Couple questions (M7, M6, MP) in general

[pico]

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Does the first M6 have the same metering function as the MP?

 

Will Solms, or anyone else, remove certain viewfinder frame lines? I have cameras dedicated to specific lenses and wish to remove clutter: M7 w/35mm and M7 w/75mm, and M4 for 50mm, and I'll leave that setup alone.

 

Thank you in advance.

[UliWer]

Does the first M6 have the same metering function as the MP?

 

Will Solms, or anyone else, remove certain viewfinder frame lines? I have cameras dedicated to specific lenses and wish to remove clutter: M7 w/35mm and M7 w/75mm, and M4 for 50mm, and I'll leave that setup alone.

 

Thank you in advance.

 

I am not sure which frames you want to have removed, those mentioned above, or all others beside those you mentioned?

 

I don't think that it's possible to remove certain frames, though you might get the classical M2-combination of 35-50-90mm. There is an a-la-carte option for this, so you may have changed your camera to this viewfinder (presumably for the price of a proper M2...)

[Xmas]

Does the first M6 have the same metering function as the MP?

think so

Will Solms, or anyone else, remove certain viewfinder frame lines? I have cameras dedicated to specific lenses and wish to remove clutter: M7 w/35mm and M7 w/75mm, and M4 for 50mm, and I'll leave that setup alone.

 

Thank you in advance.

This is possible but needs $, the viewfinder mask needs replacing or 'masking', try a cheap M2.

 

Noel

[tgray]

Yes. Though the MP/M7 meter is a bit more sensitive in low light. Also the M6 classic meter has two arrows in the viewfinder, while the MP/M7 have two arrows surrounding a dot. Functionally the same though.

 

I think places like DAG or Sherry Krauter can remove framelines for you. Leica probably could too but I don't know if they offer that service.

[Guest dk_samurai]

If you have a 0.72 viewfinder for the M6/M7/MP, then you can either change it to a 35-50-90 setup, or a 35/135-50-28/90 setup (no 75mm frame-lines). Back when I had my MP, I sent it in to Solms for a 35-50-90 masking. Simple task, but as with everything Leica, it wasn't cheap.

 

My advise is to get someone else to do it for you, that won't charge you your firstborn to mask your camera.

 

Best,

David

 

PS.: If you have a 0.58 viewfinder, you can change it to a 35-50-28/90 setup. If you have a 0.85 viewfinder, then a 35/135-50-90 setup is possible. In both cases all you'll be removing is the 75mm frame-lines. Changing anything else cannot be done officially with Leica.

[pico]

I want, or wish, that I could have my M7 bodies modified so that only 35mm, 50mm, and 75mm frames in the viewfinder, and only when each lens is mounted. No overlay. Just the lens' frame.

 

Is that possible?

 

And it brings up another question. Given that that M9 has computer control, does it throw up multiple frames regardless of the lens attached? IMHO, that would be a very sad oversight if it does not, and if the M9Ti does not, then it is just a downright stupid oversight.

[Guest dk_samurai]

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Is that possible?.

 

Yes.

 

And it brings up another question. Given that that M9 has computer control, does it throw up multiple frames regardless of the lens attached? IMHO, that would be a very sad oversight if it does not, and if the M9Ti does not, then it is just a downright stupid oversight.

 

They way the frame-lines are illuminated is by use of the middle window (the one with the white patch). This is done free from electronics, so that's why the M9 (and M8) will show multiple frame-lines, just like most of the later film cameras.

 

Theoretically, the M9 Titanium could show only one frame-line when a lens is mounted, but the camera has to have a way of knowing if, say, a 50mm or a 75mm lens is mounted. Unless the lens is 6-bit coded, the camera does not have a chance to figure out what lens is mounted, so the M9 Titanium will also show multiple frame-lines at once.

 

Best,

David

[Guest dk_samurai]

...modified so that only 35mm, 50mm, and 75mm frames in the viewfinder...

 

Oops! I read that too quick! No, you cannot isolate the 50mm and the 75mm frame-lines from each other. You can only remove the 75mm frame, but not the 50mm.

 

Best,

David

[earleygallery]

Theoretically, the M9 Titanium could show only one frame-line when a lens is mounted, but the camera has to have a way of knowing if, say, a 50mm or a 75mm lens is mounted. Unless the lens is 6-bit coded, the camera does not have a chance to figure out what lens is mounted, so the M9 Titanium will also show multiple frame-lines at once.

 

Best,

David

 

How? The Tit has the same masks as a conventional M9, the only difference is they are illuminated by an LED inside the top plate instead of the 'window' of the standard model.

 

6 bit coding or whatever isn't going to make any difference to that.

[Guest dk_samurai]

I was just thinking that since it was LED, maybe the camera could control which frame-line would be illuminated at any given time. With 6-bit coding (and a little bit of software tweaking), you could have the camera show a certain frame-line, depending on what was read from the 6-bit coding.

 

Just me thinking out loud of what actually could have been done with the M9 "tit":D Shame that the M9 tit is actually only a gimmick, and nothing new technology wise.

 

Best,

David

[jpattison]

David,

As James said, the frame display is not LED, it is the same (cut outs in a foil inside the rangefinder, which have another set of cut outs that slide against the first, depending on the position of a lever attached to a pin that picks up a notch on the lens mount, thus revealing the relevant frame/frames. These are illuminated into the view through the eyepiece by the large diffused window in the centre of the three windows.) as all Leica Ms.

The M9Ti does away with this window, so to light up the frames a red LED is fitted.

 

Pico, this is not a stupid oversight! There may be developments in future models, who knows!

 

John

[Guest dk_samurai]

David,

As James said, the frame display is not LED, it is the same (cut outs in a foil inside the rangefinder, which have another set of cut outs that slide against the first, depending on the position of a lever attached to a pin that picks up a notch on the lens mount, thus revealing the relevant frame/frames. These are illuminated into the view through the eyepiece by the large diffused window in the centre of the three windows.) as all Leica Ms.

The M9Ti does away with this window, so to light up the frames a red LED is fitted.

 

Pico, this is not a stupid oversight! There may be developments in future models, who knows!

 

John

 

Bah! What's in God's name is the point of the M9 tit? So there is actually no new technological with that special edition... no wonder there are so many photogs that are pissed off.

 

Thank you James and John to help clarify my misunderstanding!

 

Best,

David

[earleygallery]

David, anything is possible of course! Hopefully Leica are in the early stages of some other major product development and dipping their toe in the water so to speak with the LED idea, although as I've said enough times now the Tit isn't going to give them much in the way of user feedback, so I still wonder what the rationale behind it is.

 

The idea of electronic framelines in itself is a good one but I'm not certain that an optical finder with 'projected' framelines is feasible or of much benefit really with a traditional rangefinder.

 

The idea behind the X100 finder is potentially more exciting and I'm sure Leica will be looking at it closely!

[pico]

David,

As James said, the frame display is not LED, it is the same (cut outs in a foil inside the rangefinder, which have another set of cut outs that slide against the first, depending on the position of a lever attached to a pin that picks up a notch on the lens mount, thus revealing the relevant frame/frames. [...]

 

Ah, that's quite helpful. Thanks very much. Now I have a better idea of how the frames work. Regarding the M9 and potential for more refined frames - I'll shut up now because I haven't the experience to know how it would be done.

[jpattison]

Also, the set of two foils move diagonally (as seen in the eyepiece) via another cam, following the focus, to allow for parallax error when focussing closer.

 

Why do you think Leicas are expensive!

The technicians would get a job in a swiss watch firm - no problem!

 

John