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People often ask, how to clean the rangefinder on Leica M3?
Let’s find out!
How to Clean a Rangefinder on a Leica M3?
The Leica M3 has a removable lens mount which makes it easy to clean lenses. Remove the lens, simply unscrew the two screws holding the back cover on. Then lift off the top half of the camera body. Now you can take out the lens and clean it with a lens cleaning kit.
Note: If you want to know a complete guide about rangefinder click HERE.
Leica M the Original M Rangefinder
The Leica M3 was released in 1954 and discontinued in 1965. It is the most successful M model. It isn’t just for collectors or people who love photography. This May 2003 photo.net thread discusses how to use an M3 for everyday photography.
The M3 was made by combining 12 different parts. The M3 was made using 12 different parts.
Buy with a Warranty
These rangefinder cameras are around 40 years old. They may have problems such as cracks or broken parts. You should buy them with warranties if you want to get any help if something goes wrong.
Our own experience will be instructive here. When we bought an M3 the shutter/wind-on mechanism jammed after 7 hours! Luckily the camera came with 12 months warranty as a consequence of having paid Top Dollar for it at a major camera store! So all we had to do is send the camera back to get it fixed, for No Additional Cost!
Leica made a mistake by sending you a faulty product. You should get your money back or a replacement. The repair service costs money, but you could save some money if you buy a new camera instead of repairing it.
Note: If you want to know How to Use SLR Magic Rangefinder click HERE.
Loading Film
The M3 inherited the earlier LTMs’ needlessly tricky film spools. Ask the seller to show you the loading mechanism. When buying a camera, ask them to show you how to use it.
One tip though, make sure you push the film leader in all the way so that the dotted arrow cut-out on the spool shows the whole length of the film underneath.
Keep your camera back open during loading, and be careful about closing the lens cap while changing the film. Scrounge around for extra spool holders if you need them.
It is because of the M3’s fiddle-loading mechanism that the “rapid-load” mechanism was invented ten years later for the M4 and other cameras.
Tinted Viewfinder
The M3’s large 50mm frame lines are the best and largest to shoot with. The M3’s 90mm frame lines are also the best and most used. The M3’s finder is slightly bluish, but the rangefinder patch is yellowish.
The new M3 camera is very similar to the previous model. There are some minor changes such as the addition of an electronic viewfinder (EVF) and a more powerful flash unit.
The EVF is used when taking pictures indoors or under low light conditions. The flash unit is used to illuminate dark areas when shooting outdoors.
The new M3 also includes several other improvements including a faster shutter speed, an improved autofocus system, and a higher resolution LCD screen.
Yellow Rf Tint Gold plating
Thanks to diligent research by Bill Blackwell, this case was resolved in April 2006. Now listen up! Yellow gold plating is an intentional process used to cover up corrosion. Not oxidation, weather damage, or even elf pee, but honest to goodness gold.
Leica Lore: the M2 yellow/blue rangefinder system wasn’t an accident but rather a unique design feature to help beginners focus better. Wetzlar dropped this idea for later models because it was too expensive.
Note: If you want to know How to Use the Russian Rangefinder click HERE.
Metal Eyepiece Scratches Your Glasses?
There are many ways to fix this problem. We recommend using liquid electrical tape because it can be removed easily if you need to change lenses.
We also recommend using the Leitz snap-on plastic for the metal eyecup. It works great. It costs only around $15.00, and it fixes the problem.
Keyminders are great for keeping your keys organized. They’re also useful as a keychain organizer. You can pick them up at any hardware store or online.
Silicon rings are great for protecting your iPod from scratches. They fit around the metal parts of an eyepiece and hold them firmly in place. They’re inexpensive, too!
M Viewfinder Dimming Separation Blackout
After 40 years, the materials used in the camera’s viewfinder can be old. Problems can manifest themselves as follows:
1) The material used in the viewfinder can become brittle or break easily. This problem can cause the viewfinder to crack or shatter.
2) The material used in the viewfinder may fade over time. This problem can make it difficult to see what you’re looking at.
Note: if you want to know How to Use Shepherd Scope Rangefinder With Different Bullets clicks HERE.
Prism Desilvering
This is where the silver coating on the beam splitters used in the rangefinder gets oxidized, turning them into mirrors. When you use the rangefinder, the center spot will turn black. You’ll need to buy a new rangefinder if you want to continue using it.
CRR Luton (UK), the world’s only re-silvering service, offers the world’s only silvering service.
Finder Separation
This lens is prone to focusing problems. I’ve had mine for over 10 years now and it still works fine but there’s a chance that it could stop working if you use too much force when separating the two halves of the lens.
The good news is that you should be able to fix your prism by gluing it back together.
M Finder Repairs
CCR Luton (UK) claims that they can repair your rangefinder for less than $100. This statement is false as the cost of replacing the rangefinder is much higher than what CCR Luton (UK) claims.
M3 main prisms are very expensive. You should be able to fix your lens by re-cementing it.
People who have had their M3 prism replaced seem to be doing fine.
DIY Repair
Why not? Simply disassemble the camera and RF mechanism, use acetone to dissolve balsam holding the prism, re-cement using new UV optical adhesives, allow time to cure, then re-assemble and re-calibrate. Pretty easy really.
How to Clean the Rangefinder on a Leica M3?
Conclusion
The M3 is an iconic camera that has been around since 1955. It is a very popular camera among photographers. It has been featured on many magazine covers and has won awards.
A camera that was first made in 1936 still holds up today. This is a great example of how technology doesn’t always get better over time.
We hope that this article was helpful. If you have any queries feel free to reach out in the comments section below.
If you want to know more information about rangefinder click HERE.
