My first Leica was the M3, given to me by my old boss and mentor. And one of the first thing he made me do was to learn to expose without a meter. And now it's so much faster and easier to take photos. Now I don't have to think anymore. This camera will die with me.

i like how the BEHEMOTH is just chillin on the shelf

Had an M4, had a friend dent it. Sold it, got an M3. Will never need another Leica. It is the quintessential apex of the 35mm rangefinder experience. A true masterpiece! Wonderful video, Matt! :)

The photo of Nora waddling down the hall is priceless! Definitely a heartwarming photo. Great work as always, Matt!

Matt you should do a "re-do" of the Leica M6 review

Oh man... Exactly the same situation with having the M6, slightly scared to try one now incase I can't resist! Great vid as always.

Fantastic review as usual. Even in spite of the audio problems everything about these videos just speaks of excellence. I leave feeling blown away with the quality of what you do, especially considering how busy you are with everything else in your life. Also, killing it with those shots of Nora and Molly! I love the way you capture such a range with those two!

I've probably watched this video 20 different times since it's been posted and every time the photos gets me in the feels. Well done Matt

Hey Matt, I know you do your videos for the fun and passion of photography, but I am surprised that you don't have more subs, simply because for the content you put out, the way the videos are made and specially your personality. I hope you keep growing strongly and delighting us with your knowledge about photography and cameras and your skill as a photographer. Big hug for your girls and cheers to the family and the upcoming new member! Take care. :-)

I love my M3. I have a great light meter on her: Voigtlander VC Meter.

I don't know what it is, but this video really motivated me to get out there and shoot. Thanks for all your videos, Matt. You take a chance by putting so many personal stories out there in the public. Regarding the video, I think I'm going to stick with my M6 as well, but that M3 just looks so damn good...

Just swapped my M5 for the M3 a few days ago and love it. keep up the good content.

Nice review Matt. Great photos too! Your love for family really shows. I've been contiplating getting the M3 for a long time. My mind is made up now.

Matt, I've only recently discovered your channel. Your nothing short of inspiring, in both a photography sense, but also your family values. That picture of your daughter walking down the hall gave me goosebumps, beyond stellar. Congrats on the news also !

Finally ordered one can't wait to shoot my first roll

Great review Matt. I loved the way you let the photographs speak for the camera.

Nora is so young in this! Glad to see that you’ve done an M3 review after all this time of watching your videos, and thanks for giving the M3 a run for its money on camera.

Hey Matt! Your videos keep getting better and better! I never miss one.Thanks for sharing, man. Loved the photos too... the one of your baby walking is great!

Hello Matt. Great video. One comment though. Having used M3 since the 1960 s the camera require maintenance every 30 years or so and when you rewind the film you hold the rewind knob with your left thumb and index finger keeping the camera stationary then With your right index finger flip the camera to rewind the film The camera becomes the lever!

Love the style/format of your videos - definitely one of my favourite photography KZfaqrs out there. It's really great that you focus mainly on analogue photography, I feel that if it wasn't for people like you promoting the scene it'd be dying out. Film is something really great, thanks for keeping it alive!

Mine was made in 1963 (SS). I have just had it overhauled to brand new condition. It is incredible! The only thing is you have to try shooting it with a Leica lens. Amazing!

Thanks Matt! I've been shooting an M2 this past year with a 35mm and don't think I'd ever part with it. I love that it doesn't have a meter and forces me to think, but then again I only use it to shoot street. Same film (hp5) pushed to 800 and always around f8 or f11. That kind of makes guessing exposure pretty simple. For portraits or documenting my personal life I stick with an slr (fm3a) or more often than not my 6x6 or 67:)

been watching your videos for a while, and you may not take too much notice to it; much like not realizing how fast your child grows up, but you've been improved greatly. Taking everyday moments and producing them into artful memories. Keep up the good work.

Beautiful photos, loved them!

Great review and such lovely photos, I often come back to this review for inspiration. Thanks Matt!

I understand the attraction to the M6's meter but this can be overcome / equalized by using a Voightlander VC lightmeter which is small and slides into the cold shoe on the top plate.. I think it's a great help for occasional shooters like me who aren't sharp enough to look at a scene and "guess" exposure... Thanks for a great video and may you end up with your own M3 one of these days...

Thank you so much for making these videos. Any time you come out with a new camera review, I stop what I'm doing to watch it. I always end up wanting whichever camera you review. :)

Man...those photos moved me. I've got my very first Leica on the way now. An M4 in what appears to be mint condition.. Can't wait! I want the Zeiss 35mm F2 to pair it with. Cheers!

Comment on the Zeiss 1,5/50 you used; out of the factory, it will focus shift at f/1,5 as it is optimized for f/2,8. Zeiss will readjust for maximum sharpness at f/1,5 for no charge.

Nice job, Matt. Very informative video. I particularly like the fact that, unlike many in your age group, you speak clearly, slowly and distinctly. As to the camera, I've had my M3 SS since the 1970s and, hard to explain, there is just something about Leicas in general that make you a better photographer. Maybe its the fact that the Leica ergonomics make you take your time and think about your composition, exposure etc. before you press the shutter release. Best regards and keep shooting.

Matt, great video! Love your indoor setup and look you have. Even more, loving the GoPro on top of the camera and then showing the frames you took. Very cool! I'm still a Leica R guy and love the Summicron, but for a rangefinder, the M3 looks very nice!

Fabulous set of images, Matt. Some of the stuff of Molly and Nora was especially nice. Well done.

The "dream camera". As soon as I find one in good condition I'll take it.

Another great video. I really miss my film cameras and darkroom.

What a wonderful time for this video came up. Thanks for sharing, Matt! Ive just bough a M3 with the Summaron 35mm 2.8 w/ Goggles. What a wonderful camera! And I agree with you, I have a M6 and wont change it for nothing. But both of them are giants in film photography, and I really love both. Cheers!

Dude, that shirt!

The choice of camera, film and motives plus the musical has made my eyes water, I want to see my parents and hug my wife and my two boys...

I know this is a slightly older video so you might not see this, but the use of a gopro while shooting is fantastic. Its neat comparing the photos taken with what you saw

Wow Nora is so tiny and this is pre-Elliot!! The cameras and photography is why I come but I also love watching your family grow.

You took some hauntingly beautiful photos.

The GoPro sequence is so good. You're pointing your camera at what seems to be nothing in particular and then - boom - great photo.

As always, fantastic video and beautiful photos of your family. I found the music pleasant also.

Matt, you have a great photographer's eye! Black & white is so powerful. Well done video. Thank you.

Great review and great pics

I know I'm late to the party but these came out so well!

Nice video here on Leica M3. This is a classic camera that set a standard for 35mm rangefinders. It is smooth, precise and well made. Have an M3 and enjoy it so much. Voigtlander has a series of M Mount lenses for the Leica and provide sharp photos at lower cost than older Leica lenses. The M3 simply rocks.❤

Thing is to improve your skills and what better skills can you have to not need a meter at all because you know what you have to do. If you can shoot with a M3 you can shoot with every other camera. That's why I've bought the M3.

Matt`s Back with an awesome review...Miss your reviews on gear and general photography. Cheers from Portugal

Nice review. Wow that M3 looks brand new!!

woah that's a great lighting right there!

And you had the M3 for only a week. Great photos. Well done.

Thanks for the great video. Was nice to hear someone talk about the M3 after shooting the M6 for awhile - so helps us who have been wandering back and forth on which film M to get :) Your video convinced me to go with my first feeling of getting the M3! I have a old 90 S'Cron and 50 - so the large beautiful VF of the M3 and feel of the M3 has me convinced that for black and white this may be the best for slowing down process and enjoying taking the photo.

Great video. Really like how contrasty the shots looked. Seeing the image with the go-pro then film was amazing.

Nice review, I sold m6 and bought m3 recently... Both are perfect in my opinion 😎

I really love your photos

Really enjoyed that review. Love the family photos and architectural vignettes. M3 is as good as it gets!

I have a m6 and love it. Maybe one day I'll try a m3.

Great review and beautiful family! I just bought the Q2 (new), about to pull the trigger on the M6 Ttl and you might have sold me on the M3. Rock on and be safe!

Great video! I love seeing the photos in context like this, seeing the world from the photographer's POW. Very nice! And what a beautiful baby :)

Hey just one thing to note is that you can get quick load kits for Leica Messsucher cameras. The downside to adding a quick load kit to the M3 is that you still have to take the spool out to reset the counter. On the M2 if you add the add the quick load kit there is no need to take the spool out since the counter is set manually by rotating the dial.

That lens looks magical

Wonderful photos! Very good review.

That dog in the driver seat though... Great video Matt.

Cool pup. Beauty of a baby. You got it going.

Hi matt, I watch your video before I bought my first leica. Definitely love everything about my m3, except the frame lines, sometimes I really want to use a wider lens, but adding another viewfinder on top just makes it less smooth. Hope to try a m6 someday : )

As always, wonderful video! I've been using the Zeiss on M7 or M8 and love the look, although I get comments about it's softer look, but seeing the portrait shots early in the video, it reminds me of why I use it, even when I am fortunate to have a 50 lux, too. Glad you got the hang of that loading on M3, but that and no meter would just make it too much of a nuisance. Time for you to review the MP

Superb, excellent review love the images Matt

Hey Matt, lovely review on the M3, coincidentally I am looking to get one myself. Always find your photos relaxing to look at. :)

Amazing pictures u got there! Thanks for the video

Years back, I had an M6 serviced by Leica and they were able to fix the rangefinder flare problem. I think it was $300 or so and I don't know that they still offer the service. Also, I believe they fixed the problem before the M6 TTL came out. Mine are the classic version. My favorite Leica of all time was the M5. It fit my hands better than the M2, M3s, and M6s I've had. I sold two M5s to buy my first M6. My only problem with using an M3 is that the metal ring around the viewfinder will scratch my glasses. Otherwise, it is a fine camera.

Matt, these shots are amazing.

You would love my "FrankenLeica" built by DAG camera repair. It is an M2 with an M6 meter. It has the smooth feel of an early M and it has the condensing prism removed in the M6 that is the cause of the rangefinder flare. I like the M2 because I don't use a 135mm lens and I use a 35mm a lot.

This video is still by far my favorite video of yours! The feel is just right and the photos are awesome! Love everything you put out there. Its always so personal and inspiring and easy to connect with. Keep up the great work!

Hey Matt, when comparing to your M6 you say the M3 feels a lot smoother. I had an issue with my M6 and had it CLA'ed. It came back a lot smoother than I used to and the typical M6 rangefinder flare was fixed as well. Just saying that perhaps your M6 could benefit from a CLA. Of course, that won't give you the M3 viewfinder... ;) Thanks for your videos: always fun to watch (your daughter grow up ;) ).

Matt, could u plz make a video which focuses mainly on the works that u had done with the Pentax 67,coz I am really fascinated with it and which is why i would like to see more wonderful works fabricated by a professional. thanks matt!

Great photos. Love the 50mm field of view.

That laugh after photographing the dog in the truck 😄

Good video. I shoot with an m4 and it's probably my favorite camera I've ever owned.

watching this four years later when I am considering an M2 move

I just got my double stroke M3 last week from a seller on Craigslist...I like the mechanical action on the camera. Feels like it was made from quality craftsman back in the day. Im using the collapsable 5cm Summicron and the pictures are stunning for such a old camera lens. Looking forward to getting the 5cm Dual lens with goggles for macro photography. This camera fulfills my need for another 35mm film camera to go along with my Contax T2 P/S and with my Fuji Xpro-1 with Voigtlander m-mount lenses.

Awesome video Matt just like always. Your photos were really awesome, love your style :)

are all of your photos taken without light meter? Awsome review and pictures :)

Man that last shot is perfect!!!! :)

Great vid Matt. I actually have two M3's . I absolutely love them. The picture quality is absolutely stunning.

Big fan of owning one of each!! M6 and an M2 or M3! Great video. Thanks!!

Loved your review! I have a Leicameter M-4 on my M3. I also added a Leica rewind lever. 2 solutions to the "shortcomings" of the M3. I also use the Zeiss 50mm 1.5. Never had an issue with it wide open, luckily. Great normal lens. Awesome bokeh.

Really cool video man! i liked the fotograph of the motorcycle driving by and the one of your dog playing in the garden. thanks for sharing Matt Day

So so so so so so so good, I love that camera!

I really do enjoy your photos!!! Great job!!!

Nice Camera and very nice Pictures Matt!

Matt Molly ( I meant Nora) is adorable easy to see why you are such a proud dad. Sorry about the name mistake but Molly is adorable also.

great video!! and great pics!!:) you can actually get a meter on your smartphone, I downloaded one and it seems pretty good, but I have only tested it a little

Awesome photos! You could catch some great moments..

been waiting for this, nice review as always Matt! cheers

Excellent series of videos & shots. God speed.

I search for Leica M3 and I always come across this video. Must have watched it a 1000 times already but I still go through the whole video. Crap!.. lol.

have you thought about "scanning" your film using a "slide copier" such as the nikon es-1. I remember you using an espon v600 for your scanning. A slide copier and macro lens would be just as quick with monochrome film and perhaps yield better "scans". love the channel, fantastic review.

I have the MP film camera and love it. So nice. Outside of new coatings on viewfinder and light meter same thing.

Hey Matt, I need to let you use my MP...all the qualities of the M3 with a meter! Granted it's crazy expensive. I had the M6 and agree it's a great camera but if you can ever grab an MP you'll want one. Camera for a lifetime.

Awesome as always Matt...I'm sorry to reiterate my question, but since you had that t-shirt, could you please make a video to give us pieces of advice on how to use Delta3200?...thank you again for the massive amount of inspiration that you provide through your content, cheers from Italy