I am just curious as to what is the function, if any, of the small metal protuberance on the LLS(lower, left, side viewed from the rear)of the M3? TIA. Richard

-- Richard Fulco (calcinc@mn.rr.com), December 18, 2001

Answers

It's the attachment lug for the Benser baseplate that carried another lens IIRC.

-- Paul Chefurka (paul@chefurka.com), December 18, 2001.

One the use was to attach the Leitz CTOOM Flash Bracket

-- Lucien (lucien_vd@yahoo.fr), December 18, 2001.

Benser

-- Lucien (lucien_vd@yahoo.fr), December 18, 2001.

There were multiple base-plate attachments for the earlier Leicas, including motor drives, and flash synchronisers. It was a carryover in the M3 design which never was used to it's potential. It also fit the Leicavit-M.

-- Wilhelmnm (bmitch@home.com), December 18, 2001.

It also gave proper registration when the camera was put in the various copy stands and, later, the Repovit. Leica can add one to newer cameras that do not have one if you want to use an accessory that requires it.

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), December 18, 2001.

Wilhelmnm,

The motor-drive and Leicavit are only replacing the normal base plate and they don't need that "small metal protuberance".

The CTOOM or the Benser plate attach over the base plate, and need it.

You can find it on screw mount Leica and on the M3, M2, M1, MD, MDa and MD-2. It was removed from the M4 and later normal Ms.

-- Lucien (lucien_vd@yahoo.fr), December 19, 2001.