Leica M3 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 that followed. The M3 uses 35 mm film with an image size of 36 × 24 mm and employs the Leica M mount, which has remained compatible with numerous Leica lenses since then. 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, providing exceptional accuracy in focusing, especially with fast lenses.

The shutter is fully mechanical and consists of a horizontally running cloth curtain 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 quick-loading system and manual winding with a crank handle, and rewinding is done with a rotary knob. The housing is made of brass and chrome-plated metal, giving the M3 its characteristic robust feel and durability; the weight is approximately 580 grams (body).