this Leica M3 turned out to be better than the M6

[@DennisCostello-l7e]

KZbin is killing the joy of photography with this onslaught of clickbait "gotta get new gear" videos. Among other cameras, I've owned a Leica iiic, two M3's (double +single stroke) M2, Leica Cl, M5, M4-P, two M6, the digital M-E, M11, and M11-P. They're all great. These stupid "M5 sucks/M7 rules" rankings are pointless. Is the M3 a better camera than the M6? Maybe, if the larger viewfinder magnification is what you want, and don't mind slapping on an accessory viewfinder for any lens wider than 50mm. If you want a built-in light meter, additional frame lines for 35mm & 28mm, and an actual hot shoe, maybe the M6 is a better camera. And why drag "hipsters" into this? Leica halted production of the M3 in 1967. Some folks might have "manufactured this year" or "built 40-20 years ago as opposed to 60-70 years" as their criteria for a good camera. For some people the M1 is a better camera. Why do we need to pretend there's a singular answer? 3 weeks ago you were telling us the Bessa T was better than a Leica. This is insane and boring and does nothing to improve your photos or anyone else's. I'm not wealthy, far from it- I've worked in the ass end of show business for the past 35 years. I purchased all my Leica film cameras broken and taught myself how to repair them. Every camera purchase doesn't have to a be ticket you get punched in your photography bro's journey to having the "ultimate".

[@JustinPhillip]

👌🏼

[@DivvyDeluxe]

Don't be a stick in the mud, bud

[@john2000l]

You are one of the luckiest guys around. I don't often do well when buying from online places like this, but this Leica takes absolutely beautiful images. Rich greens, blues, and grays. Nice job Justin, and a great purchase.

[@JustinPhillip]

Thanks John! 🙌🏼

[@richardmayberry5905]

You need to do some research. The M2 is built every bit as well as the M3, with the major differences be in the magnification difference in the M2 to accommodate the 35mm frame lines, and the manual reset of the frame counter. Very solid, and just as satisfying as the M3. If you’re looking for a true 1:1 viewfinder, the Canon P is a good bet, and excellent hipster bait as well! 😉

[@SS-jt9ex]

During the last decade Leitz GmbH was asked what the retail price might be for a contemporary Leica with the same quality as the M3. The answer was something above $27,000.

[@JustinPhillip]

Whaaa?? 😅 wow!

[@TucsonAnalogWorkshop]

That doesn't exactly inspire confidence in the MA/MP!

[@1951void]

The best leica for you mostly depends on your favourite focal length

[@Nuka_Gaming]

For me it's 50 so the M3 is right up my alley

[@1951void]

@@Nuka_Gaming me like 80% of the time I have my 28mm stick to my camera, also love 50 but don't use it that often, I have a CL and I want to upgrade to a M4 and get rid of the external finder

[@TJCampie]

DAG's wax mark is "92". your new camera looks amazing!

[@JustinPhillip]

Oh thank you! Good to know.

[@GTAYLOR1972]

I have an M3 with a super low serial number (734xxx). It was also converted to a single stroke. I spoke with Leica Boutique in DC and they said pretty rare and he would not get rid of it if it were him. I think right now you can still pick these up for not a lot of money but as time goes on they probably will go up a little bit in value.

[@housemusic325]

The plastic arm is the reason why I've decided to install an M3 advance lever on my M4. Also, i own an M3 and the quick load spool was a pain to use for me. Being used to load older leicas from the 30's, I prefer the classic style of loading it because nothing beat the quick loading of the M4 and later model imho.

[@JustinPhillip]

Yea its very finicky. M3 advance lever on M4, Now that would be awesome

[@jasongold6751]

It's the Best M ever! But it's old! The viewfider can fail, if bad knock! The balsa glue is now critical. My M3 new in 1967, is still in use! I was a pro, news, fashion, nature, portraits, my personal work! It is 57 years old! I was a kid when I first held it! I'm 80. I prefer the viewfinder to the lousy framing of newer M's! Loading is way better than M6.. You must be very clumsy

[@JustinPhillip]

😆

[@jorsetti]

I bought a used in excellent condition M6 and light meter originally didn’t work or was infrequently working. I sent for repair to a guy in the Midwest (DGA Camera) and he fixed it! Turned out to be a quick solder. He repaired and cleaned, I got really lucky. 😅

[@NineVoltDigitalCinema]

Congratulations on the beautiful camera! I just got a mint 1965 M3 with a “full overhaul” CLA from DAG, and the wax seal has “92” pressed into it. Not sure what it stands for, but there you go.

[@JustinPhillip]

Nice! I wish he still did repaints!

[@TucsonAnalogWorkshop]

I think it is the year he started his business

[@y2ktube]

"from DAG, and the wax seal has “92”" - FYI, TLC Camera Repair in NC has the ORIGINAL 'L' seal applied after he finishes the service (In 1976 he worked in arguably the 1st *Leica store in the USA and personally knew the Leica sales rep). *Gus & Maria Bohanec ran Alvin's Photo Supply in Pasadena California

[@poniatowski3547]

Love my M3. Such a fantastic camera. Agree with others on here the normal m3 loading is perfectly fine.

[@y2ktube]

Video @ 21:48 "used Japanese parts" - Sorry Justin, that's flat out incorrect Japanese parts didn't begin until the mid 70's with the Leica CL and Leica R3 (started after the Minolta partnership).

[@JustinPhillip]

I was misinformed then

[@Snegojui]

I saw an instagram post like a month ago, someone started to make circuit boards for the m6 (only classic, not ttl). So there is a way to repair them though I don’t think it would be cheap.

[@JustinPhillip]

😮

[@noth606]

I think the youtube algo is taking drugs of the psychedelic variety, I got recommended this, figured I'd take a peek to see if there was a point to it. Nope. I am a bit into photography and far more into video, but I dumped my film cameras as soon as digital cameras came out on the market and waited and waited for them to come down in price enough to be purchased by mere mortals. Hated film, absolutely awful stuff, and the only camera that was kinda decent was an Olympus Mju because it didn't screw up the film inside it which SLR's regularly do. You could do an easy mode simulation of the picture development process, get a printer, dimmable lights and some model glue, and every time you want physical pictures, turn the printer on, hit Print on your PC(Mac probably?), dim the lights and take a good proper whiff off the glue.

[@JustinPhillip]

😂

[@MrSdbmgarcia]

Having owned the M3, M5and M6. I can say M5 is by far the best. Even though they call M5 the ugly step child. Viewfinder, placement of the shutter dial and metering system by far better than the M6😊 M3 Still a classic 🤙

[@JustinPhillip]

interesting take, i've always shied away from that one because of the unpopular opinion about it.

[@MrSdbmgarcia]

@@JustinPhillip if you ever want to take it out for a spin. I’m in the Santa Clarita burbs 😅

[@SteveMillerhuntingforfood]

I also shoot an M5, (plus a M3, and iiia) and agree, the metering with the two lines is much more intuitive than the LED's (similar to my Nikon FM3a metering). The M5 also shows you the shutter speed in the viewfinder. The first Leica M rangefinder with through-the-lens metering and the last to be built entirely by hand in Wetzlar using the traditional “adjust and fit” method. One of my biggest fears with my M5 is if the viewfinder patch goes dark; that means there is separation of the prisms. Super expensive to repair. Mine is still OK. I won't be selling my M5 anytime soon.

[@SteveMillerhuntingforfood]

Also known as the camera that almost bankrupt Leica, it was a huge failure.

[@theblackandwhitefilmproject]

Nice camera! I have a new MP and a mint M2 - not a mark on it. The shutters were tested and every one was perfect. The technician said he had never before seen a Leica with perfect shutter speeds. The build quality on my M2 does seem better than the new MP and I don't mind the spool loading - in fact it gives me more confidence that the film is loaded correctly. I chose the M2 over the M3 because I really wanted the 35mm frame lines and I am OK with the 0.72 viewfinder and manual shot counter. The M3 with 50/90/135 for me is really only 50/90. The M2 is 35/50/90. I have tried a 135mm lens but everything is so small in the frame line it is almost impossible to use and shutter speeds under 1/250 have too much camera shake so a very limited lens. Suggestion - don't be tempted to get the quick rewind adaptor.I had one on my MP and it scratched the top plate. Aargh! Using the M2 is like driving a classic car. Smooth.Enjoy!

[@JustinPhillip]

Thanks!

[@jeremoe1]

I love my M3, for sure!

[@JustinPhillip]

🙌🏼

[@Amia67360]

You focus so quickly, god, how do you do ? I haven't seen a light meter in the video, how do you do for speed and aperture ?

[@JustinPhillip]

I just meter by eye. But it was so super bright, i was shooting at f/8

[@BadKarma714]

Good video we should meet up I got a car now let me know when you have time. Maybe you could show me how to set up my camera to get the best video possible. I have a few of them take you out to lunch maybe you can make a video of it showing a viewer video basics. I just got a new vlog camera the Sony ZV 1

[@thedarkslide]

8:05 Oh, yeah. My god. That is so much worse then the stock pickup spool of the M3. One more thing: with the original spool I get 39 exposures on my M3. Curious if you're sacrificing frames with that "upgrade". I actually don't mind the take up spook of the M3. It's impossible to load incorrectly. I have a later single stroke M3 that has the improvements other than the quick load. Yours must have gotten new leather. No way that is the original vulcanite. Other than the dent of the top plate it looks great. It's going to serve you well.

[@JustinPhillip]

Did you see the end? The vulcanite started falling apart. I got 34 exposures with this test roll. But because i wasnt used to the “rapid load” , i definitely botched the first four, after i finally got it loaded correctly the exposure counter was already on 4 😅 so im guessing you could get around 38 if you get good at it. But yea on my M6 one time i got the tiffs back from the lab and there were 43 exposures!

[@thedarkslide]

@@JustinPhillip Saw the end! Should have held my comment until then. I have yet to see an M3 with good vulcanite. Mine has chipped in one corner but is otherwise OK. Put a 50DR or rigid Summicron on it, the focus scale on those lenses is great for zone focusing and you can quickly adjust with the amazing viewfinder of the M3. You're gonna love 50mm with this camera.

[@TucsonAnalogWorkshop]

@@JustinPhillip 37-38 frames is the usual I get from the spool loaders. I repair a lot of these and the vulcanite is disintegrating on just about every one of them I've worked on this past year! Even when it looks perfect you just touch it and it falls to pieces

[@atl_mx5]

i want that so bad.

[@098Chris]

M2 (and to a lesser degree M4) > M3. The M3 is only "better" if you prioritize 50mm or SUPERSPEED glass.

[@JustinPhillip]

I dont mind using cold shoe viewfinders. I’ll take the bigger patch and higher magnification any day of the week.

[@streetwalkerphoto]

Proper Leica cameras: M3, M2, MP. The rest are just medallions worn by dentists. 🤣

[@JustinPhillip]

😅

[@dominiquepierre-nina4581]

The M6 has risen to its hight because of the light meter with in the camera. In my opinion the M6 is not worth the $$ and god knows why they re released it earlier this year! The M3 is far superior in looks and build quality and who needs a light meter ??

[@JustinPhillip]

Right?! 🙌🏼

[@michaelj7069]

M3 any day for me.

[@Amia67360]

Hey ! How do you manage Speed and aperture ? It's my big problem ... D'you have a light meter ?

[@jaimito10922]

I saw this on Ebay lol watched it slip out of my hands lol

[@JustinPhillip]

😅

[@alfredoziano]

You’re a hipster too bro

[@JustinPhillip]

😂😂 nah not an LA hipster tho, out here, it’s a different breed.