What is the cheapest used Leica M3 (Double Stroke) & Leitz Elmar 50mm f/3.5 in the UK?

The cheapest used Leica M3 (Double Stroke) & Leitz Elmar 50mm f/3.5 currently listed is £49.00 at Mifsuds, based on 6 listings compared across 4 UK retailers.

How many used Leica M3 (Double Stroke) & Leitz Elmar 50mm f/3.5 are for sale in the UK?

There are currently 6 used Leica M3 (Double Stroke) & Leitz Elmar 50mm f/3.5 listings available across 4 UK retailers on UsedLens, updated daily.

Used Leica M3 (Double Stroke) & Leitz Elmar 50mm f/3.5 for Sale — From £49

£49.00 Low price

£174.94 High price

6 Listings

4 Retailers

Great for: general street travel

Vintage Leica M3 Double Stroke film camera body bundled with a Leitz Elmar 50mm f/3.5 lens.

The Leica M3 (1954–1966) was Leica's first M-bayonet camera and introduced the combined rangefinder/viewfinder window design that defines the M system to this day. The Double Stroke variant (1954–1957) features a two-stroke film advance lever and is the earliest production configuration — predating the single-stroke advance introduced in late 1957. The Leitz Elmar 50mm f/3.5 is the classic 4-element collapsible standard lens, among the earliest and most enduring designs for the 35mm Leica system.

M3 body: 35mm film rangefinder, 0.91x viewfinder magnification (highest of any production Leica M, optimised for 50/75/90/135mm framelines), M-bayonet mount, self-timer, uncoupled rewind knob, no 35mm framelines. Leitz Elmar 50mm f/3.5: 4 elements in 3 groups, f/3.5–f/16, collapsible barrel, filter thread typically 36mm (varies by generation).

The Double Stroke M3 commands a premium over later single-stroke examples due to early provenance; optically and mechanically equivalent. The M3's 0.91x finder is the sharpest and highest-magnification of any production Leica M, making it the preferred choice for 50mm shooters requiring precise focus. The Elmar f/3.5 is compact when collapsed but slower than the Summicron f/2; it is historically the pairing lens for early M3 bodies.

Test the double-stroke film advance for smooth engagement on both strokes. Check rangefinder patch brightness and horizontal/vertical alignment. Inspect the combined rangefinder/viewfinder window for haze or beam-splitter degradation. On the Elmar, test the collapsible mechanism (must lock solid in extended position), check aperture blades for oil, and verify focus coupling accuracy at close range.