Leica M3 [+ leicameter + camera tas] - 1957 - Rangefinder camera

The Leica M3 is a legendary 35 mm rangefinder camera introduced in 1954 by Leitz Wetzlar (now Leica Camera AG). It was the first model in the famous Leica M series and set the standard for professional rangefinder cameras in the decades to follow. The M3 uses 35 mm film with a frame size of 36 × 24 mm and uses the Leica M mount, which has remained compatible with countless Leica lenses ever since. The viewfinder of the M3 is renowned for its clarity and precision, with a magnification of 0.91× — the highest of all Leica M cameras — and automatically shifting frame lines for 50, 90 and 135 mm lenses. The coupled rangefinder has a long base length of 68.5 mm, offering exceptional accuracy in focusing, especially with fast lenses.

The shutter is fully mechanical and consists of a horizontally traveling cloth shutter with speeds from 1 second to 1/1000 second, plus a B setting. The camera has no built-in light meter, so exposure must be determined manually or with an external meter. Film transport is via a Rapid Load system and manual winding with a hand crank, and rewinding is done with a dial. The body is made of brass and chrome-plated metal, giving the M3 its characteristic robust feel and durability; the weight is approximately 580 grams (body).