think of it as 'unique'.

 

[JNewell]

I think what you've got there is (1) a gen-you-wine working pro's Leica and (2) evidence that at least one working photog thought the later levers were a functional improvement. 😉

 

[pvdhaar]

That's wierd. Usually someone will exchange the M4 hardware for the M3/2 style, not the other way around.
..

And that's exactly what I think happened.. someone out there has an M4 with M3 style levers.. and put the M4 stuff on the donor body to sell..