New to M3

T

TrySh

Guest
Hi
Ive bought a M3 about one moth ago, and now ive found this great forum...so im just gonna shoot some questions for ya:

*The lenses. How do i get more wideangle? Ive seen a 35mm that has its own "eye", but do i have to have a special adapter for anything under 50mm? And how to solve that?

*The Leicameter Mr. How accurate is this? Am i better of with an handheld meter?

*Ive got the 50mm Summicron,that you "push out" of the camera...maybe a collapsible? dont know what you call it. Any way,do i have to "push it out", or can i take pics when its "inside" to?

*Is their any other ways of getting closer? Ive got a boundary of 1.1 meter now...

Thanks
 
Hi TrySh,

For wideangle lens that do not have a brightline finder inside of the M3 or the "eyes", you can use an Imarect universal finder. They cost about $60 on ebay and include frames for 35, 50, 73 or 85, 90 & 135mm lens. The Imarect also has paralax correction for close-up shots.

You must extend the lens to take pictures or all you will get is an out-of-focus mess. The Summicron is one of THE best 50mm lens ever made.

Please post some pictures when you can.

Walker
 
Hello Trysh and welcome to RFF! Your new camera and lens are considered by many to be among the finest photographic instruments in the world. Congratulations on your aquisition!

For wider lenses you will need an accessory finder that slips into the shoe on the top of the camera.

There is a lot to learn about metering light to determine exposure. There are 2 different basic types of meters: incident reading and reflected reading. Start reading about light metering.

The lens needs to be pulled out to use. The collapsed condition is used to facilitate portability.

Your camera is a rangefinder type which has many benefits, but close-up and extreme telephoto photography are not among them. An SLR camera is better suited to these types of photography.

You are in for a blast with your new equipment! Read some technical photographic books to get a good grasp of the basics. Get ready to really enjoy your new hobby! You are at the beginning of a fantastic life-long journey of learning, discovery, and creativity. Come and join our ranks.
 
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I have the "summaron 35mm f2.8 with eyes". It converts the 50mm framelines to cover the 35mm FOV. An Auxiliary finder can be had that fits in the "accessory shoe", but requires the extra step of focussing and then framing with the 2nd finder. In a "pinch" you can also just use the entire viefinder field to approximate a 35mm lens. This works best at longer distances.

The collapsible Summicron must be extended, and is a fine lens.

The M3 has the best viewfinder/rangefinder that I have ever used.

The M3 rangefinder coupling can be modified to focus closer than 1M, down to 0.7m with the newer lenses. This should be done by a good repair shop. The Summicron that you have will not focus that close, and it means getting a newer version of the lens.

Picture with M3 modified to Focus to 0.7m
 
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And the 35mm "with eyes" works good?

Thanks for all the replys by the way, and it was fast to!
Ive got a Lunasix 3 meter that im learning how to use,but the whole lightmetering chapter isint that easy... :)
Your camera is a rangefinder type which has many benefits, but close-up and extreme telephoto photography are not among them. An SLR camera is better suited to these types of photography.
Click to expand...
Yes ive realized that macro photoing isint its strong points. But good for me that ive got an rolleiflex t..with some closeup lenses.
The M3 rangefinder coupling can be modified to focus closer than 1M, down to 0.7m with the newer lenses. This should be done by a good repair shop. The Summicron that you have will not focus that close, and it means getting a newer version of the lens.
Click to expand...
"Coupling"..whats that,my english is not that good.. But anyways..1.1m to 0.7m isint that big off a deal.
you can use an Imarect universal finder. They cost about $60 on ebay and include frames for 35, 50, 73 or 85, 90 & 135mm lens. The Imarect also has paralax correction for close-up shots.
Click to expand...
Good. But how does the focusing work with this? I read a scale and then transfer that to the lens?

Hmm...i think im done for now ;)
 
That is just a VIEWfinder. The focusing is still done in the other window, with the rangefinder; the viewfinder is only useful to see what will be on the picture frame.

Yes, it IS complicated. Welcome to the bizarre world of interchangeable-lens rangefinders ;)
 
The "Eyes" work perfectly; it is quite sharp and bright. I even have an ever-ready case that is made to hold the camera with the lens with "eyes" attached to it. The 0.7m close focus is NOT worth replacing the lens that you have, especially when you have other cameras with this capability. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that my M3 had been modified. If I want to get a "tighter" shot, I use a 10.5cm F2.5 Nikkor or 9cm F4 Elmar. If you use an external finder you must read the distance from the lens and dial it into the viewfinder to get the correct framing, ie corrected for Parallax. The focussing is still done with the camera's Viewfinder, then framing is done with the external finder. It is a slower process than using the 35mm lens with "eyes".
 
Here's some photo's ,Its some leica's and some rollei's....
Its from a trip i made to the big city of Gothenburg. Those images are going to be in a exhibit here in my school...
 
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