What to do with two M3s

[erdandi]

Hi all! I won 2 auctions for M3 some months ago and I'm practicing with them.
I was thinking to resell one but I don't know if is the right thing to do since maybe I could buy another lens to use on the second one; or sell it to buy another model.
What would you do? And, anyway, how I decide the one to sell and the one to keep? 🙄

Thanks to all! 😀

 

[funkaoshi]

Sell it to buy another lens?

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I'd keep them both, it is useful having two bodies. My usual camera for 35mm is the Olympus OM-4T, which I have two of. I keep Tmax 400 film in one, Tmax 3200 in the other. I was recently given a Bessa R2 and i'm liking it a lot, now I want a second body there too so i can keep both films ready to go. If I had two M3s, i'd keep them.

 

[Nando]

I'd sell it and with the money, I'd either buy another lens or an M2 for the 35mm framelines.

 

[Tom A]

I concur with Nando here. Sell one M3 and invest in a M2 for the 35 frames.
Ok, which one to sell? Unless you are a collector, I would sell the best looking one and keep the other one. If you have a DS and a SS - sell the double stroke as they can start developing problems with the shutter brake.
Later you can invest in a good 90mm lens and with the M2/35 and M3/50 and 90 you are pretty much set for life - unless you want to add a wide (21/25) to the package.
This was my kit for many years, two M2's (21/35) and a M3 with a DR 50 or a Noctilux and a 90f2.8 Elmarit as my long lens. In retrospect, I cant remember any shots missed due to lack of camera or lens combination.
I still keep a M3, but as I mostly shoot with 35 and wider these days, I have more M2's.

 

[ferider]

I disagree ... everybody needs two M3s 🙂

If you want a good 35, the googled Summicron v1 is quite affordable these days.

And then, 90mm lenses are very, very useful with Rangefinders, IMO. Like a classic Summicron, or a Nikkor 85/2. Check this for instance:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61660

Nothing focuses a 90/2 as well as an M3. I take a good 90 over a good 35 any day 🙂

Cheers,

Roland.

 

[photo4ls]

What Nando and Tom said.


M3 Summicron 50 f2 & Canon 50 f1.8
FM3a
FM2

 

[Ronald_H]

Well... you can always sell the M3 to me... 😀

 

[furcafe]

Per what others have recommended, it all depends on what your shooting style & preferences are. I think everyone agrees that having an extra body is useful, but whether that should be an M3 or some other model really depends on what focal lengths you like to use.

What would I do? Sell 1 of the M3s & get a Hexar RF. It's very different from an M3, but its low-magnification finder is fine for 35mm & wider (still usable w/a 50mm, too) & you get aperture-priority automation & motor advance, which can be very useful in many situations.

 

[shadowfox]

Sell both and get an M2/M4-2/M4-P and one kick-butt 35mm lens + film.

One body, one lens, less drama and anxiety, more shots 😉

 

[dfoo]

Sell one of the M3's and get an M2/M4. The M3 for longer lenses, the other body for the wides.

 

[peterm1]

I bought an m3 quite a few years back then about 5 years on, found another in such nice condition and at such a good price that I could not bring myself to pass it up. Then for the next few years I had two M3s which was fine but in reality I really did not make enough use of either. Eventually, just this year I succumbed to digital fever (heresy I know) and sold one to buy a very low milage D200. In some ways I knew this was dopey as in a year the D200 will be worth half what I paid while the M3 will still hold ts value. But I also knew that I would get much more use from my digital which I carry and shoot every day. And so it has been. I suggest selling your spare to buy whatever else you fancy be it a lens or another camera model.

 

[ElectroWNED]

you could pass along your good fortune and give me the spare M3 😀

 

[erdandi]

Thanks for all the answers guys 🙂

 

[maddoc]

This was my kit for many years, two M2's (21/35) and a M3 with a DR 50 or a Noctilux and a 90f2.8 Elmarit as my long lens. In retrospect, I cant remember any shots missed due to lack of camera or lens combination.

Tom, you had a Noctilux in your kit ... ? 😕😱

If I would have two M3s ... one would be sold and I would get an M2 🙂

 

[Tom A]

When we lived in Paris 82/83 my only 50 was a Noctilux - no wonder I kept shooting just about everything with my 21 SA/the 28f2.8 and a 35f2. That Nocti really hurt hanging around the neck. I think this was my third Noctilux - after that I had 3 more ( I am a slow learner) and have now sworn off them.
One year in Paris and 100's of rolls - two shots were done with the Noctilux that could not been done with any other lens - neither shot was that good either! I swapped for a M2 in black and a matching Leicavit MP and some lens (might have been a Summilux 50 - cant remember now).

 

[maddoc]

That Nocti really hurt hanging around the neck.

... that is very true ! From my experience, one complete day is OK with a VERY good neck-strap only ...

 

[niter]

buy a googled Summicron 35 or googled summaron 35 for your another M3.

 

[drewbarb]

Keep them both- what if one needs service? My Leica kit consists of two M3's and (in order of frequency of use) a few different 50mm lenses, a goggled 35mm 'cron, a 90mm Elmarit, a CV 21mm, 25mm, and 15mm, and a 135mm Elmar. All of these lenses are perfect on the M3. I sometimes consider adding an M2 and a non-goggled 35mm, but otherwise I have no desire for any other M cameras. In fact I've sold off a few to get down to the current two M3 kit; the M3 is a winner.

 

[sepiareverb]

I'd combine them and make an M6 out of 'em, then you get the meter and the angled rewind.