Review: Leica M3 (1961)

[eckmanmj]

There are already hundreds, maybe even thousands of reviews, posts, blogs, etc for the Leica M series, and it's a pretty safe bet that anyone reading this post, already knows the Leica M3 is a pretty great camera, so why did I bother to review one anyway?

I tried to put my own spin with some good history and an approach that included the reviews of other Leica users, not just my own, in a single review so as not to make "just another Leica review".

If you have a few minutes of time, check out my review for the Leica M3 at my site:

http://www.mikeeckman.com/2017/01/leica-m3-1961/

 

[Huss]

Nice review. I have that same set up, with that DR lens and that hood. The only fly in the ointment for me is the hood fouls the aperture dial. It is hard to change the aperture settings and not mess with the lens hood.

 

[farlymac]

Great review, Mike. I hope to one day get a three lens kit of the M3. But like you said, budgetary constraints keep that in check. Maybe when I make a trip to see one of my friends in Pennsylvania, we can swap S2 for M3 for a day.

PF

 

[prosophos]

A very thoughtful, interesting, informative, and entertaining review!

Peter.

 

[Richard G]

Very nice work. More a history of Leitz, with some details I've not read before. It is not the first with a coincident image rangefinder (first para of the M3 section) as you later observe: the key to the M3 was the combined (Messucher) RF/VF.

You've inspired me to write something on the M2 some time, having just read a few essays on tennis, if that possibly makes any sense.

 

[pepeguitarra]

1961 or 1954?

1961 or 1954?

For some reason, I thought the M3 came out in 1954. Am I correct?

 

[Gregm61]

For some reason, I thought the M3 came out in 1954. Am I correct?

Yep, but the camera he has was built in 1961....

His review says, 1954-1966.

 

[eckmanmj]

For some reason, I thought the M3 came out in 1954. Am I correct?

Yep, but the camera he has was built in 1961....

His review says, 1954-1966.

Correct. Whenever I review a camera, I try to list the date my particular specimen was made. In this case, this one was from 1961.

There are many on my site though, where I am unable to date them, so then I just list the first year of manufacture.

 

[eckmanmj]

Very nice work. More a history of Leitz, with some details I've not read before. It is not the first with a coincident image rangefinder (first para of the M3 section) as you later observe: the key to the M3 was the combined (Messucher) RF/VF.

You've inspired me to write something on the M2 some time, having just read a few essays on tennis, if that possibly makes any sense.

I was quite surprised to learn as much as I did that wasn't already in one location.

There is a TON of info out there on Leitz, but it's all bits and pieces. You can read about Ernst Leitz II but not alot about Barnack. You can learn about Barnack, but not the later models, etc.

So that was my attempt to give a complete, but brief, summary of what's happened up to around when the M3 was released.

 

[eckmanmj]

And thank you to everyone else for the kind compliments.

I spent a lot of time on this review, because I knew it would draw interest from many loyal Leica owners/users and I wanted to make sure I did the best I could to not have any historical or technical errors! 🙂

 

[raid]

Thank you for the excellent review and very clear images in it. I was fortunate to buy locally a like new M3 with 35/2.8, 50/2, and 90/2.8 chrome lenses (like new condition), with receipt from Leica and lots of "accessories" that I still have not used since I got this set over 25 years ago. I sold off the 35/2.8 and 90/2.8 in favor of a 35/2 and 90/2 over the years.

 

[ray*j*gun]

Nicely done! Now the M2 which many (lol me) feel is the more pure expression of the mechanical camera. (pls dont throw any rocks at me, its just my opinion.😀)

 

[kiemchacsu]

thank you, i saved it for later reading. quite a long article and now it's late where i am now.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

"but at the end of the day it is just a luxury item"

For 20$ cameras person like OP for sure it is. But for person who understand RF and like 50mm and longer RF lenses it is nothing but perfect tool. Not idol, not luxury, but very good tool.
I have M3 ELC in my possession for more than two weeks, btw.