Abt M3 DS?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Leica Photography : One Thread

hi all

I'm about to buy a M3 DS body. I've gathered some info abt it. I love the DS feel (it feels so smooth!) but I'm appalled to learnt from Edwin Put's site that :

"Be forewarned when buying a double stroke version. The clutch mechanism can fail after so many years in service and can not be repaired. But it can be exchanged for a single stroke mechanism."

May I get response from M3 DS users.. on how true is this statement?

thanks in advance.

-- luxman (ericssan@yahoo.com), March 08, 2002

Answers

Yes it's true. If you send it in for service of the film transport mechanism, it will be replaced with a single stroke mechanism. But relatively few photographers will actually were out the DS mechanism.

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), March 08, 2002.

The single stroke film advance is ratcheted, so it can be used with two (or more) strokes. You don't have to do it with a single stroke, so you're not really losing anything if it's converted.

-- Bill (bmitch@comcast.net), March 08, 2002.

My M3 is 48 years old and the double stroke advance still works like new. I don't think I have ever seen an M3 DS for sale with a problem in the winding mechanism. I would say not to worry about it.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), March 08, 2002.

I have a '55 that's been converted from DS to SS--the advance action is silky smooth, and as noted above, you can use it like a DS if you prefer. Don't sweat it . . .

-- Mike Dixon (mike@mikedixonphotography.com), March 09, 2002.

The only thing to sweat... is the price of the conversion if needed. I understand its about $250

-- Charles (cbarcellona@telocity.com), March 09, 2002.


Luxman,

I agree with the other respondents. You will have difficulty wearing out a DS M3. Buy it. There is no better Leica M than a DS M3. I have a 1957 version, one of the last double strokes. I think they ended production in 1958. I read somewhere either on this list or on the LUG that they did a survey of Leica tecnicians at Wetzlar some time ago. They were asked which was the best made or best Leica M. The majority responded that it was the last of the double stroke M3's. That's good enough for me.

Regards,

Tony Salce

-- Tony Salce (NadinaTony@bigpond.com), March 09, 2002.


I spoke to Don Goldberg (DAG) last week & he said conversion of my M3 DS to a SS, along w/ a recommended CLA, would cost about $400... Not to be done lightly!

-- Patrick (pg@patrickgarner.com), March 09, 2002.

luxman:

It also kinda depends on the care and treatment it received from its previous owner(s). I have a DS I bought from the original owner who used it but did not abuse it. I love the DS and hope it stays that way, but as they say on the ole labodomy box: Your mileage may vary! If you've got one spotted, I'd sure go for it! Also, remember that parts and service are expensive. It costs more to take care of a Mercedes than a Ford. There are some outstanding repair people out there in Leica Land and in my opinion, they earn their money. Wait, I just remembered a Ford I once had.............my checkbook still moans when I take it out of my pocket.

-- Ben Hughes (ben@hughesbros.com), March 09, 2002.


Has anyone ever actually had a DS give out, other than just reading about it? I had two, and they were fine.

Was DAG's $400 including his normal $285 CLA price? If so, then the DS>SS conversion part of the bill is only $115, which doesn't seem all that bad.

-- Michael Darnton (mdarnton@hotmail.com), March 09, 2002.


It's tough to spot a bad M3 DS mechanism in a camera that is for sale, because most of the problems occur at the end of a roll of film when the tension on the take-up spool is the greatest. The advance will 'slip' a little bit. Sometimes there are frame spacing problems, other times not, but it's a hassle either way. The conversion is at least $300 (because of the parts costs, mostly) and that's without a CLA, so the $400 all included sounds about right. I've seen quite a few of these cameras that feel great, but are close to shot...I'd say the statement is very true. Be forewarned, it's better to buy a early camera that's already been converted.

-- Carlin (carlinm@abac.com), March 09, 2002.


"The conversion is at least $300 (because of the parts costs, mostly)"

Not true. the big cost is getting the camera open! Conversion, nearly all parts, is only abut $120 additional if the camera is already open for a CLA. So truly this is almost a non-issue......

-- david kelly (dmkedit@aol.com), March 09, 2002.


hi all

thanks for your kind replies. I'm reassured.

-- luxman (ericssan@yahoo.com), March 10, 2002.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ