Film Plane Symbol on M2 and M3?

[rodluvan]

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Hello. I've searched but can't find the answer to this question.

 

Is there, and if so, where can I find, the film plane symbol* on my Leica M2 and M3?

 

*commonly looking like this:

 

Cheers

[k_g_wolf ✝]

Checked some of my stock, but I could only find the engraving on the M5-topplate.

I´am afraid on M3s, M2s you won´t find one.

 

On LEICAflex and R-Cameras (exept R8/ R9) you have it under the advancelever.

 

 

Best

GEORG

[TomB_tx]

That's right - none on my M3s or M4, but it is on my M5. M6 also has it under the advance lever.

[wda]

I agree, but lingering in my mind was the thought that there was a way to predict the position. But, having looked in my copy of The Leica Book by Theo Kisselbach, bought at the time when I bought my new M3, I cannot find it. The marking must have been a later improvement.

[elgenper]

For the LTM bodies (aka Barnacks), it was the back end of the top surfaces of the auxiliary finder shoe (not ´flash shoe´ before sync contacts...), but with the M2 this is obviously not true any more.

 

On my M2, I´d say it´s around the rear ends of those rectangular, springy thingies on the bottom of the (now) flash shoe. For all purposes except very special optical setups, the accuracy of this is more than sufficient anyhow.

[normclarke]

It's on my M4-2 under the plastic tipped wind on lever.

 

Best,

 

normclarke.

[TomB_tx]

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It's on my M4-2 under the plastic tipped wind on lever.

 

Makes sense, since it came out after the M5.

[earleygallery]

It would be quite simple to remove the base plate and measure how many mm the film gate is from the rear edge of the camera, and make a small mark on the top plate.

[madNbad]

On many cameras it's indicated by the serial number. This isn't the case with the M3 but where it is marked "Wetzlar, Germany" should be about the right place. Try measuring from there and see what happens. Anyone with any better ideas?

[rodluvan]

Ok, thanks. Seems like a somewhat peculiar omission. Especially since they really were the epitome of working man's camera equipment with all the ingenious solutions and mechanical excellence.

[earleygallery]

Ok, thanks. Seems like a somewhat peculiar omission. Especially since they really were the epitome of working man's camera equipment with all the ingenious solutions and mechanical excellence.

 

Can I ask, what are you doing that you need it for?

[rodluvan]

Can I ask, what are you doing that you need it for?

 

thought I could do some lens focus tests

[earleygallery]

Doesn't my suggestion to measure the film gate to rear of the camera work?

[earleygallery]

Doesn't my suggestion to measure the film gate to rear of the camera work?

 

If not perhaps someone with a later model can measure the mark to rear of the top plate ans post it here?

[rodluvan]

Doesn't my suggestion to measure the film gate to rear of the camera work?

 

It probably does, the margin of error must be small enough. It's not a big deal obviously, I was just amazed that there was no such mark, and the question turned with equal amount towards curiousness as utilization.

[earleygallery]

I think it says more about what Leica's were intended for or typically used for, i.e. not usually applications where the film plane would be needed.

 

Leica used to make a whole range of specific accessories for taking close up images, which worked at set distances. Lens testing for front/back focus isn't usually an issue with film.