Underwhelmed by the M3

After longing to own an M rangefinder for years I finally backed into the system because a neighbor in my apartment building was selling a couple of CV lenses at a good price. So then, after buying the lenses I could justify looking for a body. The only thing I could afford was a M4-2 and after the first 3 months the thrill wore off and I discovered that I really (really, really) like SLR viewing and focusing. My OM-1 with a matte screen would do everything I wanted in 35mm and was almost the same size. Still have the M4-2, sold the 21mm f4 CV lens, kept the 35mm f2.5 PII and added a 52mm f2.8 FSU lens because I wanted a 50, am retired and on a tight budget, so $22 (includes the Chinese LTM to M adapter) is what I can afford. Right at the moment I've ignored all my 35mm toys so I can play around with paper negatives and homemade pinhole cameras.

The conclusion, for me at least, is I could have saved $1300 in the first place, had I only been honest with myself.

If we lie at all, it is most likely to ourselves.
 
Erik van Straten said:
Well, romantic ...

Another advantage of the M3 (and the other Leica M's for film) is the extremely short interval between pushing the button and the start of the exposure. No SLR or digital camera comes even close.

Erik.
Click to expand...

THIS is what sold me on Leica.

I became very good at timing moments with my Pentax cameras, and still am. But there is nothing to me like the feel and responsiveness of the Leica shutter. I don't think anybody does it better.
 
Yes, all those M3 haters around. Bwah.

Leica M3, Summicron-M 50mm f/2 v4, 400-2TMY, Perceptol.

Erik.

38273374821_d72c691075_c.jpg
 
Pioneer said:
THIS is what sold me on Leica.

I became very good at timing moments with my Pentax cameras, and still am. But there is nothing to me like the feel and responsiveness of the Leica shutter. I don't think anybody does it better.
Click to expand...

Ah yes, the reflexes of the M! I'm sure many here have a story they can relate to such as this:
A couple of colleagues and I were set to have a confrontational meeting with a mean nasty bully at our workplace. I knew where he had to be to enter the conference room and knew the light. As he entered scowling, I quick lifted the pre-focused M & as the lens cleared the shoulders of the person in front of me, pressed the shutter. He never glared at me or even made a peep; I honestly do not believe he knew he had been photographed. But I got his mug's magnificent meanness right on film, and that image gives us a good laugh to this day.
I doubt that an SLR or digital camera would have gotten that shot.
 
Last edited:
Good thing the shutter is quiet too. It can be masked by shuffling sounds or a cough.

I'm not down on the M3. I own one that I put considerable money into to rebuild it like new. (Outwardly it was mint to start with). However, all the Leica M cameras are so nice, to me the M3 doesn't stand head and shoulders over the others.

My point is that for the price of Leica gear, sometimes better value can be obtained with medium format gear.

As for me, I still own a lot of M cameras, AND Rolleiflexes etc.
 
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