Leica M3 - Variations - Shutter Speed Dial
Early Leica M3 cameras built before 1957 (serial numbers through 854,000) were fitted with shiny chrome shutter speed dials that read in the old "Scientific" shutter speed sequence: B, 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000. Cameras with serial numbers 854,001- replaced this with a satin-finish shutter speed dial that matches the rest of the camera body and reads in the now-standard "Geometric" sequence: B, 1, 2, 4, 8, 15, 30, 60, 125, 250, 500, 1000. Satin shutter dials also feature a red "flash bolt" detent indicating the max flash sync at 1/50th. Both chrome and satin shutter dials can be set to intermediate speeds between the detents to achieve non-standard speeds, meaning that 1/60th is possible, if slightly cumbersome, on an older chrome-dialed camera. A final consideration is that later Leicameters such as the MR-4 will not couple properly to the earlier "Scientific" dials.
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