Leica M3
The Leica M3 was introduced in 1954. It marked a new starting point for Leitz. Untill then, they had produced Leica screw mount cameras that had essentialliy been gradual improvements of their original Leica or "Ur-Leica". Leica M cameras are still in production today. The M3 introduced several new features (at least they were new on a Leica). Two of the most interesting were the combination of viewfinder and rangefinder in one bright window and a bayonet lens mount.
Contents
Bayonet Mount vs Screw Mount
This new bayonet is called the Leica M mount and you'll still be able to mount a modern lens on your M3 thanks to it. At introduction, Leitz claimed lenses could be changed faster and framelines were set automatically.
Bright Viewfinder
When compared to a Leica IIIf, the M3 has an exceptionally bright viewfinder. It has a high magnification factor, which is very usefull in critical focusing. The M3 has a factor of 0.92x, while other Leicas use 0.85x or 0.72x. 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 WW II. Framelines for 50mm, 80mm and 135mm are shown. Note this does not include wide angle 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, like 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-mathematical series of shutterspeeds. On later models this became the international standard of 1s to 1/1000s.
Succerssors
Puzzelingly, the M3 was succeeded my 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 an internal expose meter and the lack of wide angle framelines is regretted by most.
