How to use Leica M3, plus buying tips
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- čas přidán 21. 08. 2024
- Short video explaining how to use the legendary, iconic Leica M3.
There are a few short sections covering the most imprtant things to know in order to take photos with the camera. In this video you will learn:
- How to load the camera with film.
- How to remove and re-attach the lens.
- How to set exposure using the sunny 16 rule. No need for a light meter.
- How to focus the Leica M3.
- How to remove film after its finished.
At the end there are a few useful tips pointing pointing out the main things to check before buying a Leica M3 or other vintage Leica cameras.
Great video. Just got my grandfather's special M3 from 1954 & using for first time. Thank you for the detailed video.
Same! Although slightly newer from 1962 :)
@@florastaedtler2702 amazing! They are great cameras - hope you enjoy yours. 🥰
One of the best Leica M cameras in the market. Pure joy to use
Besides looking and listening, try smelling. If the M3's provenance is the tropics it may contain mould. Second, if you are not using this masterwork often, fire the shutter through all speeds twice. This will ensure that the shutters lubrication stays where it belongs.
Great video....straight forward...no extraneous blah blah
Nice video, thanks!
Fun fact: you can rewind newer single stroke Leica M3 (and other models like M4 too) with several strokes (can be more than two even). Also some owners converted their double stroke M3 to single stroke back in the day, when it wasn't considered a "special" characteristic.
You've got a pretty great camera! Besides the good condition, it has a nice combination of features: newer rewind knob, standardized shutter speeds, but the more reliable older strap lugs and dual stroke.
Cheers!
Thanks for your comment.
@@35mmisking29 thanks for the video! By the way, have you encountered a problem, when on faster shutter speeds(1/1000 mostly) one side of the frame is a bit darker?
That would mean the shutter is not moving at a consistent speed. A simple CLA should fix it.
@@35mmisking29 I know in most cases it's because of the old lubricants, but the seller said camera was recently CLA'd. Can this also be related to old worn out springs?
Yeah, it has Buddha ear lugs and double stroke. I highly prefer these.
Such a beautiful mint M3!
Absolutely fantastic video. Beautiful; clear, simple instructions and explanations. Thank you.
Sound like Kylo Ren
I love the double stroke M3. I also have a single stroke M3, but I prefer the double stroke.
I mean I’ll take the single stroke off your hands if you don’t want it…
Please share reason you prefer DS
This video is all I needed! Thank you very much, very useful.
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@Emory Parker Instablaster =)
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This video is gold. I hope 🤞 we get to see more from you.
That was very useful before bying! Thanks!
I'm fell so lucky still keep that M3 in good conditions
Good video . I felt like Xavier Bardem was explaining me how to use the M3 n__n
Thanks, I like that comparison 🙂
Very good video about the M3 and the buying tips helps
Thanks. Glad you found it useful.
Thank you. I’ve received my grandfathers. Sure I could read the 70yr old manual but don’t want to damage it either
Great Great Great Video 🙌🏼 thank you so much it was very helpful!
And wow how small that camera look in your hands 😅😂
Small correction, you don't "need" the lenses with goggles, you can use an external viewfinder, which is fine if you zone focus a lot.
I guess you can focus with the internal rangefinder and compose with external?
@@danielhanslik4112 Or, you can zone focus. Thats what I do if I have to use 35mm.
@@Adrian-wd4rn Okay but imagine using wider than 35. 21mm for example. Can you actually focus with the internal and compose externally?
@@danielhanslik4112 If you have an external viewfinder, yes, you can just focus like normal. I've used 28's on my m3 just fine. When using 35, I tend to use the viewfinder as normal, since 35mm is just outside of the viewfinder lines anyways, and I've never really missed a shot.
How cool is it that our serial numbers are pretty close!? I have 915 302.
This M3 looks like new!
My Grandfather had one of these and it’s been sitting in my parent’s closet my entire life. (My Dad never used it). I recently got it out and thanks to your video I will have a better idea of how to use it. I noticed there are 40 pictures taken on it so it might have a roll of undeveloped photos in it. (I have not opened it). I never met my Grandfather so there are potentially priceless memories on the film (if it has film). He passed away in 1969 so this film has just been sitting in here since before NASA went to the moon lol. How would you suggest I proceed? Thanks for the video!
oh wow. Did you get it developed and if so what were the shots like?
@@agwithey I opened it in a dark room and it was empty. 🙁. Can’t wait to get some film for it though!
Great video!!
Thank you.
Thanks from 🇧🇷
I often buy a lot of crap...
But. my trick is to shine a phone light thru the shutter, this way one can see pinholes even on a bright day.
Is there any particular purpose to wearing a worn out glove on one hand and not the other?
Very interesting video i learn a lot, thx
Exellent!!!
I just picked up an (older) M3, serial number starts 730. I noticed that the "picture in picture" for focus is very transparent and it's not easy to get the focus aligned. When I cover the main view finder, the focus finder looks very fogged. Is it possible for someone mechanically inclined but inexperienced to fix that?
Start taking photos at 0 or 1? I've always assumed that "1" is the first exposure.
If u close the back after the first advance then u can start at 0, if u advance twice u may have a half frame at 0. (Nothing scientific, just from my experience)
very nice merci
Can I buy it brand new?
good video
hi, does this video apply to Leica M2 model as well? im looking for a beginners guide. thank you
Can you do one for M11
and that's the lens to have on the front of it
This s double stroke?
Why can you not just use a 35mm and know you end result will include more than what you see in the viewfinder??
No battery?
Nope, it's 100% mechanical. There is no light meter built into the M3.
Camera looks tiny in your hands
Right?! Huge hands is the first thing I noticed. Looks like a credit card, lol.
wanna sell this to me
i have one for sale
Why do you wear half a pair of gloves?
Sunny 16 is B.S.
imagine having money to buy this camera
Good investment. They steadily go up in price over the years.
@@35mmisking29 I will be buying one next May. I can’t wait to shoot with this amazing camera. Is there anything else I should look out for when buying one?
They are relatively cheap.
Why are you talking through a can? It really distracts from the video
Using a built-in mic In this vid. I'll try to improve on that for the next one.
@@35mmisking29 its fine...
Great video!