Leica M3

Review Date
February 8, 2010

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Reviewed by
bhonhoff , Casual

Price Paid
$400.00 at Photografical fair

Photography Experience
21+ years , People

Summary
This is about the M2. I brought this M2 a few months ago as I could afford to buy one again. My first and previous M2 I had to sell after 23 years of use. I like the M2 more than any other M model, since it does fulfill my needs. I used it with an 35mm Jupiter and Summilux (1st gen). I had an NC Summicron and 50mm Elmar. And an Summicron 90mm (1st gen) which was to heavy to use, although the pictures at 2.0 and 2.8 were great. I replaced it with an Elmarit 90mm which was also used with an Visoflex 2. A fine combination for almost everything. Metering was done with an Gossen Lunasix 3 and later the Leicameter MR and MC.
I took the camera everywhere and it was my biggest companion for all those 23 years. Quality of the Leitz lenses might be disputable, but it is the combination with the camera that does the magic. Simple, reliable and small. What else do you want?

I missed this camera so much, that I decided to buy one again, even against all digital developments.

And yes, I paid 500 guilders (around 220 euros) in 1978 and now I had to pay 400 euro's and oh man, how I felt lucky! My Summicron 50mm was in 1978 also 500 guilders and now I was lucky to get an collapsible Summicron for 225 euros.
I still do not own a decent 35mm and it might become an VC, since the Summilux is far to expense for my use.

Using a Leica M means that you have to look different at picture opportunities than with an reflex. You might tend to think, that you need a motor drive, but that is not true. At the supreme moment you know you can rely on your camera and that what you see is what you get on your negative! No delays, no time lag.

It is a pity that I cannot afford an Leica M9 (No interest for an M8)
But the M2 shows the strength of an Leica M and why it still does exist.
If you make a successful picture with an digital camera, you know it is about 80% electronics and perhaps 20% you. With an Leica M you know it is 80% you and 20% magic.

Strengths
Limited lens-range.
(In der Begrenzung zeigt sich der Meister) Limitations shows whether you are a real master or just fake)

Silent (but not as silent as my Lubitel II ;-)

Focusing spot on (compared to digital camera's, except an Leica M8 or M9)

Not intrusive. (Using an 90mm Elmarit for portraits is not taken as serious as an reflex-camera or an Zenza Bronica ETRS with an 150mm)

Full view of the place of action all the time. You will not miss if the action happens outside the view of your lens.

Reliable most of the time. No batteries needed.

Weaknesses
Film loading with an quickload spool is slower than the standard 'N' spool.
No TTL (on the M2) Awkward use for macro (using an Visoflex 1 or Visoflex 2)
(Step down metering)
Expensive accessories, although the question arises how much do you need. Henri Cartier-Bresson used hardly ever an light meter and the most used lens was an Summitar lens. (He didn't crop much either)

Similar Products Used
Leica IIIc/f. Zorki 4K. No others that are comparable.

Customer Service
Used once in 1980 for complete overhaul. (They changed the flash-connections at the same time) Slow, expensive but perfect.
(I used it as an excuse to pick up the camera in Wetzlar myself.)

Review Date
October 26, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 4 votes

Reviewed by
Michael J Hoffman , Expert

Price Paid
$500.00 at eBay

Photography Experience
11-20 years , People

Summary
This review is for the Leica M4.

This is an excellent basic camera. The quality is immediately noticable upon taking hold of the camera. The solid feel inspires confidnece that this will be a tool for life. Functionality is amazing. If properly aligned and calibrated this camera will rival any modern professional level camera. The viewing system is vastly different from that of an SLR. You will like it either much better or much less than the SLR viewing system. Leica lenses and accessories retain the superlative quality of the camera.

Strengths
A rangefinder is a somewhat specialized tool. I am a street photographer. As such, the quietness of the M4 is not of tremendous importance to me because the streets themselves are quite noisy. The shutter is nearly silent though, but the film advance is not significantly quieter than any other manually advanced film camera that I've used. In my opinion the quietness thing is much ado about relatively little. The viewing system with regard to being able to see what will be recorded on the film inside the framelines and what won't be outside the framelines is nearly unique to the Leica M system. This viewing system makes it easier for me to edit my compositions. I get more information from which to make a decision than I would by using an SLR. The camera is relatively compact.

Weaknesses
somewhat limited application
framing not as accurate as with an SLR
limited range of useful focal lengths

Similar Products Used
Minolta Hi-Matic 7s

Customer Service
not yet needed

Review Date
March 22, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
2.50 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by
92135011 , Intermediate

Price Paid
$0.00 at used

Photography Experience
2-5 years , Other

Summary
This is for the Leica M4.
Bought it used from a photo.net forum member.
Product is great. Fine finish and great useability. All the controls are exactly where they should be. I'm having a lot of fun taking pictures with this solid piece of equipment. Rangefinder patch is contrasty and framelines are very bright.

Strengths
solid feel and useability
From 1966, but still works great
High class optics to match

Weaknesses
flash only at 1/50 and down. Very slow

Customer Service
never used it.

Review Date
June 20, 2004

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
2.75 of 5, 4 votes

Reviewed by
azipuff , Intermediate

Price Paid
$0.00

Photography Experience
11-20 years , Other

Summary
This is a review of the Leica M2. This camera gives up little to a modern Leica M - in fact, it is almost the same as a new MP, minus the light meter & power drive options. Compact, quiet, and solidly built. The viewfinder is practical & the focusing patch is flare resistant, with depth-of-field markers. For some reason they are priced much less than M3s, M4s and M4-Ps and thus make excellent vintage user Leicas. Thoroughly recommended.

Strengths
Solid build quality
Excellent viewfinder & rangefinder
Universal benefits of Leica M cameras - quiet, compact & high quality

Weaknesses
Getting old & thus may require servicing
Fiddly film loading
No built-in light metering

Similar Products Used
Leica M6
Leica M4-2

Review Date
March 4, 2004

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
4.33 of 5, 3 votes

Reviewed by
agp , Expert

Price Paid
$0.00 at Ffordes, UK

Photography Experience
21+ years , Outdoor

Summary
I finally bought an M7 about a year ago, loved it, and decided to buy a second body, for black and white. Went for the M2 from Ffordes. (I recommend them - the camera is almost as new.) I'm glad I didn't get another M7 - the M2 is the nicest-feeling camera I own. Winding on is like silk, and when I put the M7 lenses on the quality is as good. If the M2 had a built-in meter (the add-on apparently isn't very good) I'd sell the M7 and buy another M2, although the M7 is also a great camera. As it is, I bought a Gossen Digisix for less than a Leica add-on, and it weighs almost nothing, and does the job.

Strengths
Build quality
Feel
Ease of focusing
Quality of viewfinder

Weaknesses
Lack of meter.
Viewfinder can scratch glasses - I bought an eyeglass protector for $10 - search for them on the web.

Similar Products Used
Leica M7

Customer Service
None needed yet!