doug_hagerman Posted September 23, 2002 Share Posted September 23, 2002 How about having the option of choosing your own set of frame lines? If you were able to get down to two or three lenses, then it would be nice to be able to opt out of some of the frame clutter. Current choices are: 35 + 135 (except on 0.58 version)50 + 7528 + 90 If you had, say, only 28, 35, and 75 lenses, then you could eliminate lots of finder clutter. Another possibility is to have the 24 bring up the 35 + 135 set of lines, but opt for a 24 + 35 set instead. Then you could have 24, 28, 50. There are lots of ways to juggle this around... All it would take is a routine repair operation and a way to make the masks. Are they stamped? Cut by a laser? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug_hagerman Posted September 23, 2002 Author Share Posted September 23, 2002 Current choices are: 35 + 135 (except on 0.58 version), 50 + 75, 28 + 90. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann_fuller Posted September 23, 2002 Share Posted September 23, 2002 Just 1 - the 50 - but properly sized so you don't loose nearly 1/3rd of your film area at infinity! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al_kaplan1 Posted September 23, 2002 Share Posted September 23, 2002 If you want a nice uncluttered viewfinder, work with M2 and M3 bodies. I always use a seperate finder for the 28 because I can't see the frame in the one body I've had converted to M4-P finder, and the 75 frame is really easy to ignore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troll Posted September 23, 2002 Share Posted September 23, 2002 Al, how can you possibly ignore the 75mm frameline, when it takes up 90% of the viewfinder and blinks red, green, and yellow candystripes. (At least that's how it looks to me). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al_kaplan1 Posted September 23, 2002 Share Posted September 23, 2002 I guess I'm just attuned to concentrating on the subject. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roberto_watson_garc_a Posted September 23, 2002 Share Posted September 23, 2002 I wish Leica will design a finder with distant compensation finder and not only paralel compensation, so we could see the entire frame at infinity and up close too. For sure a nigthmare to design, but may not for leica guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al_kaplan1 Posted September 23, 2002 Share Posted September 23, 2002 Konica had distance (actually lens coverage) compensating frame lines 30 years ago in both their 35mm and their medium format cameras. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy_piper2 Posted September 23, 2002 Share Posted September 23, 2002 Doug: I've heard that the M masks were originally film-based, like a black kodalith negative with unexposed areas for the lines, but at some point not too long ago became laser-cut metal sheets. But either could be true or untrue - I haven't operated on my cameras to find out. 8^) The 35/135 combo doesn't bother me - they are so widely separated and the 135 'corners' are so vestigial. Same for 90/28 on the M4-P (at least when I HAD a 28) - although I wish Leica could have kept the M3/4/2/4-2-type 90 frame - it defines the corners much better. My M4/M4-2 don't have 75 frames, and if I actually used a 50 they are certainly nicer. Supposedly, though, the 50 frames are actually more accurate for 75 framing at long distances than the 'real' 75 lines, so it's kinda nice they are paired if you use a 75 - use the 75 lines for under 3 meters and the 50 lines beyond. Don't know why Leica didn't add 24 lines in the .58 body when they introduced it - since the 135 lines were eliminated anyway, you'd still only have a pair (24/35). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno_menilli Posted September 23, 2002 Share Posted September 23, 2002 I fairly recently asked Leica UK if I could have the 75mm and the 135mm frames removed from an M6, and they said it could be done, by using opaque paint to 'cover over' the relevant frames, so I guess the Kodalith, or similar, option seems to be correct. Bruno Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob F. Posted September 23, 2002 Share Posted September 23, 2002 This topic comes up from time to time. The most usual advice is to have Don Goldberg remove any unwanted frame lines. You might be able to modify the 24 to bring up the 35/135 framelines, as you suggest. You can certainly remove the 135 frameline. (Actually, there isn't one on the .58 finder, is there?) But to add a 24mm frameline would call for making a new mask. Not impossible, but someone would have to set up the production for it. I think the reason Leica doesn't provide a 24mm frame on the .58 finder might be that the lens would encroach too unreasonably into the finder. Bob Fleischman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dante_stella Posted September 24, 2002 Share Posted September 24, 2002 Al, Konica had that more than 40 years ago - it came in with the Model IIIA, which had the 1.0x 50mm finder with parallax and field compensation. Leica could easily do it with LED framelines. They could be programmed to do anything, any lens, any distance, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george_b1 Posted September 24, 2002 Share Posted September 24, 2002 Andy - I had Leica USA replace the frame lines in my M4 several years ago with the M2 framelines. The 50mm is larger, and the 90mm has corners! That's why I still use our M4, rather than a later series. BTW: My spouse (who hogs our M7, and used to hate our M6 framelines, HATES the 75mm lines in the 50mm framelines of the M7. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johann_fuller Posted September 24, 2002 Share Posted September 24, 2002 How much larger are the 50 frames in an M2? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dennis_couvillion Posted September 24, 2002 Share Posted September 24, 2002 The 50mm is my primary lens. (I've got four of'em.) At the risk of sounding whiny, I don't like the intrusive 75mm frame lines on my M6. The M3 viewfinder, as well as the M2, are a pleasure to use----totally uncluttered, sold frame lines. Can the 75 frame lines be removed? Does Leica perform this service? Thanks in advance for the info. Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
art__ Posted September 24, 2002 Share Posted September 24, 2002 Dennis, I too am a big fan of the 50mm lens. A few months ago I e-mailed Leica USA and asked them if the 75mm framelines could be removed from my M6. They responded, no! I somehow don't believe it and/or would certainly want a technical reason as to why. Anyone else know why? Arturo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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