MichaelRabern Posted July 3, 2012 Share #1 Posted July 3, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Dear All, What is the purpose of the frameline selector lever? I am confused if this has a particular purpose? V/r Michael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 3, 2012 Posted July 3, 2012 Hi MichaelRabern, Take a look here Frameline selector lever purpose, snake legs?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Michael Hiles Posted July 3, 2012 Share #2 Posted July 3, 2012 Dear All, What is the purpose of the frameline selector lever? I am confused if this has a particular purpose? V/r Michael The selector allows you to see the field of view of lenses of other focal lengths. If I have a 35mm mounted on the camera, I can see what my 50mm or 90mm would "see" before having to actually mount them. Unique to M Leicas, I believe. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Geschlecht Posted July 3, 2012 Share #3 Posted July 3, 2012 Hello Michael, Welcome to the Forum. To add to what Michael said: The frame selector allows you to preview the angle of view of many of the different lenses. Which specific lenses depend on which specific camera model you are using. This previewing can be done while any lens or no lens is attached to the camera. Sometimes this helps you decide which lens to choose for a specific subject, background, lighting situation &/or so on. It is also useful when approximating the field of coverage of certain light meters, built in, hand held & add on. Usefulness metering varies dependent on specific camera model & lens in use. There is more but this is enough to start w/ until we know which camera model, which lens & what type of metering. BTW: What are "snake legs"? Best Regards, Michael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
madNbad Posted July 3, 2012 Share #4 Posted July 3, 2012 Snake legs is a euphemism for something superfluous. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted July 3, 2012 Share #5 Posted July 3, 2012 Previewing what another lens will do is one thing, but many photographers know by experience that they need a 90mm and not a 50mm. So early on with only three framelines on the M3 or M2 it was a nice gimmick for inexperienced photographers to play with. But when the available framelines increased to six the preview lever started to earn its living, not only showing what the next lens could cover, but also helping in making a buying decision for your next lens, especially with the wide angle 28mm not suiting some photographers eyesight. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelRabern Posted July 4, 2012 Author Share #6 Posted July 4, 2012 I agree. It is a doodad. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
01af Posted July 4, 2012 Share #7 Posted July 4, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm using the frame selector frequently, and I appreciate it very much. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k_g_wolf ✝ Posted July 4, 2012 Share #8 Posted July 4, 2012 Each click could mean EUR 2,000 x 2 = EUR 4,000 in LEICA-lenses you ought to have ... But beware and hurry up, will most likely be much more in a few months. Best GEORG Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pop Posted July 4, 2012 Share #9 Posted July 4, 2012 doodad. Useful for some, doodad for others. Just like the whole camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Geschlecht Posted July 4, 2012 Share #10 Posted July 4, 2012 Hello Everybody, Speaking of doo-dads: I actually use my frame line selector @ least once or twice everytime I am taking pictures. It is like having a small, sturdy table tripod w/ large ball head & cable release: The more you use it, the more ways you figure out you can use it & the more things you can use it for. Best Regards, Michael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
maurometallo Posted July 4, 2012 Share #11 Posted July 4, 2012 Having only a 50mm to play with, one would think that the selector is useless to me... Instead I learned to take advantage of it everytime I shoot a static subject: The alternate framelines (usually the 35mm ones...) help me keep the camera straight. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ming Rider Posted July 5, 2012 Share #12 Posted July 5, 2012 The purpose of the selector is to make you wish you owned more lenses Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted July 5, 2012 Share #13 Posted July 5, 2012 It's also historically for those using Leicameters - the meters area is the same as the 90mm frame lines. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Geschlecht Posted July 5, 2012 Share #14 Posted July 5, 2012 Hello Everybody, Part of the reason for the frame line selector is to allow someone to expand & contract the angle of coverage of a scene in the range/viewfinder so they can better compose & frame a photo w/o a zoom lens. This helps a person to decide which lens to use. Sometimes people forget: 1 of the original reasons for developing zoom lenses was to allow someone to stand @ the spot where the potential photo would be optimal & then adjust the angle of coverage of the lens to appropriately include & exclude things from the photo. To a certain degree the frame finder does that. I use it in exactly that manner to help me compose. As well as using a different frame @ the same time to see which part of the scene is being meterd. Best Regards, Michael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted July 5, 2012 Share #15 Posted July 5, 2012 Hello Everybody, Part of the reason for the frame line selector is to allow someone to expand & contract the angle of coverage of a scene in the range/viewfinder so they can better compose & frame a photo w/o a zoom lens. This helps a person to decide which lens to use. Sometimes people forget: 1 of the original reasons for developing zoom lenses was to allow someone to stand @ the spot where the potential photo would be optimal & then adjust the angle of coverage of the lens to appropriately include & exclude things from the photo. To a certain degree the frame finder does that. I use it in exactly that manner to help me compose. As well as using a different frame @ the same time to see which part of the scene is being meterd. Best Regards, Michael Hi Michael, I'm not sure I 'buy' the zoom thing. Zoom lenses weren't in regular use when the M3 was introduced, and it only has 50mm and 90mm frames anyway. The selector lever was there to use with the meter as I've mentioned above. As more frame lines were introduced I guess it took on a secondary purpose of previewing the field of view of other lenses, as well as a metering aid. Today of course, on the later cameras it only serves the preview purposes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 5, 2012 Share #16 Posted July 5, 2012 Dear All, What is the purpose of the frameline selector lever? I am confused if this has a particular purpose? V/r Michael Ummm..Selecting the framelines? What purpose you use it for is entirely up to you, but as mentioned above the previewing of the FOV (if needed of the exposure meter) without taking the camera from your eye springs to mind. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gvaliquette Posted July 5, 2012 Share #17 Posted July 5, 2012 ...I'm not sure I 'buy' the zoom thing. Zoom lenses weren't in regular use when the M3 was introduced, and it only has 50mm and 90mm frames anyway... 50, 90 & 135 Guy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted July 5, 2012 Share #18 Posted July 5, 2012 BTW - the frameline selector was added to the M3 in 1955. It wasn't on the cameras for the first 1-2 years of production. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Geschlecht Posted July 6, 2012 Share #19 Posted July 6, 2012 Hello Everybody, I think zoom lenses for 35mm cameras began around 1959 w/ a lens by a company named Zoomar. From which the term "zoom lens" derives: The name for a lens which remains in focus as you change its effective focal length. "Varifocal" being the term for a lens which must be refocussed as its angle of coverage is changed. 1 popular way to previsualize a scene @ different focal lengths before zoom lenses was to take an empty cardboard frame from a slide & look @ the scene & hold the frame @ varying distances from your dominant eye as you moved around to various perspectives from different distances. Something you can also do thru your range/viewfinder whether it projects 3 or 19 frames. It once again goes back to the concept: Stand where the picture is best w/o the camera & then look thru the range/viewfinder & change framelines or alternatively: Move cardboard slide mounts. Either or both. Until you figure the angle of coverage that best captures what you had in your mind. Then choose your lens. If you try this you might be surprised @ how often you choose the same lens. Blueberry ice cream for some people. Oatmeal ice cream for others. btw: This Thread is about the frame line lever. Best Regards, Michael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
waileong Posted July 9, 2012 Share #20 Posted July 9, 2012 Dear All, What is the purpose of the frameline selector lever? I am confused if this has a particular purpose? V/r Michael It's to make you buy more lenses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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