Leica M3 + SUMMARON 35mm F2.8 with Goggles
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The Leica M3, introduced in 1954 by the German company Leitz (now Leica Camera AG), is one of the most highly regarded rangefinder cameras ever made—revered by enthusiasts and professionals alike even more than 70 years after its release. As the first model in the Leica M series, the M3 marked a significant evolution from the earlier Barnack-type Leicas and is often considered the definitive form of the rangefinder camera. Its success stems from a perfect fusion of technical innovation and masterful craftsmanship, laying the foundation for all future M models.
One of the M3’s most revolutionary features was its improved viewfinder system. Previous Leica models required users to switch between a separate viewfinder for framing and a rangefinder window for focusing. The M3 changed this by integrating both into a single bright-frame viewfinder—an industry first. It automatically switches framelines for 50mm, 90mm, and 135mm lenses, allowing seamless composition and focusing in one intuitive step. With a 1.0x magnification, the finder is bright and clear enough for both-eyes-open shooting, a major advantage for street and documentary photography.
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Another key innovation was the redesigned film loading system. The M3 introduced a new method involving a removable baseplate and a hinged rear door, greatly simplifying the once-complicated loading process of earlier models. This improvement was a major boon for professionals, enhancing both reliability and speed in the field.
The cloth horizontal-travel focal plane shutter of the M3 is a masterpiece of mechanical engineering, offering speeds from 1 second to 1/1000 second, with a smooth, quiet action that remains unmatched. Its near-silent operation made it a favorite among photojournalists capturing candid or sensitive scenes.
The M3’s body is exceptionally durable, with top and bottom plates machined from solid brass, finished in either chrome or black enamel. This rugged construction has proven resilient over decades, and many M3s remain in active use today. The craftsmanship and precision engineering involved in its assembly give the M3 a reputation as much for aesthetic beauty as for functional excellence.
The M3 established the three core principles of Leica's design philosophy: intuitive operation, mechanical reliability, and outstanding optical performance. Its influence continues through later models like the M2, M4, and M6, all of which carry the DNA of the M3. Far from being merely a collector's item, the Leica M3 is still a superb tool for serious photography, rekindling appreciation for analog image-making in a digital age.
About the Summaron 35mm F2.8 with Goggles
The Summaron 35mm f/2.8 with “goggles” is a distinctive and historically significant lens designed specifically for use with the Leica M3. Introduced in 1958, this lens was engineered to enable accurate wide-angle composition using the M3’s 1.0x viewfinder, which lacks built-in framelines for 35mm focal length. The attached optical goggles (auxiliary finder lenses) effectively modify the field of view within the M3’s viewfinder, allowing precise framing and parallax correction for 35mm shooting.
Compact and optically refined, the Summaron 35mm f/2.8 may not be as fast as modern wide-angle lenses, but it excels in rendering sharp, characterful images—especially between f/5.6 and f/8. The classic lens coating imparts a subtle softness to light, producing pleasing flares and halation under backlight, lending a nostalgic, filmic quality to images.
The goggle mechanism is more than a simple viewfinder aid. It includes optics at the eyepiece level to adjust the viewfinder’s apparent field of view, while also correcting for parallax, making it extremely accurate even at close focusing distances. Though the lens appears bulky due to the goggles, this visual heft is part of its charm and Leica’s legacy of design.
Today, the Summaron 35mm f/2.8 with goggles is highly sought after by vintage lens enthusiasts, especially Leica M3 users. It offers a unique blend of performance, history, and individuality. Whether paired with film or digital Leica bodies, the lens delivers distinctive rendering, making it a beloved creative tool across generations.
Leica M3 – Main Specifications
● Mount : Leica M bayonet mount (M-mount)
● Film Format : 35mm (135 format)
● Viewfinder Magnification : 0.91x
● Frameline Display : 50mm, 90mm, 135mm (automatic switching)
● Rangefinder Base Length : 68.5mm
● Effective Base Length : 62.3mm
● Shutter : Cloth-curtain horizontal-travel focal plane shutter
● Shutter Speeds : 1s to 1/1000s, Bulb (B)
● Flash Sync Speed : 1/50s (X-sync)
● Light Meter : Not built-in (supports external Leica Meter)
● Film Advance : Lever-wound
● Film Rewind : Manual knob
● Film Loading : Via removable baseplate and hinged rear door
● Frame Counter : Automatic reset
● Self-timer : Mechanical
● Dimensions : Approx. 138 × 77 × 33.5 mm
● Weight : Approx. 580g (body only)
● Finish : Silver chrome
Highlights of the Leica M3
● High-precision viewfinder : The 0.91x finder is bright and clear, ideal for accurate manual focusing, especially with telephoto lenses.
● Parallax correction : Framelines adjust based on focus distance for precise framing in close-up situations.
● Robust build quality : Milled brass construction with durable finish, built to last decades of use.
● Quiet shutter operation : The cloth shutter is nearly silent, perfect for discreet photography.
● Lens versatility : Compatible with all M-mount lenses and many LTM (screw-mount) lenses via adapter.
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