pico Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 As the subjects asks. Can an M4 be fitted with a 75mm frame? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuart_richardson Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 As far as I know, yes. Ask DAG, he'll do it for you.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troll Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 One of the nicest things about the M4 is that it doesn't have a 75mm frame! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark_unlisted Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 Yes. I had a 75mm frame added to my M5. Sherry did mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilkka Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 Why bother? The 75mm frame line is not accurate anyway and you have to estimate in between the 50 and 75 lines. The worst thing they did from M4 onwards was to clutter up the viewfinder with framelines in the hope that people would go and buy all the lenses for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyaitken Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 All you'll do is trade relatively accurate frames for a clutch of innaccurate ones. IMHO an M4 is Leica's best ever camera - leave it as it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
will_wright1 Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 yes you can, but you'll lose your nice no flare finder in the M4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frederick_muller Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 The answer to your question is yes, it can. But don't do it. The classic M4 with classic finder is so ... Classy. VC's 75mm accessory finder is really nicely done and works well with a standard M4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob F. Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 " . . . The 75mm frame line is not accurate anyway . . ." I think it is accurate enough. I've had no surprises or disappointments with it. However, I think that in order to get the 75mm frame, you may have to give up your M4 frameline mask for an M6 one. And as everyone knows, the 50mm frame in that mask is dreadfully undersized--"Hey, what happened to my 50mm frame, it's too small--Hey Don, can you put it back the way it was?" If Don can somehow add a 75mm frame to your original mask, then that's a different story. But I'm under the impression that the whole mask has to be changed out. There are some who use a 50mm finder on top of the camera "so I can see what I'm getting." So If you use a 50, I would check on that point, think twice, and be careful what you ask for! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephen_w. Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 The framelines (mask) have nothing to do with flare issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pablito_pistola Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 Some wanna take 'em out, some wanna put 'em in. The world O'Leica is so bizarre. Don't get me wrong - I have 3 of them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feli Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 Yes and no. Basically the entire rangefinder (RF) would have to be replaced, with a new style unit, as found in the metered bodies like the M6/MP/M7. The frameline masks from all but the newest models are not interchangeable. Cost would probably be about $500. But frankly this would be a very bad idea, for several reasons. - You would end up with the undersized 50mm framelines found in all metered M bodies. - The M4 finder may be the best one Leica ever made. It never flares and is very crisp. - You would ruin the resale value of your M4, because the old style RF is one of it's biggest selling points. - Among Leica shooters ruining a M4 is blasphemy. The M4 is by many considered the best M Leica ever made. It would be like taking a blowtorch to a vintage Porsche. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob F. Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 "yes you can, but you'll lose your nice no flare finder in the M4" (Will Wright) "The framelines (mask) have nothing to do with flare issues." (Stephen W.) That's right, they do not. It's worth making that clear, as we don't want to frighten Pico away from adding his frameline out of flare concerns. Actually the only "no flare finder" is the one in the M3. All others flare to some extent: M2, M4, M5; it's just that the M6 is still worse than the M4, etc. unless it has been upgraded with an MP upgrade--after which the finder will then flare no worse than the M2, M4, etc. I can see how there could be confusion. Leica cheapened the finder beginning with the M4-2 and M4-P, (and subsequently the M6). And the new frameline set began with the M6 and some late M4-P's. Thus both changes were made in rapid succession, which could cause them to become associated in one's mind. But the M6 flare problem resulted from the removal of a condenser lens--an economy move "Thanks, Leitz and Leica, for saving yourselves $1.75, to our everlasting distress." The upgrade consists of putting back what they took out. Nothing to do with the finder mask, though. Clear? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Blackwell Images Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 "... the entire rangefinder (RF) would have to be replaced, ... as found in the metered bodies like the M6/MP/M7." No, this is not correct. You would get an M4-P frame line masking installed (about $80); if you don't want the 28mm frame lines, they can be blocked out. In the future I would email a Leica technician ("DAG" or Sherry K.) with questions such as this. You'll get the right answer the first time without any opinion and/or speculation. “When you come to a fork in the road, take it ...” – Yogi Berra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilkka Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 "You'll get the right answer...without any opinion" Yes, but. The question was indeed simple, can or not? And that has a simple answer. But the opinions can be important to avoid a costly mistake. Tradesman who is selling a service will not suggest that though it can be done, it is probably not a good idea. And that is why this website is golden, even if sometimes there is some speculation and misinformation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob F. Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 Right on, Ilkka! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feli Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 >Bill Blackwell >No, this is not correct. You would get an M4-P frame line masking installed (about $80); if >you don't want the 28mm frame lines, they can be blocked out. Are you sure about this? I had this same conversation with Don about three years ago and from what I remember they aren't all exchangeable. If someone emails Don, I would be curious to hear the answer. In the meanwhile I'll see if I can dig up that email. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjords Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 Leica installed m4-p frame lines on my M-4 back when they introduced the summilux 75:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted January 14, 2007 Author Share Posted January 14, 2007 A lot of information... All I want is the 50mm and 75mm frame lines. The rest I can do without. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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