"New" Leica M3

Gregoryniss

Gregoryniss

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Nov 23, 2009
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Got my first leica body today! It's a Leica M3 SS body from Adorama. It is "V" condition, aka "very good". Works well mechanically, although there are some light scratches on the top plate, some of the vulcanite is coming off, and theres appears to be a small piece of dirt on the RF (annoying, but doesn't effect the functionality). Overall, i'm happy with the purchase so far and think it was worth the $600. Oh, and the serial number is 1,000,000+ :D


To go with my M3, I bought a new Voigtlander Nokton 50mm f/1.1 lens off of Ebay from Ninedays Photography (chinese seller) for $865 free shipping. I got the lens in 3 days... I was astounded. Seems legitimate and comes with a year warranty.

The combo more than exceeded my expectations. The body is so smooth and perfect in functionality. Now I know why there is a Leica cult...
The lens is also great. Feels nice and solid in my hands, unlike the nikon plastic feel.

I shot one roll of film today just walking around my school's campus (University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA) as it was really nice out. A rare thing in the Washington to have in february.

Anyways, here are some of my favorite shots:
Leica M3, Nokton 50mm f/1.1, Yellow K2 filter, Neopan Acros, Rodinal 1:50

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4369692648_2bdb4b2ab6.jpg


4369162941_fe21906298.jpg


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4369359155_48202c3ce1.jpg


PS I had my filter on the lens hood filter and didn't have any vignetting from the filter. Cameraquest says that it will vignette, so just thought i'd share my experience.

Any feedback on my pictures is also welcome :)

Greg
 
Great find and your exposures are good. Did you use a meter? I suggest later on to have your M3 CLAd though I think it must be a nice user one you have there.
 
Congrats on the M3 and Nokton.

Nice shots ... great exposures and the Acros really shines in Rodinal. :)
 
How do you all can afford even an old Leica with lens for more than 1000 USD and even some more? All getting rich by old helping parents? Making a fortune beiing a lawyer? Letting your family eat dry rice? Or have you decided not to get kids to feed and to raise some Leicas instead?
Well -you see I am pretty yellous - but don't mind: have fumn with that nice camera and lens, good shots - I like that skater one the most! Show more (may be some really bad ones too - just for me to make me feel better!)
 
Just start the kids on dry rice as early as you can and map out all the fast food restaurants to avoid, and you'll be fine :D:D:D

That skater shot rocks! Take my word, if you print that 16x20 inches you'll be blown away!
 
Well - too late! They are now too old not to know whats good and expensive - and where to get it! I sure like internet (otherwise I couldn't enjoy RRF) but on the other hand my daughter finds something to wear in the www too. Ok, no Leica for me, but a second pair of shoes for her............
 
thanks for the comments everyone. I used a sekonic L-208, but at the moment trying to get better at sunny 16 so i can go without it :) I will probably get it CLA'd later, however i don't think i can be apart from this camera for a month+ haha
I was amazed at how fast the EMS shipping was. I even ordered it over presidents weekend...

As to how can I afford a leica kit?

I work two jobs in college on top of my academic overload: 1 i make pizza for $10/hour, and the other job i'm the assistant manager for the photography services on campus (newspaper, yearbook, etc...). AKA I work my ass off and have been saving for a long time. I've always wanted a leica so I saved up and now I finally have one. I decided to wait and get a good lens so i wouldn't always be lusting for a better one ( i was gonna get the nokton 50mm 1.5) and selling/buying again in the near future. Decided would just pay the extra and be done buying (for now...).

I also sold a lens from my DSLR kit to pay for the body itself

I also figured that yes, my parents are helping me pay for my education, but I also have a majority of my tuition being paid by scholarships, so that now would be the time to buy a nice camera since i don't have to pay for rent/utilities/ etc...

I'm very grateful for my parents contribution to my education and life and without them i would not be able to afford such a photography system.


And my family eats a lot of rice because my family happens to own a small thai restaurant haha

Here are some more shots from the roll:
4368940045_5de18c0bcf.jpg


4369828634_a5c90477d6.jpg


4370107550_1a2a2b085c.jpg
 
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Nice shots! Yep, a fast 50mm and an M3 is a killer combination. A little advice? Now that you've been bitten, don't get sucked into the "buy and try" routine; in all likelihood in a few months or years you'd end up right back shooting and preferring the combo you have now. You'll be tempted to add another lens or two- just for variety of other focal lengths; then you'll just have to try a Summicron- and anyway, you want a smaller lens for daytime shooting. Then you add another body- and maybe a metered body would help; heck, why not something with AE?

Most of us have been down that route. Learn from our mistakes- don't go there; there's really nothing better than what you are using right now. Enjoy!
 
A fine combination, and clearly you know how to use it. See if you can exhaust its possibilities before you look for more kit. I'm echoing drewbarb and speaking as one who never had quite enough money to fulfil dreams.
 
drewbarb: thank you for the advice and yeah I can definitely see where you are coming from. Luckily for me, I don't think i'll ever be able to afford a Leica m7 or any of those amazing cameras/lenses

payasam: thank you for your compliment. I was hesitant to posting on this forum due to every member being such a good photographer. And keep saving up (i know it's not that easy, but...) and work hard and i'm sure your dreams will come eventually!
 
Great examples of shots from the Nokton f1.1 - the reviews I've read haven't tempted me to look at this lens with more attention but looking at these there's definitely character, good bokeh, 3d rendering and sharpness. The excellent exposure, developing and scanning clearly help - as does your eye for a good photo.

Oh, and I love the M3 too - it was my first Leica and still my favourite.
 
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FrankHarries said:
How do you all can afford even an old Leica with lens for more than 1000 USD and even some more? All getting rich by old helping parents? Making a fortune beiing a lawyer? Letting your family eat dry rice? Or have you decided not to get kids to feed and to raise some Leicas instead?
Well -you see I am pretty yellous - but don't mind: have fumn with that nice camera and lens, good shots - I like that skater one the most! Show more (may be some really bad ones too - just for me to make me feel better!)
Click to expand...
You eat alot of ramen noodles, or you can set money aside to buy one expensive camera and sell it and recycle the money into another body,lense and so forth. Or you can buy once and get the combo that suits you best.

Thats advice I didn't take , I have a barnack and an M4-P now.
 
Ah yes, I by far had the most disposable income when I was a student living on scholarships with no responsibilities save for papers. I bought and sold a 35/1.4 ASPH then, in 2003. I remember buying it for $1300. How times change!
 
Nice shots indeed!

@ FrankHarries
I just have gotten a very nice deal with a M6 35/1.4 90/2, bought the whole set for 1450. M6 needed a CLA, but even then it was a very nice combo in superb state. Point is I have been saving pennies for a long time, recently had a bit of luck/extra work and I've been bidding on at least 15 M6's with or without lenses without luck. And I've seen many more M6's that were in bad shape or priced way out of my league. So I guess it is a combination of being cheap for a long time and really hard searching for a nice deal. Otherwise i wouldn't have been able to get such a nice combo!

Now all I need is some nice pics to show off :D
 
Oh just read what you wrote - nooo - don't justify - I was just yeallous - I bet you really deserve it - have lots of fun - Frank

Gregoryniss said:
thanks for the comments everyone. I used a sekonic L-208, but at the moment trying to get better at sunny 16 so i can go without it :) I will probably get it CLA'd later, however i don't think i can be apart from this camera for a month+ haha
I was amazed at how fast the EMS shipping was. I even ordered it over presidents weekend...

As to how can I afford a leica kit?

I work two jobs in college on top of my academic overload: 1 i make pizza for $10/hour, and the other job i'm the assistant manager for the photography services on campus (newspaper, yearbook, etc...). AKA I work my ass off and have been saving for a long time. I've always wanted a leica so I saved up and now I finally have one. I decided to wait and get a good lens so i wouldn't always be lusting for a better one ( i was gonna get the nokton 50mm 1.5) and selling/buying again in the near future. Decided would just pay the extra and be done buying (for now...).

I also sold a lens from my DSLR kit to pay for the body itself

I also figured that yes, my parents are helping me pay for my education, but I also have a majority of my tuition being paid by scholarships, so that now would be the time to buy a nice camera since i don't have to pay for rent/utilities/ etc...

I'm very grateful for my parents contribution to my education and life and without them i would not be able to afford such a photography system.


And my family eats a lot of rice because my family happens to own a small thai restaurant haha

Here are some more shots from the roll:
4368940045_5de18c0bcf.jpg


4369828634_a5c90477d6.jpg


4370107550_1a2a2b085c.jpg
Click to expand...
 
@alecgold
Great deal! And - yes, I know! Should be a little more patient. But I am really not unhappy with my gear .
So let's see some pics from you ;)
 
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