Lomopedia: Leica M3

The camera that marked a new starting point for Leitz (now Leica Camera AG), the M3 was introduced in 1954 and noted for ushering several improvements to Leica cameras. Previous models only had screw-mounts but the M3 came with a new bayonet lens mount called the Leica M mount (still used to this day). Aside from this, the M3 also had a combined viewfinder and rangefinder in a single bright window, similar to that of the Contax II.

According to Ken Rockwell, the M3 is the best that Leica has ever made (makes sense that it's Leica's best selling model of all time), and is considered by many as the world's best camera ever.

Photos Taken by Our Community Members

Technical Specifications

Manufacturer: Ernst Leitz GMBH Wetzlar Germany
Place of Manufacture: Germany
Date of Manufacture: 1954 - 1968
Focusing System: Coupled rangefinder; .92x magnification factor; 69.25 mm base length; 63.71 effective baselength
RF Framelines: 50-90-135 (framelines selectable on later models)
Lens Mount: Leica M bayonet mount compatible
Shutter: Horizontal cloth focal plane; 1 sec - 1/1000 sec + B & X (1/50sec)
Metering System: none; (meter coupled to shutter speed possible)
Flash: Accessory cold shoe, Sync cable connector on rear; 1/50 sec X sync and focal plane (FP) sync
Film Type: Type 135 film (35 mm standard), ISO 4-1300
Battery Type: None
Dimensions and weight: 138 × 77 × 33.5 mm; 580 g

All information for this article was sourced from Leica M3 on Wikipedia, Leica M3 on Camerapedia, and Leica M3 on Photoethnography.

Scritto da plasticpopsicle il 2013-10-14 in #gear #Lomopedia #review #lomography #leica #film-camera #leica-m3 #lomopedia