Difficulty seeing frame lines

[lct]

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We could have larger finder windows i guess but Visoflexes and lenses with goggles would have to be modified.

[gyoung]

Can't be done with the current finder, Gerry, as demonstrated by the need to reduce magnification in the M8 and M9.

 

As primarily a wide-angle user, I would also prefer a broader view of the finder. But practically speaking, it would mean a lower-magnification viewfinder; and that would mean decreased focusing accuracy. That would, of course, be most noticeable with lenses 50 mm and longer.

 

IMHO, that means a future something that isn't an M camera as we know and respect it.

 

I appreciate that, but the height of the top plate in relation to the top of the bayonet has been raised for the M6 etc (hence the need for the Viso III finder) and then again I think for the later cameras (I don't have anything later than M6ttl so I can't measure), So perhaps a bit more space could be found for a larger eyepiece at least so that life would be easier for specs wearers.

A more major rethink might be a 'zoom' type finder, I really have liked my M3 over so many years as for the two lenses I use the most, 35 & 50, the same large frame is used, and only that frame is visible. On the other hand with the M6ttl I have to 'put up with' the distraction of the second frame which is usually visible, the 28 doesn't bother me as I cant see it anyway, but the others do (a bit ). I know the secondary frames can be removed, and maybe if my M6ttl ever needs attention to the viewfinder/rangefinder I will have it done, at the moment its one of those things I don't think its worth the expense to rectify on its own. When I bought the M3 I rejected the M2 and M4 (all available new in 1968) because the 35 was difficult to see for me, the 35 on the M6 is only easier to see because its less accurate!

If the effect of the 'specs' on the M3 35s could be built in and extended to a 90 at least I think it would be an improvement, the 'M camera as we have known and loved it' has had many variants in the viewfinder, all a compromise in one way or another, but developements from M4 onwards have mostly been (in my humble opinion) more or less accountant led expediency rather than a search for real improvement.

 

These are of course only minor matters to me, I love the cameras for their many qualities, but I have never come across the camera yet which couldn't be improved, trouble is of course that we all have different ideas of what constitues an improvement and what changes would 'ruin' the design!

 

Gerry

[gyoung]

We could have larger finder windows i guess but Visoflexes and lenses with goggles would have to be modified.

 

The Visoflex has already been modified already once, and could be again I suppose, although nowadays its more of a curiosity I think than a 'really useful item' (I have one myself and rarely use it, a viso to Nikon adaptor is much nicer to use). All my own humble opinion of course. With an improved viewfinder the lenses with goggles wouldn't be needed I hope!

 

Gerry