Leica M3 Camera, 1955

This particular model has the serial number 755515 was made in 1955 and has survived to our days in good condition, showing only some sign of wear that does not interfere at all with the cameras quality. The item comes with a Leica light meter, in good condition and in its original cardboard box. Unlike the rest of the M series, this camera, being one of the first models of the M Series, keeps the double stroke of previous models. The feature single stroke was added from serial number 919 251, so this is a less common model.This Leica M3 bears a Summaron M 35 / 2.8 lens with serial number 1663430. Summaron 35 mm lenses started being made in 1949 with the classic screw mount, In 1958 they were replaced by this particular model, M 35 / 2.8, that was made in two versions: screw mount and bayonet M mount. Many experts think that this lens is exceedingly sharp and provides no distortions, giving the same bold and vivid colors as the Leicas newest lenses.This lovely vintage camera is a real Leica M3, a camera whose prestige is renowned all over the world as it has been used to take the most famous images. The most relevant photographers have used Leica cameras in their work, for example Robert Capa and Sebastiao Salgado among many others.Leica cameras were the first practical ones made for 35 mm film. They were designed by Oskar Barnack for Ernst Leitz GmbH from Wetzlar (Germany) and the first prototypes were manufactured in 1913. From then on the company continued to evolve and in the middle of the 20th century they launched the Leica M3, the model we can see in these images. It had a revolutionary design, being very simple and greatly functional. One of its most interesting and practical features is the bayonet lens mount; nowadays Leica cameras and many others still include this system.In essence, this Leica M3 camera and the original light meter that comes with it form a very attractive set, both for the professional photographer and the collector of vintage cameras of the best quality.