An original Leica M3 35mm rangefinder film camera body featuring the early double-stroke film advance mechanism and distinctive strap lugs (commonly referred to as "Buddha ears"), serial number 915642, manufactured in 1957. Renowned as the pinnacle of mechanical rangefinder engineering, combining a brilliant 0.91x viewfinder with automatic parallax-correcting frame lines for 50mm, 90mm, and 135mm lenses.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good
Cosmetically in good pre-owned vintage condition showing signs of previous use, including minor paint loss and brassing near the baseplate corners and strap lugs, along with moderate wear on the included leather ever-ready case. The mechanical shutter speeds and film advance mechanisms operate smoothly, and the interior film chamber and viewfinder remain clean and functional. Note the window on the case.
Included
Leica M3 Double Stroke Camera Body (Serial: 915642)
Vintage Leather Ever-Ready Case
Key Features
Early double-stroke film advance mechanism requiring two strokes of the lever per frame
Classic "Buddha ear" strap lug design unique to early production M3 bodies
High-magnification 0.91x viewfinder with luminous brightline frames for standard focal lengths
Extremely precise mechanical cloth focal-plane shutter operating without dependence on batteries
Bayonet Leica M mount compatible with legendary rangefinder optics
Collector's Notes
Double-stroke Leica M3 cameras from the 1957 production block are highly coveted by collectors for their butter-smooth mechanical feel and early heritage features like the distinctive strap lugs.
Keywords
Leica M3, Double Stroke Leica, Buddha Ear Leica M3, Vintage Rangefinder Camera, 35mm Film Camera, Ernst Leitz Wetzlar, Serial 915642
