Leica M3
The Leica M3 was the first of the M-series of Leica cameras that was introduced in 1954. It has since become a legendary camera among a wide variety of photographers, notably the many members of the Magnum Photo agency. It is a camera noted for its incredibly high level of design and craftsmanship and for the superb quality of its lenses. Leica rangefinders are fast and simple cameras to use, making them the prime choice for street and editorial photographers for decades. The M in the M3 stands for "Messsucher" or "measuring finder" referring to the M3's innovation of having a combined viewfinder and rangefinder in the same window. Additionally, the M3 has built-in frame lines for three lenses: the 50mm, 90mm and 135mm. Leica made 35mm lenses with special attachments to correct the M3's viewfinder as well, giving the M3 user an easy range from 35-135mm. While any other M-mount lens can be used with the M3, an auxiliary viewfinder will be required for framing. The M3 is purely mechanical with no batteries whatsoever. Of course, this also means no meter.
Leica M3 cameras can be found in a couple of different versions. Early M3 cameras were double stroke - the film advance lever requires two strokes to advance every frame, while later M3 cameras adopted a single stroke film advance. Also, later M3 cameras have frame preview levers, although this change happened at a different time than the switch from double to single stroke film advance.
Altogether, the elegance, reliability and understated beauty of this camera puts it solidly in the running for "the best camera ever".
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