M3 w/ 35mm, what should I be seeing?

[wetworx]

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I've seen how the viewfinder changes (framelines) between a 50mm and a 90mm. But how does one compose with a 35mm?

 

I assume the actual image is larger than what is shown by the M3's default viewfinder. What options do I have to correct it for the wider field of view?

 

Thanks.

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[giordano]

The M3's built-in viewfinder doesn't go wider than 50mm. You need one of the following:

 

1) A separate 35mm viewfinder that fits in the accessory shoe. AFAIK they're currently made by Voigtlander, but Leitz and many other makers produced them from the 1930s to the 1950s and it's not hard to find them in a good dealer or on the internet.

 

2) One of the 35mm lenses that Leitz made specially for the M3. These have "goggles" attached that sit in front of the viewfinder and rangefinder windows and give the right angle of view.

[UliWer]

The best solution to use a 35mm lens on a M3 is the M2.

[doubice]

The best solution to use a 35mm lens on a M3 is the M2.

 

:D:D

 

I am not sure whether a Leica 'newbie' will understand the meaning of that......

 

Jan

[wetworx]

:D:D

 

I am not sure whether a Leica 'newbie' will understand the meaning of that......

 

Jan

 

 

are you talking about me? haha ;-p

yeah, I see the M2 has framelines for 35mm.

 

are there any mockups of how much larger the 35mm is against the viewfinder?

or a product# for those "goggles"? I have one for my 50mm near focus, but don't use it much so just estimate my focus when I have to.

 

Thanks for the replies all ;-)

[lars_bergquist]

Both the 3.5 and the 2.8 Summaron 35mm lenses, and the 35mm Summicron, were made in versions with 'goggles'. These decreased the finder magnification so that the field of view of a 35mm lens fit inside the fixed and unchangeing 50mm frame of the M3 finder. These attachments were never really popular. Please note that these 'goggled' lenses keyed in the 50mm frame in the finder (or rather, they did not key in any supplementary frame, the way the 90 and 135mm lenses did). Non-goggled lenses did the same until 1958. Then the M2 appeared, with a 35mm frame that was keyed in by the same bayonet position that gave the 135mm frame in the M3. From that time, non-goggled 35mm lenses have brought up the 35 and 135mm frames together; the M4 was the first camera to show both frames (yes, yes, I know about those Bundeswehr M1 and M2 cameras, but you are not likely to meet one of these in the flesh). So an early goggle-less 35 may well bring up the 50mm frame in your camera; beware!

 

The detachable goggles on the Near Focus Summicron was an entirely different matter. They adapted the rangefinder for distances closer than 1 meter. Please note that the NF Summicron must never be mounted on a M8 or M9 camera. Damage may ensue.

 

The old man from the Age of Box Cameras

[wetworx]

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Both the 3.5 and the 2.8 Summaron 35mm lenses, and the 35mm Summicron, were made in versions with 'goggles'. These decreased the finder magnification so that the field of view of a 35mm lens fit inside the fixed and unchangeing 50mm frame of the M3 finder. These attachments were never really popular. Please note that these 'goggled' lenses keyed in the 50mm frame in the finder (or rather, they did not key in any supplementary frame, the way the 90 and 135mm lenses did). Non-goggled lenses did the same until 1958. Then the M2 appeared, with a 35mm frame that was keyed in by the same bayonet position that gave the 135mm frame in the M3. From that time, non-goggled 35mm lenses have brought up the 35 and 135mm frames together; the M4 was the first camera to show both frames (yes, yes, I know about those Bundeswehr M1 and M2 cameras, but you are not likely to meet one of these in the flesh). So an early goggle-less 35 may well bring up the 50mm frame in your camera; beware!

 

The detachable goggles on the Near Focus Summicron was an entirely different matter. They adapted the rangefinder for distances closer than 1 meter. Please note that the NF Summicron must never be mounted on a M8 or M9 camera. Damage may ensue.

 

The old man from the Age of Box Cameras

 

 

Wow, really? my NF Summicron lens doesn't fit the M8/M9? or just the goggle?...tho no fears of testing that out any time soon, as I don't have the funds for it haha

 

Thanks for the information! ;-)

[lars_bergquist]

Wow, really? my NF Summicron lens doesn't fit the M8/M9? or just the goggle?...tho no fears of testing that out any time soon, as I don't have the funds for it haha

 

Thanks for the information! ;-)

Leica M9 manual:

 

"Important:

• Cannot be used:

-- Hologon 15mm f/8

-- Summicron 50mm f/2 with close-up setting

-- Elmar 90mm f/4 with retractable tube (manufactured from 1954 -- 1968

-- Some examples of the Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 (not aspherical, manufactured from 1961 -- 1995, Made in Canada) cannot be fitted to the Leica M9 or will not focus to infinity ( ... )"

 

Straight from the horse's mouth.

 

The old man from the Horse Age

[wetworx]

Leica M9 manual:

 

"Important:

• Cannot be used:

-- Hologon 15mm f/8

-- Summicron 50mm f/2 with close-up setting

-- Elmar 90mm f/4 with retractable tube (manufactured from 1954 -- 1968

-- Some examples of the Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 (not aspherical, manufactured from 1961 -- 1995, Made in Canada) cannot be fitted to the Leica M9 or will not focus to infinity ( ... )"

 

Straight from the horse's mouth.

 

The old man from the Horse Age

 

 

Wow, double whammy...my 35mm lens got shot down as well...guess i'll be saving for both the body and lenses.

 

again, thanks for the notice.

[lars_bergquist]

The warnings apply to M8/M9 cameras only. A M3 is safe with them all. Troublesome old Summilux lenses can be modified by Leica for use on M8/M9 cameras.

 

Many photojournalists used their M3 or MP cameras with a plain 35mm lens and a 35mm accessory finder in the shoe. This does work well, though a M2--M4 ... is of course faster.

 

The old man again

[TimF]

Wow, double whammy...my 35mm lens got shot down as well...guess i'll be saving for both the body and lenses.

 

again, thanks for the notice.

My 35 Summilux would focus to infinity on my M8 but not on my M8.2. A trip to Solms (free of charge) sorted that out though.