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Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals This Instruction Book ® contains everything you should know about your LEICA M3. Please devote some time to reading it carefully, and practice the simple operations — without a film, to start with. You will get the hang of it much quicker than you thought. The LEICA is an advanced highgrade camera, but nevertheless - or rather because of that - amazingly simple to operate.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals The Shutter Speed Dial For exposures with slow shutter speeds you must, of course, have a firm support. A tripod is ideal in conjunction with a locking cable-release. Screw in the coble-release without pressing the button. The handy LEITZ table tripod is very useful when travelling. Counter nter The Film Cou is coupled with the transport lever.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals 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. The iris diaphragm of the lens has a similar purpose, namely to cut down very bright light by "stopping down" — i.e.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals Depth--ofThe Depth of-Field Scale The picture reproduces sharpest those parts of the scene which are at the exact distance – in a plane parallel to the film – on which the lens is focused.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals Brilliant--Frame Range Range--Viewfinder The Brilliant 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.
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.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals The Distance can be set on the distance scale engraved on every lens, or with the aid of the rangefinder image visible in the finder. Some lenses lock in the infinity position; for focusing on nearer distances this lock must be released by depressing the infinity catch. Always remember to extend and lock the barrel of collapsible lenses (see also page 16).
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. Whenever vertical lines cut through the rangefinder field, you can also measure the distance by the split-image method. This is mode particularly easy by the sharp boundary of the rangefinder field.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals Automatic Finder Adjustment for 90mm and 135mm Lenses 90 mm Lenses Field of view with a 90 mm LEICA lens. The subject area covered with the longer focal length is indicated by the additional bright line frame within the large brilliant frame showing the field of view of the 50 mm lens, which remains visible all the time. Fit a 90mm LEICA lens in your LEICA M3, lock it in position, and again look through the rangeviewfinder.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals automatically compensated during focusing - just as with the 50mm lens – over the whole focusing range. The image frames visible in the finder also allow for the reduction of the field of view due to the fact that the angle covered by the lens decreases at nearer distances.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals Lever in normal position: field of view for 50mm lens Lever pointing inwards: field of view for 90mm lens Lever pointing outwards: field of view for 135mm lens The Th e Finder Frame Preselector With the small lever on the front of the body you can moke the 90mm and 135mm finder frames visible in the viewfinder even when, for example, the standard 50 mm lens is fitted to the camera.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals so that it is supported as much as possible against the face; the camera, head, and hands should act as one unit. The purpose of it all is to ensure a really steady camera position. This will prevent camera shake, and give you that high standard of definition which has always been the hallmark of the highly corrected LEICA lenses. Press the release button smoothly and gently, never jab it.
about 10 seconds delay Point of release Close-up pictures can be taken with the camera held in the hand or mounted on a tripod, the image being focused automatically with the coupled range-finder. As the depth of field is greatly reduced at such close distances, the lens should be stopped down to at least f/8 or f/11. The Delayed Action SelfSelf-Timer Pull down the self-timer lever. The LEICA shutter can already be tensioned, otherwise tension it now.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals Changing Lenses To remove the lens, hold the camera in your left hand, pressing the button of the bayonet lock with the thumb. Grip the .lens by the focusing ring with your right hand, as close as possible to the camera body, and turn anti-clockwise to release the lens. This can now be lifted out of the mount. Lenses fitted with an infinity lock should be locked at infinity before changing.
The Collapsible Lenses When not in use, certain LEICA lenses (for instance the 50 mm ELMAR f/2.8 and the collapsible 90mm ELMAR f/4) can be unlocked by slightly turning the front anticlockwise and pushing into the camera body. For use, fully extend the lens, and lock by turning to the right. (The collapsible 90 mm ELMAR f/4 can only be focused when it is properly extended and locked.) With any lens, always remember to take off the lens cap.
Dual--Range SUMMICRON The 50mm Dual This version of the 50mm SUMMICRON lens has two focusing ranges; 1. The normal 1 range from infinity to 3 /2 feet (1 meter); 2. The close-up range from about 35 to 19 inches (88 to 48 cm) from the film-plane. An optical finder attachment fits onto the top of the lens mount for use within the near range. This adapts the coupled range-viewfinder for close-up focusing. The lens thus acts at the same time as a close-up focusing mount with parallax compensation.
Ever--Ready Case In its Ever the LEICA M3 is protected against the weather and minor knocks, yet is always ready for action. The lid of the ever-ready case is pivoted so that it is well out of the way even for upright shots, and cannot obstruct the lens. LEICA filters improve tonal rendition in black-and-white pictures. The yellow and orange filters, for example, yield pictorial cloud effects.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals Before fitting the LEICAMETER "MC," set the shutter speed dial of the LEICA M 3 to "B." Then rotate the milled setting ring of the exposure meter in the direction of the arrow as far as it will go. The index line on the ring should coincide with the index line on the meter housing, as shown clearly in the illustration at the bottom of page 21. Now lift up the ring and continue turning in the direction of the arrow.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals The exposure meter helps you a great deal in 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. Next push the LEICAMETER "MC" into the accessory shoe of the camera as far as it will go.
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).
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals 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. Outdoors, even the shade of your body will provide adequate protection. Also, do not leave exposed or unexposed cassettes lying about, but keep them safely in their cans until you are ready to use or develop them.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals the camera as debscribed on page 27. Turn the key in the base plate in the direction marked "auf — open", and lift off. The film cassette and the take-up spool are now easily withdrawn. Open the hinged camera back, and place the camera in front of you on the table with the open base upwards, and the lens facing you. Hold the take-up spool in the right hand, and the cassette in the left, both with the spool knobs pointing up.
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. The matt emulsion side must face the lens and the focal plane shutter; the take-up spool winds up the film with the emulsion side out.
To Set the FilmFilm-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 film) should point to the required film speed in ASA or DIN. This then shows at a glance what film is loaded in the camera.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals 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.
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 electronicflash you can set any shutter speed between 1 second and the red arrow which stands for 1/50 second. The effective exposure time is governed by the flash-duration of the electronic-flash. (Usually about 1/1000 sec.) The right-hand socket is used for synchronizing class M flash bulbs.
Not For Resale – Free Download at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/joechan/manuals Hints ints for Color Pictures Practical H With daylight type reversal color film use only electronic flash or blue coated flash bulbs. With artificial light type reversal color film use yellow coated flash bulbs. With negative color film either clear flash bulbs or electronic-flash can be used, as color correction is possible at the printing stage.
