Leica M3

Leica M3 with Summicron 5cm

The Leica M3 was introduced in 1954. It was a new starting point for Leitz, which until then had only produced Leica screw mount cameras that were incremental improvements to its original Leica or "Ur-Leica". Leica M cameras are still in production today. The M3 introduced several features to the Leica, among them the combination of viewfinder and rangefinder in one bright window and a bayonet lens mount.

Bayonet mount versus screw mount

This new bayonet, which has not been changed in the following half century, is called the Leica M mount. Lenses could be changed faster and framelines were set automatically. Non-Leitz/Leica bayonet-mount lenses can also be used, as can screwmount lenses, whether from Leitz or other companies.

Bright viewfinder

When compared to a Leica IIIf (the previous Leica release), the M3 has an exceptionally bright viewfinder. It has a high magnification factor, which is very useful in critical focusing. The M3 has a factor of 0.92×, while other Leicas use 0.85×, 0.72×, or less. Furthermore, it was the first Leica to combine rangefinder and viewfinder into one window. Other cameras, such as the Contax II, already had this feature before the war. Framelines for 50mm, 80mm and 135mm are shown, although none for any wider lenses.

Transporting the film

Leica IIIF and its predecessors had used a turning knob to wind the film. For fear of tearing the film, early M3s had a double stroke advance lever, just as the Neoca 2s had. Later models had single stroke levers, which speeded up operation of the camera.

A new shutter

Earlier Leicas had used two rotating rings with separate slow and fast speeds, as on the Exakta Varex. The M3 combined slower and faster speeds and the dial doesn't rotate any more when firing. Supposedly, this reduces vibrations in the camera. Early models used a non-geometrical series of shutter speeds. On later models this became the international standard of 1s to 1/1000s.

Successors

Puzzlingly, the M3 was succeeded by the M2, which in turn was followed by the M1. All Leica M series cameras can be recognised by their resemblance to the M3 that started the series. Many consider the M3 to be the most beautiful Leica ever made. At the same time, the lack of wide angle framelines is regretted by most.

Link

In English:

• The Leica M3 within Stephen Gandy's Leica M guide

In Spanish:

• Leica M3 in the website of Hugo Rodriguez