Can someone please tell me approximately how much the M4 film loading type of converion for an M3 costs? Where does one have this service performed? How long does it usually take? Are there any adverse reactions to the camera body from such a procedure? Does it matter which version of the M3 is used? Thanks,

-- Jack Belen (jbelen@aol.com), April 20, 2001

Answers

From the Leica-users archives:

---------- From: Freegift@aol.com Reply-To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2000 02:48:56 EDT To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us Subject: [Leica] M3 film spool modification

>Hi Jeff,

>

>Who did the work on your M3 conversion, and what was the cost (if you don't

>mind my asking)?

>

>Thanks,

>Dan > Dan,

Don Goldberg did the conversion for me. I think it ran about $500. In addition, he also installed the M3 eyepiece lens into an M6 rubberized eyepiece at the same time. I really can't say enough good about the work he does. He's fast and he's reasonably priced.

Jeff Wheeler

----------------

Cheers,

-- John Collier (jbcollier@home.com), April 20, 2001.

I wouldn't spend that kind of money on a "user" M3, nor would I cannibalize one with colletible value. I would instead look for the Leitz Quick Load Kit, which consists of a sping-trap spool and a plastic guide that attaches over the nipple in the baseplate. I had one of these in each of my M2's and they worked very well. On the M3 the only catch is you have to pull the spool out a few mm each time to re-set the frame counter. (I suspect addressing that issue is the most expensive part of a "conversion"). The QL kits usually go for $100 or so, and they come up frequently enough.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), April 20, 2001.

Jack: I have an M6 and an M3 with a quick load kit from Leica. I installed the quick load kit 25 years ago and am still happy with it. You need to give the take-up spool a quick pull and push to reset the counter, but this is easy and quick enough to do. I would not put the $500.00 into a modification of this type. I still use the M3 as much as the M6 .72. The quick load fits the M3 and M2 in all versions to the best of my knowledge.

Cheers.

Mark J

-- Mark A. Johnson (logic@gci.net), April 21, 2001.