froyd Posted April 2, 2013 Share #1 Posted April 2, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Any insights of why Leica decided to pair 50 and 75 framelines when they moved to the post M4 0.72 viewfinders? In a way, I realize I'm asking "what were they thinking???" but I am truly and humbly assuming that the folks at Leica must know better than me. Ideally I would have paired 28/75 35/90 and 50 stand alone, reserving the 135 for the .85 magnification. Of course, the masks can be modified, but I'm wondering if Leica had a GOOD reason for the coupling of 50 and 75. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 2, 2013 Posted April 2, 2013 Hi froyd, Take a look here History of 50/75 frameline. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
sblitz Posted April 2, 2013 Share #2 Posted April 2, 2013 Good question, I await the answer as well Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubice Posted April 2, 2013 Share #3 Posted April 2, 2013 The answer is actually very simple. At the time the 75mm lens was introduced, the 50mm frame lines were the only ones not yet paired with another focal length. Existing pairs were 28/90 and 35/135 so logically, 50/75 was the only way to introduce another set of bright lines to the camera while keeping the status quo with other lens / frame line combinations. Different magnification finders were not introduced until late into the M6TTL production, many years after the 28/90, 50/75 and 35/135 pairs were well established. Changing the system would have made may camera / lens / finder combinations incompatible. When the M8 was introduced, Leica felt that the rangefinder, with its reduced optical base, would not be sufficiently accurate for the 135mm lenses. So, the 135mm frame lines were dropped and 24mm lines introduced to the M8 finder to pair with the 35mm lines. Again - frame lines working in pairs, having to provide backward compatibility throughout the system. As long as Leica keeps using its current viewfinder, this is what it has to be. Change may come if and when they adopt a zoom-type finder but, this may introduce other complications and backward compatibility issues. Best, Jan 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbretteville Posted April 3, 2013 Share #4 Posted April 3, 2013 The 75 corners were introduced with the M4-P in 1981. This was necessary as the 75 Summilux was introduced as new focal length to the M system at the same launch. Carl Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick_S Posted April 4, 2013 Share #5 Posted April 4, 2013 Different magnification finders were not introduced until late into the M6TTL production, many years after the 28/90, 50/75 and 35/135 pairs were well established. Changing the system would have made may camera / lens / finder combinations incompatible. In fact, the 0.85x finder was introduced before the M6TTL, e.g., I have a nice classic M6 .85x camera which loses the 28mm frame line. I find the 75mm frame lines useful as grid lines with a 50mm lens to avoid sloping horizons. Nick Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orient XI Posted April 12, 2013 Share #6 Posted April 12, 2013 In fact, the 0.85x finder was introduced before the M6TTL, e.g., I have a nice classic M6 .85x camera which loses the 28mm frame line. I find the 75mm frame lines useful as grid lines with a 50mm lens to avoid sloping horizons. Nick I too have an M6 with a 0.85× viewfinder which I purchased new in February 1998. Leica produced a special edition M6J in 1994 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the M3. This camera had the 0.85× viewfinder. I often wonder if others like me who abhorred the trend to tiny image finders to accommodate wider and wider angle lenses made sufficient noise to bring about a partial reversal in favour of longer lenses being given a proper viewfinder. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.