Leica M3 Specifications
Leica M3 Very Early, one of the first 450 #700423
Leica M3 Very Very Early, one of te first 450 #700124
Leica M3
The first Leica M camera ever made. The M3 is a collectors dream. Fantastic user cameras also. Cameras with serial #'s over 1 million are considered to be the best built Leica M cameras.
M3 Type 1 / 1954-1955
|
SN# |
700,000 |
785,800 |
|
Finish |
Chrome |
|
|
Lens |
Bayonet Mount |
|
|
Shutter |
Focal Plane |
|
|
Film Advance |
Double Stroke Lever |
|
|
Rangefinder/Viewfinder |
Coupled |
Frames 50,90,135 |
|
Rangefinder Base Length |
68.5mm |
|
|
Viewfinder Magnification |
.91 |
|
|
Field Selector Lever |
No |
|
|
Shutter Speeds |
1,B,1/1000 |
|
|
Flash Sync |
Yes, Elec. 1/50, Bulb 1/500 |
|
|
Exposure Meter |
No |
|
|
Film Speed |
||
|
Self Timer |
Yes |
|
|
Weight |
595 Grams |
M3 Type 2 / 1955-1956
|
SN# |
785,801 |
854,000 |
|
Finish |
Chrome |
|
|
Lens |
Bayonet Mount |
|
|
Shutter |
Focal Plane |
|
|
Film Advance |
Double Stroke Lever |
|
|
Rangefinder/Viewfinder |
Coupled |
Frames 50,90,135 |
|
Rangefinder Base Length |
68.5mm |
|
|
Viewfinder Magnification |
.91 |
|
|
Field Selector Lever |
Yes |
|
|
Shutter Speeds |
1,B,1/1000 |
|
|
Flash Sync |
Yes, Elec. 1/60 Bulb 1/500 |
|
|
Exposure Meter |
No |
|
|
Film Speed |
||
|
Self Timer |
Yes |
|
|
Weight |
595 Grams |
M3 Type 3 / 1957-1968
|
SN# |
854,001 |
1,206,999 |
|
Finish |
Black, Chrome |
|
|
Lens |
Bayonet Mount |
|
|
Shutter |
Focal Plane |
|
|
Film Advance |
Single Stroke Lever |
|
|
Rangefinder/Viewfinder |
Coupled |
Frames 50,90,135 |
|
Rangefinder Base Length |
68.5mm |
|
|
Viewfinder Magnification |
.91 |
|
|
Field Selector Lever |
Yes |
|
|
Shutter Speeds |
1,B,1/1000 |
|
|
Flash Sync |
Yes, Elec. 1/60, Bulb 1/500 |
|
|
Exposure Meter |
No |
|
|
Film Speed |
||
|
Self Timer |
Yes |
|
|
Weight |
595 Grams |
Variations/Special Models
Leica M3 Black Paint & 90mm Elmarit
|
Year |
Model |
Units Produced |
|
1957-1968 |
Military Olive Green |
142 |
|
1959-1968 |
Black Paint Enamel |
3010 |
Special Note: Early Leica M3's had only 4 screws on the Lens Mount. Later models had 5 screws. On the later models with 5 screws, the fifth screw at the 12'o clock position was filled with paste/wax material and stamped with an 'L'. If this seal is in tact, this means that the camera has never been taken apart or serviced.