Description
The Leica M3, introduced in 1954, was the beginning of a new era for the company Leitz in the construction of rangefinder cameras. When introduced at the Photokina in 1954 the camera was revolutionary in terms of technical solutions and design and so the Leica M3 quickly became the preferred working tool for professional photographers. Its reliability and the outstanding optical quality of the Leitz/Leica lenses have led to the legendary reputation the Leica M system still has today.
In the course of the long production period from 1954 to 1966 various changes of detail were made on the M3 and Leica produced about 226.178 units, total.
Generally speaking, there are three different versions of the Leica M3.
The first version was built from 1954 to 1955, the second version was introduced towards the end of 1955 and was in production until 1956.
The third type of Leica M3 followed the next year and was manufactured until the end of production in 1966.
For many collectors and users, the Leica M3 is still a milestone in the construction of mechanical cameras and the photographs taken with this camera have not only shaped a new modern picture language, but have been anchored in the collective image memory to this day. Photographers such as Henry Cartier-Bresson, David Douglas Duncan, Inge Morath, Eliot Erwitt, René Burri, Abbas and many others created with the Leica M3 images which became icons of modern photography.
Total production: approx. 50.891 units
Rarity: R6
Rarity forecast: R6
