What camera is this?

S

stig_dahlin

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This is Liv Ullman from Ingmar Bergman's Persona. I saw the film in the mid-sixties, fell in love with the camera, and always thought it was a Nikon S - something. But is it? I can' find any S-model that fits and am getting evermore curious. Help appreciated!



Stig
 

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stig_dahlin said:
This is Liv Ullman from Ingmar Bergman's Persona. I saw the film in the mid-sixties, fell in love with the camera, and always thought it was a Nikon S - something. But is it? I can' find any S-model that fits and am getting evermore curious. Help appreciated!

Stig
Click to expand...

It looks like a Leica to me. Perhaps an M3, but I am no Leica expert.
 
It is either an M3 or an M2. Mid-sixties makes the chances for M2 bright. But the raised borders around the viewfinder, I believe might make it an M3. Don't remember an M2 with raised borders. Movie makers often prefer to use the latest and the best.
 
Last edited:
Yes of course it's an M3! I see it clearly now. I must have brainwashed myself with this Nikon S - thing from the past.
Thank you for putting me straight!

Stig
 
the framing around the vf windows confirms this is an M3. A great movie, btw, if one likes such dark themes. contains the rather remarkable sequence where Bergman simulates film melting in the gate of a project when ... well, I won't spoil this for anyone. in essence, Bergman pulled this trick to show that the movie couldn't handle a particularly nasty act inflicted by one of the two lead characters on the other.
 
ruby.monkey said:
Perhaps a DS, from looking at the strap lugs.
Click to expand...

Rewind knob not crank = M3 or M2
Collar around lens release button = M3 and not M2
Lever rewind = not early M2
No frame line preview = early DS M3 (this is hard to see in pic)
Distinctly raised rim around VF windows = M3

Sort of boils down to early DS M3, vintage 1954-55, if the preview really isn't there and not just lost in some shadow, otherwise M3 of indeterminate vintage unless the strap lug shape can be accurately determined (I can't tell from the post image).
 
Dwig said:
Rewind knob not crank = M3 or M2
Collar around lens release button = M3 and not M2
Lever rewind = not early M2
No frame line preview = early DS M3 (this is hard to see in pic)
Distinctly raised rim around VF windows = M3

Sort of boils down to early DS M3, vintage 1954-55, if the preview really isn't there and not just lost in some shadow, otherwise M3 of indeterminate vintage unless the strap lug shape can be accurately determined (I can't tell from the post image).
Click to expand...

LOOK under here finger, there is a preview lever.

image.asp
 
Ron (Netherlands) said:
Indeed an M3 with ST and preview lever and not button rewind. But the one in the hands of Ulmann is with screws for instance under the rangefinder window, so a little bit different from yours
Click to expand...

Except for the M3 derived original Leica MP, all Leica M3s had self timers and lever rewind.
The extra body screws denotes an early M3.
The early M3 did not have a pre view lever, but many were retro fitted with it later on.
 
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