newbie Leica M3 owner

[Scheelings]

[FONT=&quot]G’day non-digital users![/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I spend most of my time lurking around the M-digital forum as I have an M8. In many of the posts, so many professional users long for film yet shoot digital for practical reasons. I’ve never shot film in my life so I can’t see what the fuss is about. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Well I figured that I could just buy a film camera and see what all the fuss is about – so I got myself a very nice Leica M3 since I can interchange all my lenses. The problem is that I have NO IDEA how to use it. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I was wondering if anyone could point to towards a guide so that I can use it effectively. I don’t have a light meter yet either so I guess I have to pick one of those up.[/FONT]

 

[errorlogin]

Here is the Leica M3 manual:

http://www.cameramanuals.org/leica_pdf/leica_m3-02.pdf

 

[B.J.Scharp]

- Load film
- Set shutter speed dial to speed closest to ISO value of film
- Set aperture to f/16
- Go outside on sunny day
- Focus should be the same as your M8 (although with a much more accurate RF mechanism)
- Press shutter
- Move lever below shutter dial counter-clockwise until the stop
- Repeat roughly 37 times
- Move smallest lever on front of the camera towards the lens.
- Pull up little wheel on top left of the camera
- Rotate little wheel clockwise until friction disappears.
- Unload film
- Develop film
- Admire pictures

As for light meters, a Leicameter MR will couple nicely with the camera, a VC meter II will be slightly more modern (and take more readily available batteries). If you plan on shooting colour, it'll probably be a good purchase, if you plan on shooting B&W, it'll just make your life easier.

Congratulations!

 

[StaaleS]

For negative film I'd suggest f/11 as the baseline rather than f/16 actually. Depends a bit on just where you are located (and the corresponding power of the local sunlight) but even so film handles slight overexposure a lot better than slight underexposure.

If moving to the shade, just open up two stops or so to f/5.6-f/8 and keep shooting. Easy. Light-meters are a luxury really 🙂

 

[dovi]

Have it checked out professionally

Have it checked out professionally

If you have a warranty or grace period to return the item, I reccomend you have it looked at before it expires. It can be frustrating to have bad exposures because the thing needs calibration.

They can calibrate the shutter speeds to be sure they are accurate, and most important, Check that the shutter does not need repair. The cloth shutter can get pinholes over time and may need to be patched or replaced. Replacement can be expensive. If it is under warranty you may get the seller to do the repairs without charge.

I found out much too late for warranty service that the shutter needed to be replaced. The good news is that after repair and calibration, the camera is a pleasure to use.

I use a small light meter and check the readings when I recognize changes in the lighting. I like it a lot.

enjoy...

 

[bobby_novatron]

Although Ken Rockwell is hilarious (sometimes for all the wrong reasons) he has a good introduction to the care and feeding of the M3 at this link:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/m3/users-guide.htm

.

 

[zauhar]

Couple of tips:

If you inserted the film all the way under the retaining clip on the take-up spool when loading, you will need to turn the rewind knob pretty hard during rewind to detach it; that's fine, you will have no doubt that you finished rewinding! Just turn a few more times to ensure that the film is all back in the cartridge.

You will see many references to the rewind knob rotating counterclockwise as you advance the film; this only happens consistently if you "take up the slack", which means that after loading the film, you pull up the rewind knob and turn it clockwise until you feel resistance, at which point you push the knob back down and continue on your merry photographic way. Several rff'ers pointed this out to me, but I didn't understand that you may really need to make a couple of full turns (i.e. There can be a lot of slack!) It is comforting to see the rewind knob turn as you advance, and I have gotten into the habit of taking up the slack.

Try shooting with right eye on the viewfinder, and keep both eyes open. The m3 vf has magniication near 1, and it is comfortable to shoot this way, basically seeing your entire environment while still seeing the crop lines.

Randy

 

[roboflick]

[
Thanks I didn't know this!
Nik

QUOTE=zauhar;1673843]Couple of tips:

If you inserted the film all the way under the retaining clip on the take-up spool when loading, you will need to turn the rewind knob pretty hard during rewind to detach it; that's fine, you will have no doubt that you finished rewinding! Just turn a few more times to ensure that the film is all back in the cartridge.

You will see many references to the rewind knob rotating counterclockwise as you advance the film; this only happens consistently if you "take up the slack", which means that after loading the film, you pull up the rewind knob and turn it clockwise until you feel resistance, at which point you push the knob back down and continue on your merry photographic way. Several rff'ers pointed this out to me, but I didn't understand that you may really need to make a couple of full turns (i.e. There can be a lot of slack!) It is comforting to see the rewind knob turn as you advance, and I have gotten into the habit of taking up the slack.

Try shooting with right eye on the viewfinder, and keep both eyes open. The m3 vf has magniication near 1, and it is comfortable to shoot this way, basically seeing your entire environment while still seeing the crop lines.

Randy[/QUOTE]

 

[KoNickon]

No offense, but this is rather like a conversation I had today with a coworker who tells me his two teenage daughters really don't know how to read an analog clock (you know, the ones with the hands).

But seriously, using a Leica is a little different from other film cameras. Just a few things to be aware of; becomes second nature quickly.

I applaud your choice in cameras. Have fun with film!

 

[Scheelings]

Thanks for all the responses guys! This forum absolutely rocks!