About the bezels around the windows, some say its function is to keep fingerprints out of the viewfinder. I don't know if that was intended on purpose or if it was just an aesthetic choice, but it works! I love the 35mm vf (sbloo), it's so bright and when using hyper-focal distance for casual shooting, there's no need to use the main range/vf.
Great series you have on the M3 and the original MP. I agree that if you are a 50’s shooter the M3 is the best option for the range finder cameras. I prefer the M3’s and M2’s since for the lenses I use there is only ONE frame line in the viewfinder. I bought my M3 and M2 when the M4 came out. I just preferred the older Leicas be cause I didn’t like the plastic advance lever and didn’t like the rewind crank. One additional concern with the older Leica M3’s to ask if you are getting it used is ask if there is any separation in the prism in the range finder. The older prisms were two pieces bonded together with balsam. For all those Leica M naysayers, it is not a camera for every one and those who use they are happy for their choice. Leitz got it right in 1954 because the basic design hasn’t changed in over 70 years. I can’t think of any other camera that can make that claim. For outdoor shooting use the sunny 16 rule or get a small Gossen Pilot meter and take readings when you start. Most films give you enough latitude where you are close enough. Looking back I wished I picked up another M3 double stroke. An old Leica salesman mentioned that he thought they were better built. I double stroke my Leicas anyways and for me it is just as fast. Again, great series, really love your original MP….don’t ever sell it, but if you do, I’ll give it a good home lol.
Definitely use your Leica. My first M3 came in mint condition, I used it for 2 years but when I got a black painted one and neglected my original one, the mechanisms got stiff and after over a year of non use the shutter jammed almost on first shot.
@@kevinfickling6384 but not that much less 😂 M3 Bundeswehr should be around 200 and black paint M3 depends on batch and stuff but is not cheap either 😉 Lovely collection ❤️
I have a 35mm SBLOO viewfinder on there. For 28mm I use the SLOOZ or SUOOQ. Those are the Leica designation for them. I believe voightlander makes a nice one as well if you want to buy new.
First Leica was an M2 with 50 2.8 Elmar in 1965...made fabulous images; but more importantly, made me feel I had to improve my photo skills to come up to the level of the camera quality and reputation.
The Leica designation is OZTNO. You can find them on eBay. It’s designed to adapt a shutter cable release on early barnack camera’s I believe in the late 1930’s but you can also use as a cool soft release on M’s.
Never got an itch for the M3. Viewfinder focus patch not as contrasty as either my button rewind M2 or lever rewind M2. The BP M2 lives with a silver 21 SA and the silver M2 a 35 f1.4. Both have fantastic clear viewfinders that show very little flare when pointed at direct light. The MP is just that much better with the light meter.
Awesome video Kevin! Totally agree with everything you said. Used an M6 for film before and when I hold an M3 for the first time in my hands, I understood why many people say it's the best M Leica ever build. I liked it so much, I ended up having two M3 :D - one double stroke (first production batch) and one single stroke). Since you know a lot of this stuff and also have your friend who knows the technical details: My double stroke M3 unfortunately the focusing patch is almost disappearing, you can barely see it to focus. The frame lines are still clearly visible. I read that this issue is common for older M3s, but depending on what cause it can or cannot be fixed :( Did you every heard or had such an M3 body?
I want a long lug first batch M3 next. Looking for one! The focusing patch needs to be resilvered on your camera. It’s a pretty difficult process I believe but some repair places are able to do it.
Love ‘em kev! Just wondering.. i have the m2-r and for the same sentimental respason, i just love using it.. has it been built the same robustness like the m3 and m4 you mentioned earlier? From what i could feel, the winding is smoother than my m6ttl dragon as well as the mp classic i have
Thank you! The M2 is also built really well! Like I said, the more a camera is used generally the better it will feel as everything breaks in. There isn’t a bad Leica M…just some a little nicer built than others.
Hi love your videos & cameras. Just curious about the shutter release add-ons shown. I'm still a bit ambivalent about soft releases, and these seem like they'd be uncomfortable? Thanks!
These one you see here is called an OZTNO. It’s actually a cable release adapter for older barnack Leica’s. You can also use it as a “soft release” on an M. It does nothing functional I just like the way it looks and works
for me its the m4 12** series. very smooth and rewind is lovely. the m3 style rewind makes me go mad. you need an additional fancy attachment to rewind smooth? no thanks :D
I'm a new subscriber to your channel and love your content and collection. I own and regularly use a IIIC with a 50mm Elmar and an MP with 35, 50, and 90mm Summicrons. Would you be able to share the contact info for the person who does your CLAs? I'm located in Los Angeles as well. Thank you.
Send me a message on instagram if you can and I’ll share his info or send an email through my website contact form. He keeps a lower profile and asks I don’t share it on the internet. Thanks for subscribing and hope to see you at a Leica gallery LA opening here soon!
The M3 is only a good choice if you shoot 50 or tighter. For 35mm it's doable but not pleasant, forget about anything wider. External viewfinders, in my opinion, or only enjoyable to use for range focusing type of photography.
@@kevinfickling6384yes. It’s probably unbearable. Although with time i convinced myself that the most enjoyable viewfinder Leica has ever made is the M-A, customized to ones liking by masking unused frame lines.
Leica's are brilliantly engineered, built to last and almost perfect within their limitations. But it's the limitations that make these cameras less than perfect. The lenses are astounding of course, but the end results are only slightly better than, say, Olympus or Nikon etc. The deal breaker for most people though is (obviously) the outrageous price. If I could afford one I'd buy one. But I can't, so I'll stick with my Nikons and Olympus's both of which give me results indistinguishable from Leica.
Thank you for the wisdom. I agree that both the M3 and M4 are very smooth to advance.
They really are!
I think you spelled M6 wrong 😂
Loving the regular uploads. Keep it going.
😂😂😂 M3 all day babyyy
Love love love the M3, just feels awesome to me.
Me too!
Kevin I agree with you, but I feel that way about my M4, I feel it’s one of the best.
I think the M4 might be the most underrated. It’s amazing!
@@kevinfickling6384 I think so too, thanks for sharing your video, keep them coming!
The *LEICA* M3 is Glory incarnate! The *LEICA M3* is Perfection rendered immaculate!!
It’s really something special.
About the bezels around the windows, some say its function is to keep fingerprints out of the viewfinder. I don't know if that was intended on purpose or if it was just an aesthetic choice, but it works! I love the 35mm vf (sbloo), it's so bright and when using hyper-focal distance for casual shooting, there's no need to use the main range/vf.
Ah yes that also makes sense. What ever the reason I love the look! Sbloo rocks!
100%. The best Leica M of all times.
100 percent agree!
Great series you have on the M3 and the original MP.
I agree that if you are a 50’s shooter the M3 is the best option for the range finder cameras. I prefer the M3’s and M2’s since for the lenses I use there is only ONE frame line in the viewfinder. I bought my M3 and M2 when the M4 came out. I just preferred the older Leicas be cause I didn’t like the plastic advance lever and didn’t like the rewind crank.
One additional concern with the older Leica M3’s to ask if you are getting it used is ask if there is any separation in the prism in the range finder. The older prisms were two pieces bonded together with balsam.
For all those Leica M naysayers, it is not a camera for every one and those who use they are happy for their choice. Leitz got it right in 1954 because the basic design hasn’t changed in over 70 years. I can’t think of any other camera that can make that claim.
For outdoor shooting use the sunny 16 rule or get a small Gossen Pilot meter and take readings when you start. Most films give you enough latitude where you are close enough.
Looking back I wished I picked up another M3 double stroke. An old Leica salesman mentioned that he thought they were better built. I double stroke my Leicas anyways and for me it is just as fast.
Again, great series, really love your original MP….don’t ever sell it, but if you do, I’ll give it a good home lol.
Must be something in the air. Two days ago I bought a tidy 1962 M3 with a collapsible 5cm Summicron. It will be checked and I pick it up in Paris
@@vinylisland6386 amazing find! Congrats!
Sweet video love for the legendary M3! Do remember that you can mount 35MM Leica glass with goggles! Makes for a Steam Punk looking M!
Absolutely! I use my 35 Summilux steel rim with goggles all the time. I should have mentioned that.
Definitely use your Leica. My first M3 came in mint condition, I used it for 2 years but when I got a black painted one and neglected my original one, the mechanisms got stiff and after over a year of non use the shutter jammed almost on first shot.
Absolutely. One of the worst things you can do is let one sit and not get used.
Excellent. Yes the M3 isn’t getting the attention it deserves. The combo viewfinder and rangefinder was a huge advancement in its day.
70 years old this year!
Love my M3 i bring it with me everywhere. I'd love to see a video about the accessories you use on your M's the winder, the shutter release etc
I know you even brought it across the country! I will for sure do a video on that soon. Great idea.
400-500k on that table 😮🥳❤️
haha not quite that much!
@@kevinfickling6384 but not that much less 😂 M3 Bundeswehr should be around 200 and black paint M3 depends on batch and stuff but is not cheap either 😉
Lovely collection ❤️
I see it a bit differently. For me, that table has divorce all over it!
(My camera collection has gone very close I think...)
Hey there! I was wondering which viewfinder you have attached? I bought an M4 and am looking to get one for 28mm
I have a 35mm SBLOO viewfinder on there. For 28mm I use the SLOOZ or SUOOQ. Those are the Leica designation for them. I believe voightlander makes a nice one as well if you want to buy new.
First Leica was an M2 with 50 2.8 Elmar in 1965...made fabulous images; but more importantly, made me feel I had to improve my photo skills to come up to the level of the camera quality and reputation.
Great camera and lens combo! The M3 made me improve many of my skills as well and I’m thankful for that.
Cuong, can repalced the mirrows on the Pre war Leica ones & add contrast mirrors ones.
What are those funky shutter release buttons that you are using on your M3s?
The Leica designation is OZTNO. You can find them on eBay. It’s designed to adapt a shutter cable release on early barnack camera’s I believe in the late 1930’s but you can also use as a cool soft release on M’s.
Never got an itch for the M3. Viewfinder focus patch not as contrasty as either my button rewind M2 or lever rewind M2. The BP M2 lives with a silver 21 SA and the silver M2 a 35 f1.4. Both have fantastic clear viewfinders that show very little flare when pointed at direct light. The MP is just that much better with the light meter.
Also can depend on the condition of the VF. My M3’s are super bright. Those M2’s sound great. I have my M2’s as well!
What anamorphic lens are you filming on please?
I’m using the Blazar Remus with the GFX100 here!
Awesome video Kevin! Totally agree with everything you said. Used an M6 for film before and when I hold an M3 for the first time in my hands, I understood why many people say it's the best M Leica ever build. I liked it so much, I ended up having two M3 :D - one double stroke (first production batch) and one single stroke).
Since you know a lot of this stuff and also have your friend who knows the technical details:
My double stroke M3 unfortunately the focusing patch is almost disappearing, you can barely see it to focus. The frame lines are still clearly visible. I read that this issue is common for older M3s, but depending on what cause it can or cannot be fixed :(
Did you every heard or had such an M3 body?
I want a long lug first batch M3 next. Looking for one! The focusing patch needs to be resilvered on your camera. It’s a pretty difficult process I believe but some repair places are able to do it.
@@kevinfickling6384 thanks a lot Kevin. Let’s a keyword I work with and hope I can find someone to fix it.
@@IntrovertAmateur it is a common problem with M3’s unfortunately. I hope you can find someone to repair it! Keep me updated
Love ‘em kev! Just wondering.. i have the m2-r and for the same sentimental respason, i just love using it.. has it been built the same robustness like the m3 and m4 you mentioned earlier? From what i could feel, the winding is smoother than my m6ttl dragon as well as the mp classic i have
Thank you! The M2 is also built really well! Like I said, the more a camera is used generally the better it will feel as everything breaks in. There isn’t a bad Leica M…just some a little nicer built than others.
Hi love your videos & cameras. Just curious about the shutter release add-ons shown. I'm still a bit ambivalent about soft releases, and these seem like they'd be uncomfortable? Thanks!
These one you see here is called an OZTNO. It’s actually a cable release adapter for older barnack Leica’s. You can also use it as a “soft release” on an M. It does nothing functional I just like the way it looks and works
@@kevinfickling6384 they plethora of vintage Leica adapters never ceases to amaze me! 😎 Thanks!
Your M3 appears to have two separate viewfinders. One for focus, one for composition. I prefer the external finder for even 50mm lenses.
One of them has an external finder for 35 on it. Just happened to be on there from when I used it before.
Is that a green Leica M3? Which one is it? Love your videos!!!
M3 olive 😁
M4 and all of its iterations is a much more practical camera all around. That's why Leica made it to replace the M3.
It’s all about what works for you.
Is that a custom camera bag?
Yes it is. I make them all by hand. There is a link to my leather working instagram in the description if you want to check out more.
for me its the m4 12** series. very smooth and rewind is lovely. the m3 style rewind makes me go mad. you need an additional fancy attachment to rewind smooth? no thanks :D
M4’s are amazing also! Pick the right tool for your job!
I'm a new subscriber to your channel and love your content and collection. I own and regularly use a IIIC with a 50mm Elmar and an MP with 35, 50, and 90mm Summicrons. Would you be able to share the contact info for the person who does your CLAs? I'm located in Los Angeles as well. Thank you.
Send me a message on instagram if you can and I’ll share his info or send an email through my website contact form. He keeps a lower profile and asks I don’t share it on the internet. Thanks for subscribing and hope to see you at a Leica gallery LA opening here soon!
The M3 is only a good choice if you shoot 50 or tighter. For 35mm it's doable but not pleasant, forget about anything wider. External viewfinders, in my opinion, or only enjoyable to use for range focusing type of photography.
That’s correct just like I talk about in the video. It may not be for everyone but using a 50 on an M3 is awesome.
@@kevinfickling6384yes. It’s probably unbearable. Although with time i convinced myself that the most enjoyable viewfinder Leica has ever made is the M-A, customized to ones liking by masking unused frame lines.
@@stevenstevensteven4 my M7 titanium has a masked viewfinder! It’s very nice to use
@@kevinfickling6384your MP3 does too 😅 love your collection and your videos. Keep on.
hey people, how many rolls before CLA?
Good question. I’m not sure how many rolls that would be.
Is Cuong your master tech? 🙄
Leica's are brilliantly engineered, built to last and almost perfect within their limitations. But it's the limitations that make these cameras less than perfect. The lenses are astounding of course, but the end results are only slightly better than, say, Olympus or Nikon etc. The deal breaker for most people though is (obviously) the outrageous price. If I could afford one I'd buy one. But I can't, so I'll stick with my Nikons and Olympus's both of which give me results indistinguishable from Leica.
Absolutely agree! Just use the tool that works for you. We all know it’s less about the camera and more about lighting and subject.