Viewfinder comparison images

[lrochfort]

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Hello,

 

I'm about to buy my first M and want to handle a few to compare.

 

I've noticed some people complain about the M6 viewfinder being "cluttered". Could somebody explain what people mean by that? I though the framelines were automatically selected depending on the attached lens?

 

Does anybody have links for pictures of the view from various viewfinders?

 

Cheers,

Laurence.

[01af]

I've noticed some people complain about the M6 viewfinder being "cluttered".

Some people are just good at complaining.

 

 

Does anybody have links for pictures of the view from various viewfinders?

You can find Leica M product brochures in PDF format on the Internet. These include pictures of the viewfinders. Brochures of current products can be downloaded from Leica's homepage. The viewfinders of the M6 and M6TTL basically look just the same as those in the M7 and MP (and virtually the same as the M9's).

[lincoln_m]

Irochfort,

If you run the Leica M A la Carte configuration and set step 7 to use 0.72x magnification and step 8 to the first 0.72 you will see the frame lines sets; 28&90mm, 35&135mm, 50&70mm so they come in pairs together, If you choose 0.72-3 you will see the M2 frame lines 3 separate ones each on their own, 35mm, 50mm, 90mm. Look at the 3 thumbnails type images in the top right.

 

Personally I use the extra frame lines to help me keep the image straight, (but I'm sure the processing and mount of the cut slide is the cause for the 1-2 degree slope of my horizons and the slight slop in the slide scanner holder as it can't be me moving the camera at the point of firing!!).

 

To be honest the frame does not feel cluttered to me with the standard frame lines present on M7. I do notice my M2 images are not so straight with only the single frame line per lens.

 

I hope that configuration helps. It's fairly safe to play with as the final price is about 2x what I've paid for a Leica over the past 10 years so it's unlikely to force you to part with life savings.

 

I'd avoid the Lizard look leather covering though as that is really nice in the flesh and makes you want it. ( I saw one M7 made up like that once and fortunately it wasn't for sale but was a demo of A la carte at Robert Whites (UK)).

 

So if you go shopping do try an M2 to see the 3 frame lines and compare with an M6-M7-MP ones. The ghost image in the middle is your focusing patch and is present on all Ms.

 

Regards, Lincoln

[Scarlet]

Two lines at any given point in time. This from the M6 manual. Hardly cluttered imho. The lines aren't red btw but sort of transparentish white (or yellowish if the camera is older or badly maintained).

 

/s

[nelly]

I have a M6ttl and find the viewfinder fine and not cluttered

I also am not bothered by the supposed flare problem

[david878]

In concurring with the above posters, I would just like to note that if you come from a DSLR background, the leica view finder is a lot less cluttered, but much brighter.