Leica M 3 Instructions Manual
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Leica M 3 Instructions Manual

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  • Page 1 Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals...

  • Page 2: The Release Button

    — without a film, to start with. You will get the hang of it much quicker than you thought. The LEICA is an advanced high- grade camera, but nevertheless - or rather because of that - amazingly simple to operate.
  • Page 3 Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals The Shutter The Shutter The Shutter The Shutter Speed Dial Speed Dial Speed Dial Speed Dial controls the exposure times. The engraved figures stand fractions of a second thus 1000 indicates second, 125 is 1000 second, 4 is second, and...
  • Page 4 The Iris Diaphragm The Iris Diaphragm Hold the lens of your LEICA up to your eye, and rotate the aperture ring. You can then see through the lens components how the iris diaphragm opens and closes. It thus works rather like the iris of your eye which also opens or closes to adapt itself to weaker or stronger light.
  • Page 5 Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals The Depth The Depth- - - - of of- - - - Field Scale Field Scale The Depth The Depth of of Field Scale Field Scale The picture reproduces sharpest those parts of the scene which are at the exact distance – in a plane parallel to the film –...
  • Page 6 Viewfinder Viewfinder of the LEICA M3 is designed to function as both a particularly efficient viewfinder and as a highly accurate coupled rangefinder. Everything visible within the bright line frame is recorded on the film with the standard 50 mm lens. This holds true even if you are in a hurry and should happen to glance obliquely through the finder.
  • Page 7 Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals This is how the subject appears in the brilliant-frame range-viewfinder with a 50 mm lens in position.
  • Page 8 You will see a bright sharp rectangle in the centre of the finder area. Hold the LEICA in such a way that the vertical window bar cuts through this rectangular rangefinder field. Inside the rangefinder field you will see a double image; i.e.
  • Page 9 Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals the finder; the second image moves to the right until it coincides with the stationary outline in the rangefinder field. You have now measured the distance by what is known as the coincidence method.
  • Page 10 135mm Lenses 90 mm Lenses Fit a 90mm LEICA lens in your LEICA M3, lock it in position, and again look through the range- viewfinder. You will now see on additional bright line finder frame which indicates the field of view...
  • Page 11 When you fit one of the 35mm wide-angle LEICA lenses with integral M 3 finder attachment to the camera, the viewfinder is automatically converted for wide-angle photography. Field of view with the 135 mm HEKTOR lens which yields a magnification of 2.7 times as...

  • Page 12: Holding The Camera

    Holding the Camera Holding the Camera A good camera grip is the best insurance against camera shake. Hold the LEICA M3 so that the base rests in the palms of both hands, with the thumb against the transport lever, and the index finger resting lightly on the release button. Use the left hand to operate the lens focusing lever.
  • Page 13 When you want to change from horizontal to vertical shots, turn the LEICA upright about the optical axis of the range- viewfinder. The camera hold does not change much. Grip the LEICA in the same way as for horizontal views.
  • Page 14 Timer Timer Pull down the self-timer lever. The LEICA shutter can already be tensioned, otherwise tension it now. To make the exposure, however, do not press the release button, but the small button above the self-timer lever. You will then...

  • Page 15: Changing Lenses

    This can now be lifted out of If you keep the camera and lens the mount. Lenses fitted with an infinity separately use a protective cap for each. lock should be locked at infinity before Rear caps are available for all LEICA changing. lenses.

  • Page 16: Lens Care

    Lens Coating Lens Coating Modern coated LEICA lenses show a colored sheen on the surface, due to an anti- reflection layer which appreciably increases the brilliance and crispness of the image. The outer surfaces are hard coated and will therefore stand up to careful cleaning.
  • Page 17 Focusing between infinity and 31/2, feet (1 meter). Over this range the lens is used like any other LEICA lens. At 31/2 feet (1 meter) the focusing movement is limited by a stop. Focusing between 35 and 19 inches (88 and 48 cm). The distances are measured from the back of the camera to the subject.

  • Page 18: Lens Hoods

    (shading of the corners of the negative). If you use the ever-ready case for the LEICA M3, the lens hood may be reversed over a number of LEICA lenses, and special lens hood caps are provided to protect the front surface of the lens.
  • Page 19 LEICAMETER "MC" is a novel type of accessory exposure meter which couples with the focal plane shutter of the LEICA M 3. You therefore have the choice of using your LEICA camera either with the coupled exposure meter to ensure correct exposures every time, or without the meter in the usual way.
  • Page 20 Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals The exposure meter helps you great deal avoiding incorrect exposures, especially with color film which needs very accurate exposure. But the instrument is equally valuable for black-and-white films, for it ensures perfect negatives of uniform quality that are easy to enlarge.
  • Page 21 Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals The LEICAMETER MC must be set to the speed rating of the film being used. It has two built-in measuring ranges (indicated by black and red dots on the instrument) and a third range, for extremely low illumination, is obtained by means of an accessory booster-cell (see special instructions).
  • Page 22 Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals Loading the LEICA Loading the LEICA Loading the LEICA Loading the LEICA Daylight cassettes and properly loaded and closed "M" cassettes (type N) are light-tight. Nevertheless, avoid loading or unloading the camera in direct sunlight or strong artificial light.
  • Page 23 Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals spring of the take-up spool as far as it will the camera as debscribed on page 27. go. The perforated film edge must lie straight Turn the key in the base plate in the against the spool flange, as shown in the direction marked "auf —...
  • Page 24 Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals The film cassette and the take-up spool must be fully pushed home to ensure that the film lies properly between the guides. Check that the position of the film corresponds to that shown in the diagram.

  • Page 25: Unloading The Film

    To Set the Film To Set the Film To Set the Film To Set the Film- - - - Type Indicator Type Indicator Type Indicator Type Indicator on the camera back, press one finger lightly against the center, and turn it to the type and speed of the film loaded in the camera. One of the three pointers next to the appropriate symbol (black-and-white chevron for black-and-white film, sun on red background for daylight type color film, or lamp on red background for artificial light type color...
  • Page 26 LEICA Films LEICA Films Double-perforated 35 mm film, as used in the LEICA, is supplied by film manufacturers all over the world in several packagings and a wide range of black-and-white and color emulsions. Daylight-loading cassettes consist of a light-tight shell containing a length of...

  • Page 27: Using Flash

    The Flash Table The Flash Table The Flash Table All electronic flash units and most types of flash bulbs are easily synchronized with the LEICA M 3. The left-hand socket marked is intended for electronic-flash and type F flash bulbs. With electronic-...
  • Page 28 We therefore suggest that you should first make some trial exposures with the chosen flash and film combination. Cassettes for the LEICA M 3 Cassettes for the LEICA M 3 Cassettes for the LEICA M 3...

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