| For those who may be new to Leica older
system or Leica/Leitz rangefinder collectibles, you may have to get used to a little
difference from other oriental models i.e. the sequence of early Leica RF camera
model names do not actually interpreted as which model was introduced ahead of the
next. Building on the earlier foundation of the screw mount Leica/Leitz cameras/lenses
with renewed rising threat of Japanese photographic equipment industry during the
post war period as well as domestic business rivalry of Contax / Zeiss introduction
of a bayonet mount; Leica has answered the competitions with a new proprietary bayonet
mount on their own. The first Leica rangefinder camera was the LEICA M3 which was
officially introduced in 1954. I guess the likes of Nippon Kogaku KK (Nikon) &
Canon (old name of Seiki Kogaku) had posted the biggest threat to the continual dominance
of the German optical industry where both had already released their respective bayonet
mount rangefinder system as early as before the end of 1940. |
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A brief Introduction on LEICA M3 Series Rangefinder Camera Models, 1954~1966
SITE PREVIEW 2nd draft, 8th August, 2008.
Credit: Image(s) courtesy of some
nice folks from Wish-4-Leica®, Holland. The Company also operates their own active, popular EBAY STORE, trading for many major camera brands and collectibles. Image Copyright ©
2008. All rights reserved. Please respect the visual property of the contributing
photographer.
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| There were much debate during the early
stages over the practicality between adoption of SM and bayonet mount. But one of
the concerning issued was the initial successful debuts from the orient, the original
Canon HANSA
(1936~1941) etc. and in particularly, from Nippon Kogaku KK with an odd format Nikon
S in 1952 which
had slowly emerged in the limelight. These seemingly Leica replicas could had alerted
and subsequently prompted Leica in seriously considering deployment of such a major
decision on migration. Further, even within the domestic development which saw both
Stuttgart Contax and Oberkochen Zeiss had slowly covered from the devastating war
bombings and one of the serious consideration that could made a difference was probably
also recognized the ease of use with the bayonet mount as used on the 1932's Contax
1 over the years. As some reading references had indicated Leica had already experimenting
their prototype (Code Name LEICA IV) as early as in 1935 (one such prototype was
exhibited in Work Museum, Solms). There are a few wild guess with use of "M3"
and not "M1"; one possible theory was the single knob shutter prototype
was assembled based on Leica IIIc (1940~1951) body in 1942 and was just separated
from SM IIIx series in the difference of a new bayonet lens mount used. Another was
since it may not a camera that introduced in perfect mechanical engineering in meeting
Leica stringent standard, the eventual M1 could be the used as the ultimate model
in perfection. Personally, I would conclude the earlier version is be more acceptable
because regardless, the M2 was released 4 years later in 1958 (1958~1967), followed
by the M1 in 1959 (1959~1964). While the Leica M3 has enjoyed a very longest product
cycle among the three, from 1954~1966. |
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Leica M3 w/ S/N 700000 Kruckenhauser
The famous presentation camera M3 no. 700000 was presented to Austrian, Professor
Kruckenhauser, a ski and mountain photographer in 1955. The camera, with the first
serial number of all M cameras, is well noted in many publications and was bought
by Michael von Rosen from the original owner in 1970. It was kept in his private
museum until 2001, then it was displayed in WestLicht Camera Museum. It comes with
all documentation(copy of the Leitz delivery book), books of Prof. Kruckenhauser,
a letter from Michael von Rosen. The camera is in beautiful and perfect working condition
with its original lens, an Elmar 3.5/5cm, very rare presentation box. Leica M3E1 ((M3 "E" for "Eisenstaedt")
Year: 1955 Serial Number:- 700000
There are also quite a few other illustrative photos of early, rare versions of Leica
M3 bodies appeared in page 172 onwards on a good reference book, An Illustrated History of Leica Camera Vol. 1 by James L. Lager. The author had suggested there were
approx. 65 units of M3 prototypes were being produced between 1952~53.
Credit: Image/content courtesy of Mr. Peter Coeln from LEICA Shop®, Austria who also operates a popular Westlicht Auction House. Image Copyright © 2008. All rights
reserved. Please respect the visual property of the contributing photographer.
|
| Other info: Leica president and CEO recently
presented Czechoslovakia president Vaclav Havel with a Leica M6
with serial number 2,500,000. Some other recipients include Leica number 150,000
to Leopold Godowksy and number 175,000 to Leopold Mannes, the inventors of Kodachrome
(1935) ; Leica 300,000 to Gustav Wilmanns and number 350,000 to Wilhelm Schneider,
the inventors of Agfacolor film. Dr. Ernest Leitz received number 500,000 in 1950
and in 1955 Henri-Cartier Bresson got number 750,000 on the occasion of the Biennale
de Photographie in Paris. In 1960 Dr. Ludwig Leitz got number 1,000,000 and Alfred Eisenstaedt got
number 1,000,001. Ref: Krugersdorp Camera Club, South Africa |
| The Leica M3 is regarded as the crystallized
work with a different lens mount resulted from quarter of a century of intelligence
building from the Leica SM system. Over the years, various improvements had been
made; but basically, it carries many of the basic features which was still being
used today. The camera offers a bayonet mount, brighten frame viewfinder system that
auto displayed with appropriate lens versions are attached; it offers single, non-rotating
shutter speed knob and long base rangefinder; auto frame counter reset mechanism,
film advance lever, auto sync flash control as well as a far improved system on film
loading. These may sound very simple from modern perspective, but back in the '50
- it was really "Something remarkably different" in terms of camera handling
properties for those who were so used to the traditional SM -based system. |
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Here is an excellent representation of a typical,
early Leica M3 double stroke body produced as one of those earliest production units
back in 1954. This illustration photo is a Leica M3 chrome Leica-Technik 57 model - it has virtually all the early M3 basic features.
Note the shutter speed settings provided on the dial. The internally-used / distributed
early M3 model was meant for employees for evaluation was engraved by Leica-Technik
in Wetzlar. with an approx. Year of produce: 1954
Credit: Image/content courtesy of Mr. Peter Coeln from LEICA Shop®, Austria who also operates a popular Westlicht Auction House. Image Copyright © 2008. All rights
reserved. Please respect the visual property of the contributing photographer.
|
When the bayonet-mount LEICA M3 was first
introduced to the photo community in 1954, some of the major camera manufacturers
has their own ways reacting to Leica aggression. It was during this period that domestic
competing label, Contax had also released their Contax II
while the Japanese Nippon Kogaku KK counter-reacted with their first 24 x 36mm format
Nikon
S2 rangefinder at the same
year. Whatever its is, many Leica enthusiasts do share the same opinion that M3 can
be regarded as one of the most important camera model in the long development history
of Leica system. Some evolved models introduced during the product cycle were among
some of the most pricey Leica collectibles today and they are continuously highly
desirable for collectors worldwide.
Visual Library on Leica M3 Prototype, 1952; Leica M3 Test model, 1953/4
| A photo showcase on early Leica M3 DS bodies:-
Leica M3-700131 / M3-700170
/ M3-700000/M3-70031x/M3-70051x | M3 double stroke chrome 1954~1957 bodies:- Part 1/Part 2/Part 3/Part 4; Leica M3 Single
Stroke 1957~60/1961~66
| Leica M3 Black Paint:-1955/1958/1962~1964/66
/ Case
study on Prices | Leica M3 ELC,1955/56
Other Variants:-
Leica M3 chrome Leica-Technik 57
1954; Leica M3 GOLD Edition,
1956 | Leica M3 DS
United Nation Edition, 1957
| Leica M3
Olive Bundeseigentum outfit
1957/ Olive
Green Bundeseigentum outfit,
1959 (2 parts) w/info on high quality M3 Olive Conversion
| Leica M3 Betriebskamera/ Betriebsk 1960
| Leica M3 Royal Dutch
Marine Periscope Model, 1966
| Leica M3 Dummies / Riesen-Mode
(Giant scale Model); Leica M3 Cutaway Display Unit , 1954; Leica M3 Leitz-Eigentum; Updated: Leica M3 E-1;
Leica M3 Alfred
Eisentaedts Chrome 1960 /Gold 1989
Nomenclature / Main Reference Map for Leica M3 | Leica M3 Instruction Manual 1) Location 1 (1.35mb PDF) by Joe Chan; Location 2 (1.2mb PDF) by M.Butkus < Mike@bukus.org>;
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LEICA MP-Specific models/variants - Visual Profiles on selective
Leica bodies:- Leica MP Prototype,
1955 | MP
Betriebsk w/Electric Motor, 1956 |
Leica MP-88/MP-150 Black paint, 1957 | Leica MP-167;
Leica MP-171/MP-313/old/new
Leicavit visual, 1957 | Leica MP
367 & 368 Dual,
1957 | Leica
MP-375, MP-368 &
MP-386 | Leica MP 'Edition Hermès', 2003 |
Leica MP Betriebsk
0.72x | Evential production model MP 0.72x Black
paint, 2002 | Leica MP classic Kit Set 1 /
Set 2 | Leica MP chrome 0.58X(2 parts) | Leica MP Black Lacquer 0.58x | Leica MP Black Lacquer 0.72x Standard | Leica MP 0.85x
Finder Mag. model | Leica MP Anthracite* Limited Edition Set |
Leica MP
LHSA 1968~2003 Special Edition Grey Hammertone
Finish (3 parts) | Brief
Introduction on Leica à la carte:- Leica
MP Red
Leather 0.85 / Nappa racing Green Leather 0.58X | Others:- Visual case study on counterfeit LEICA MP ;
Leica
MP Prototype w/Prototype Leicavit-M; LEICA MP TITAN
special edition, 2007, LEICA MP-3 LHSA
| Leica MP Nomenclature | Leica MP Instruction manual (1MB PDF) |
Technical Specification (96k PDF)
| M3 Nomenclature
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Recommended External Links on M3:
LEICA M3 review by Edwin Leong | Leica FAQ | Serial Number Ref. (Cameraquest): LSM lenses 1923/1965 | Leica M 1954/1999/Leica M/R-mount RF/SLRs Serial Number ;
Leica M-lenses coding in PDF (84k) download by Leica, AG); Leica Camera/Leitz Lenses S/N check (requires registration) at
Owners Support@LEICA camera, AG (prototypes or odd variants check not possible)
| Leica M3 mini replica made by Komamura, Japan | Minox DCC Leica M3 5 MP pixels digital | Online
Magazine on LEICA system: Leica Photographie International ("LFI")
| Message Board | lenses | Message Board | RF cameras
Main Index Page - Leica-M Series
Rangefinder camera Models |
| Credit:- Co-developed with my web buddy Rick_Oleson. THANKS to all the contributors, in particularly
Mr. Peter Coeln from LEICA Shop®; Mr. Liu
Zan of DigifanCN®, Mr. Kelvin LI & camera$@Ebay in the form of images/pictures acquiring
as well as content for their sales which had made up the basis of this visual library.
NOTE: certain content and images appeared in this site were either scanned from official
marketing leaflets, brochures, sales manuals or publications published by LEICA AG
over the years and/or individual contributions from surfers who claimed originality
of their work for educational purposes. The creator of the site will not be responsible
for any discrepancies that may arise from dispute except rectifying them after verification."LEICA",
"Leitz", "E.Ernst Wetzlar", "Velostigmat" & other
related trade names used herein are registered trademarks of Leica AG, SOLMS, Germany. Site made with an Apple
G5 IMac. |
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