Historic Leica M3 Double Stroke with Elmar 50mm f/3.5 — the earliest M3 variant.
The Leica M3 Double Stroke with Leitz Elmar 50mm f/3.5 is a historic camera kit combining the earliest version of Leica's most celebrated rangefinder with the classic Elmar standard lens. The double-stroke film advance lever defines the first production M3 cameras, prized by collectors for their priority in the M3 production sequence.
The M3 is widely considered the finest 35mm rangefinder camera ever made, with a viewfinder of legendary brightness and accuracy. The 0.91x magnification finder provides the clearest possible view for 50mm, 90mm, and 135mm lenses. The Elmar 50mm f/3.5 delivers classic Leica rendering in the most compact possible form.
Build quality is to the absolute highest Leitz standards with brass construction, chrome plating, and the hand-assembled precision that made the M3 the benchmark for mechanical camera quality. The double-stroke advance lever has a distinctive feel that many M3 enthusiasts prefer to the later single-stroke mechanism.
On the used market, the M3 Double Stroke commands strong prices, particularly with matching serial-number Elmar lenses. For Leica collectors, the double-stroke M3 represents the purest expression of the most important camera Leica ever produced — the camera that defined the M-mount system that continues to this day.