Leica M3: The 35mm Film Camera That Became a Legend
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Loading... - David Smith
- 15 Feb 2023
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During the century-or-so that film was the dominant medium in photography, a handful of cameras made a mark deeper than the rest and became legendary for their impact and legacy. One of these was the Leica M3.
Introduced in 1954 and produced until 1966, the Leica M3 was the first model in the famous Leica M rangefinder line that continues to see new cameras produced in the digital age. While many M cameras have followed in its footsteps, the Leica M3 is still one of the most popular models alike among both collectors and photographers.
Analog or film photography is seeing a resurgence in interest and uptake. In today’s world of ever-increasing resolution — commercial cameras now boast over 150 megapixels — analog will always be a disadvantage given the physical limits of 35mm or 120mm (6×6) film, but the darkroom practice and the skill required to shoot a completely mechanical camera still has a particular allure on budding young photographers as well as those more advanced in age who had experienced analog photography before.
In this article, we will explore why the Leica M3 remains one of Leica’s most celebrated and in-demand models over half a century after it was first launched. The camera is considered to be Leica’s masterpiece by many, but how and why did this arise? Read More…
