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Eliminating the frame selector was a Huge mistake


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You can buy smart phone apps which show frame lines on the camera view; you select your lenses from a database. On the iPhone, the widest lens simulated is 35mm without adding a wide angle clip-on lens.

For me the requirement is to see what the lens I am waiting to buy will show me.

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That's gone with the M.

Now I have to put on the lens to see the new view.

Guessing is the new frame selector.

Big design mistake ! IMHO...R

I am glad I kept the M9P!

 

Rafael

But the mechanical lever, besides the extra added costs was a little confusing as it always showed the framelines of 2 different lenses.

Also, it couldn't quite cover the whole of leica lenses, you could not see framing for a wide lens for example...

So it was a partial solution and a remnant of the past.

Besides, from your current lens fov it is quite easy to predict framing of x2 or x3 long from seeing through your VF. The opposite is hard as it always was: /2 /3 etc...

So, not that big of a deal imo

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You can buy smart phone apps which show frame lines on the camera view; you select your lenses from a database. On the iPhone, the widest lens simulated is 35mm without adding a wide angle clip-on lens.

For me the requirement is to see what the lens I am waiting to buy will show me.

 

here are some calculators for this http://www.tawbaware.com/maxlyons/calc.htm

you can check FoV both in degrees and also specify dimensions a subject and a lens

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I'm on your side, Rafael. The frame preview feature has always been both uniquely Leica and a feature I've used regularly. Sorry to see it go. :(

 

A simple way to implement this is an electronic frame selector.

Otherwise I'm afraid it will be a unique feature of a new high-end camera. The feature will cost $ 1.000 then :-(

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Get a manual zoom finder.

 

Short side of 35 is long side of 50. short side of 50 is long side of 90. That is why

most lens focals are made with a multiplier of 1.4.

 

Oh and 24 is double 50. So short side if 24 is long side of 35.

 

28 is an orphan.

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Get a manual zoom finder.

 

Short side of 35 is long side of 50. short side of 50 is long side of 90. That is why

most lens focals are made with a multiplier of 1.4.

 

Oh and 24 is double 50. So short side if 24 is long side of 35.

 

28 is an orphan.

 

Hey, i didnt know that, cool bit of info !

 

Heres another one - if you double the focal length, it gives you 1/4 the field of view (so a 50mm gives you 1/4 of the view through 24mm framelines)

 

Im new to Leica, and have an M so i dont miss the frameline selector, but i also have a fair idea of what different lenses will get me after many years of shooting SLRs

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I've only used a 50mm on my M240 and I've never used another rangefinder.

 

I was curious to see the other framelines and I detached the lens while the camera was on (not live view of course) and I saw the 35mm frame lines (I think those were the 35mm). I hope that it wasn't a bonehead move.

 

I'm interested in a 28mm but I really have no idea how the frame lines look like.

 

That's an easy one-it's everything in the frame. You might have to look left, right, up and down with glasses, but it's still everything in the OVF.

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Rafael, thanks for posting. Some here seem to take a male pride in not using the preview lever.

 

I for one found it most helpful at concerts I shoot. Usually in one seat while size of ensemble may change from a dozen to 50 musicians or more. May need 50, 35 or 24. Having the lever made it easier.

 

The majority of my shooting use it less frequently but once in a while it saved changing lenses which is good with dirty digital process.

 

That said, isn't it like video, EVF or auto ISO and auto exposure? If you want it, it's there and if not forget it.

 

So....prefer it be available. Is it commiting a crime?

 

Ed

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Removing the lever was a mistake; not so much for previewing other lenses field of view:

I use the level on my M6,M9,MM as a horizontal level or vertical edge alignment aid.

 

The M240 EVF should have had this covered - but I believe it still cannot overlay the accelerometer horizon = FAIL

 

On the M240 I also think the opportunity was missed to retain the lever as a software re-definable input i.e. the user could assign it to frame preview; +/-EV for backlighting/snow etc. ; WB or ISO up/down etc. etc.

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Put a 28mm or 90mm on your M240 and move the lens in the mount at the point just before it clicks into place. You should be able to see all three sets of frames in turn and switch between them. If you haven't got a 28 or 90 then I'm afraid you are stuffed.:D

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On the M240 I also think the opportunity was missed to retain the lever as a software re-definable input i.e. the user could assign it to frame preview; +/-EV for backlighting/snow etc. ; WB or ISO up/down etc. etc.

 

How would that work? The lever is fully mechanical. The frames are little masks which move in/out of the viewfinder. There's no electronics involved apart from the backlit led illumination, instead of ambient light as with previous M's.

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How would that work? The lever is fully mechanical. The frames are little masks which move in/out of the viewfinder. There's no electronics involved apart from the backlit led illumination, instead of ambient light as with previous M's.

 

Your right it is still mechanical.

But why not decouple that and use a backlit LCD for the frame lines - as per the ancient Ricoh GR1.

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While the lever is mechanical, the mount is not completely. When you use the MATE, and select the different focal lengths, it does change the exif information, and the frame lines. So there is no reason not provide the same information electronically. You could select just the frame line for the lens you have mounted, or any combination.

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While the lever is mechanical, the mount is not completely. When you use the MATE, and select the different focal lengths, it does change the exif information, and the frame lines. So there is no reason not provide the same information electronically. You could select just the frame line for the lens you have mounted, or any combination.

 

It IS a mechanical link. The bayonet lug triggers the relevant frames - moving focal length on the MATE moves the same part. Coding provides the exif data (I think there's also a switch linked to the frame selector).

 

It's possible to change the way the frames work, but not without redesigning the way the lens works with the camera which would mean all the current/old lenses wouldn't work & would require manual selection.

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Your right it is still mechanical.

But why not decouple that and use a backlit LCD for the frame lines - as per the ancient Ricoh GR1.

 

As per my post above. You would have to manually select the frames each time. Assuming the rangefinder could be redesigned to an LCD type without needing a major redesign of the whole camera.

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As per my post above. You would have to manually select the frames each time. Assuming the rangefinder could be redesigned to an LCD type without needing a major redesign of the whole camera.

 

It would only take a small microswitch to pick up the mechanical input from the bayonet.

If the 6 bit code information is also included, it would then also be possible to electronically show just a single frame - for those who like less VF clutter.

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