My First Leica M! Wee!

[jbf]

Well, today i broke down and did it. I bought my first leica M rangefinder. Previously i had only owned a russian Zorki 4K. I bought a double stroke leica m3 that had it's viewfinder replaced with one that had framelines for 35, 50, 90, and 135 (i think... might be 70 something?).

The viewfinder is soooo clear. Really nice.

At first i was thinking about buying a Zeiss Ikon, but i was mianly worried about the build quality and how well it would hold out... so instead i bought the m3 and decided to wait it out and use this for a while and see how i like it. If i want later i'll sell it and get a ZI i think.

The AE and meter sound quite nice to me. hah.


Anyway, the price ended up being about 866 after taxes.... is it a good price? Its in really nice condition. The body looks great except for a little bit of chrome wear on the bottom and a tiiiny bit on the top.

Its a < 1 million body number as well as it has the dog ear (older) style strap lugs.


Right now i'm just using my FSU lenses on it with adapters (Jupiter 8 and Jupiter 12) lenses.

 

[cmogi10]

Not buying up to date on pricing I can't comment there but I can congrats! My Leica's just feel like an extension of me when I shoot. (As cheesy as that sounds)
A rangefinder and fast prime just make the most sense to me.
(Disclaimer, I know this isn't the be all end all, that's why I have my DSLR 😉 )

 

[wilt]

Congratulations! I have also started with an M 3 double stroke. Like it a lot.

 

[payasam]

You've beaten the main failing of the M3, not having 35 mm frame lines. If you use the camera well it should give you a lifetime of service.

 

[Blank288]

Congratulations!
I'm in exactly the same stage now. Two weeks ago I finally bought a (in my case cheap but heavy used) M2, after many years of using various FSU LTM rangefinders. I just finished a b/w test film, with adapted 35 and 50mm Jupiters. Results were so promising that I handed over the M2 for a thorough CLA to a well known Leica repairman, who happens to live in my home town. Should be fresh as new within a week ...

 

[Pherdinand]

Erik...which is that town?🙂

Congrats, jbf. I like my M2 quite a lot. It just feels good to use it and while i prefer the less rounded contax design, it's one of my most reliable cameras.
Now, if it would shoot medium format film... 🙄

 

[peter_n]

Congrats to both jbf and Erik! You are on a slippery slope... 😉

 

[ibrando]

Congrats! and welcome to the Leica world, your wallet will never be the same. 😀

I recently bought my first M last month (M4-2) and have had so much fun shooting with it.

Cheers,
B.

 

[jbf]

Thanks guys.

Yeah when I realized that the M3 had it's VF updated/changed/etc i was like, "wow.... this might be the one.. hah"


So, do you guys think the price was reasonable for it?

 

[phatnev]

Id say you paid a good price

 

[Vincenzo Maielli]

Congratualations!
Ciao.
Vincenzo

 

[shadowfox]

So, do you guys think the price was reasonable for it?

This will depend on how much you enjoy using it, ultimately, only you can answer this question definitely 🙂

Congratulations!

 

[moretto]

Congrats, JBF. We are a world apart, but on same wavelenght. I started with Zorki and Fed, now I have a M3 double stroke, and using it with Jupiter 8 and Industar 61 😉))
Hope I'll soon send the ruined Summicron to Gevorg in Kiev, so I can use it too.

 

[jbf]

Hah I'm using my M3 with a J8 and J-12. 🙂

Love it so far... but i got a ton of film to develop right now. Haha.