Cardboard Leica M3 Double Stroke Early Camera Replica📷

Most people have taken a photo in there time, especially on instructables! Ether with a phone or a DSLR/mirrorless camera. So being a camera user and an occasional photographer I have an appreciation for antique film cameras. so that explains how This instructable came about.

[DISCLAIMER]This is not a real camera! it does NOT! take photographs, although you probably could turn it into a pinhole camera if you really wanted to...anyway lets start.

• Scissors
• Precision knife
• Cardboard
• Craft glue
• Cutting surface
• Reference images

These are important photos to insure you don't forget any pieces of the camera.

first cut out a strip of cardboard that is 34cm long and 8cms wide.

Next bend it into a long stadium shape glue the ends together with a piece of cardboard. then looking at the reference photos cut out two squares in the upper right corner. and a tiny rectangle beside it.

you can now draw a circle in the middle of the cardboard for positional reference of the lens. behind the first square make a small hole using a pencil or pen. lastly for the rangefinder make a frame of cardboard and glue it to surround the rangefinder.

This step is easier said than done but what you do is cut off a strip of cardboard a little lower on the right side of the top of the body, then fill in the the hole with a piece of cardboard. also cut a piece of shaped cardboard for the top viewfinder section.

And for the hot-shoe we will make an opening in the top cover as shown in photo 3-5. for the hotshoe itself bend a strip of cardboard into a "c" shape glue that to a small square of cardboard and insert that into the opening s shown in the last photo.

Now (using references photos) cut out circles for the shutter and glue them on top of the camera. now for the film crank cut out a shape as shown in the second photo.

Now strengthen the whole body by gluing a cardboard piece in the body as shown in the last photo. At the back glue a large rectangle with a circle. Above that glue two tightly rolled cardboard discs.

Roll a strip of cardboard and at the base of that roll, glue a roll of peeled corrugated strip for the focus ring. Inside of that glue a circle with a small hole in it. once it has dried (completely) glue it onto the body.

Now You have a cardboard replica Leica M3 double stroke. This looks great on a work desk or book shelf, the best part is that you can actually look in the range finder!

This replicates the retro model of Leica's iconic camera.

Thank you SO much for seeing my instructable!, and remember if you make it please link it in the 'I made it' section down below this instructable!

And as always... thank you! and happy cardboarding!!!📷