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Metering diam. and field-of-view preview


M9reno

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Quick question: on the M6 and later, does activating different bright-line frames using the preview lever have any effect on the diameter of the circular metering area? For example, when having a 50mm lens on, does activating the 35/135 frames reduce or enlarge the metering area's diameter, or have no effect at all? I assume (and from experience have noticed) no effect at all, but cannot find an unambiguous statement to this effect in the literature, and a technical explanation of the reason. Many thanks in advance! :)

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No, on the shutter blade it will remain the same, but as the frame lines in the viewfinder cover a different area, its apparent size in the viewfinder will change with the same ratio.

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Bit of a trick question, its ttl so the field that is being measured is always the same part of the field of view, so moving the preview lever with your finger doesn't change what's being measured, but if you change lens to a different focal length it will move the lever and then the measured field changes.

All part of the fun of using the M cameras, and needs to be thought about when using for instance the 21mm etc when the meter will be measuring more than is visible in the camera finder where the LEDs are.

Gerry

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Helo Al,

 

The light meter in the camera is fixed both in size & in position. It always measures the same percentage of a scene. W/ film M's (except the M5) it is a circle APPROXIMATELY 2/3d's of the short side of the frame for the lens MOUNTED on the camera @ that moment. Regardless of how you adjust the frame selector.

 

It is the lens attached to the camera that determines the angle of coverage of the meter @ any given time. Not the position of the frame finder or its lever..

 

You can move the frame preview lever & see the different coverages of the different lenses as much as you want to. This will not effect the coverage of the meter.

 

The M5 meter covers a somewhat smaller angle. Otherwise what I wrote above is accurate for it also.

 

I do not know the specific coverage of digital M's other than it is the lens ATTACHED to the camera that determines the coverage & not the position of the preview lever. Just like in all film M's. CL's also.

 

The specifics for each lens & each camera are available in their respective instruction books all of which are readily available on this Forum.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

Edited by Michael Geschlecht
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And once again the answer is in the M9 FAQ:

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/130720-m9-faqs-frequently-asked-questions-answers-2.html#post1997160

 

Bert has a brilliant depiction of the metering field over the whole sensor area. Just imagine this superimposed on the relevant framelines and you know the area of the viewfinder measured with the relevant lens mounted.

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Hello Again Al,

 

Just a small clarification:

 

The circular (more or less) area being metered w/ an M is always in the center (more or less) of the frame in case you were wondering.

 

You might walk up to or away from a light/dark patch on a dark/light wall, mountain, etc w/ your meter on & see where the actual boundaries are for a given lens @ various distances since frame lines are only accurate when the LENS is FOCUSSED @ a certain DISTANCE. Otherwise the area being metered varies a little.

 

If all of this imprecissity bothers you given the fine tolerances an M & its lenses are manufactured to, etc, don't worry about it too much because this is 1 of those sets of circumstances where the "bark" of what people worry about is worse than the "bite" of the reality of doing it.

 

If you follow a few simple rules exposure w/ an M w/ a built in or w/ a separate meter is quite reliable, quick & easy for most circumstances most people come across.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

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