bocaburger Posted May 28, 2015 Share #21 Posted May 28, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) I think the main purpose of the frame selector was - on the M3/M2 - to bring up the 90mm frame lines when using a Leica Meter (which meters the area marked by the 90mm frame). Nice theory except at time the the frame lever was added to the M3, the Leica meters in production were the selenium MC meters that measured a much wider FOV than 90mm. It's the CdS MR/MR4 meters that have a 90mm FOV. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 28, 2015 Posted May 28, 2015 Hi bocaburger, Take a look here Frame Selection Lever Work-Around for M 240. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
bocaburger Posted May 28, 2015 Share #22 Posted May 28, 2015 I liked the lever when I started with Ms many moons ago. Over time, frame lines became second nature, and the lever went untouched. Plus, as I generally use only one or two lenses on a given outing, it's simple to decide without aid. Too many lenses distract for me. But having said that, I still enjoy the improved accuracy of the 2m frame lines despite the imprecise nature of RF viewing. Go figure. Each to his/her own. Jeff I started with M4's and over a couple years forgot about the lever. Then when I got my first M6 I discovered they had shrunk the frame lines, and the newly-added 75 frames were actually closer to what a 90 recorded at longer-than-portait distance than the 90 frames, so I used to toggle up the 75 framelines. That was even more needed with the M8, stopped when I had it upgraded to the 2m lines, then started up again with the M9 which went back to M6 calibration. With the M240 I stopped needing it again. Leica should get into building rollercoasters as a sideline Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M9reno Posted May 28, 2015 Share #23 Posted May 28, 2015 M3 BFPL (Before Frame Preview Lever). Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/245581-frame-selection-lever-work-around-for-m-240/?do=findComment&comment=2823528'>More sharing options...
lct Posted May 28, 2015 Share #24 Posted May 28, 2015 Was in 1954 and the frame lever was adopted in 1955 IINW. 1955-2012 = 57 years of happiness! Never change a winning team. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmahto Posted May 28, 2015 Share #25 Posted May 28, 2015 I guess my M240 is unique. It doesn't have the frame selector lever but I do get to see two frames without any lever. One for 28 and other for 90 (my lightweight combo). I love it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
viramati Posted May 28, 2015 Share #26 Posted May 28, 2015 In all my years of using a leica M I probably used the lever and handful of times. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted May 28, 2015 Share #27 Posted May 28, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) Nice theory except at time the the frame lever was added to the M3, the Leica meters in production were the selenium MC meters that measured a much wider FOV than 90mm. It's the CdS MR/MR4 meters that have a 90mm FOV. Early M3's had no lever, and the meter at the time was as you say a more typical type. I suspect the MR was in the pipeline when they added the frame lever - I don't know exact dates, but it seems the obvious reason if you think about it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted May 29, 2015 Share #28 Posted May 29, 2015 The MR appeared 10 years after the lever IINW (1955 - 1965). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
krieves Posted June 3, 2015 Share #29 Posted June 3, 2015 Instead of a frame line lever, I wish Leica included a feature from my 1950's Canon rangefinder. That feature is a viewfinder magnifier. A small lever on the left top of the body flipped up an internal 1.5x magnifier that allowed you to better see the focusing patch. (very useful with a longer lens or in low light). Of maybe my eyes are just getting old. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted June 3, 2015 Share #30 Posted June 3, 2015 The MR appeared 10 years after the lever IINW (1955 - 1965). Oh well my theory is wrong then! Maybe they introduced the MR meter as a way of finding some useful purpose for the frame lever? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted June 3, 2015 Share #31 Posted June 3, 2015 The purpose is mentioned in the ad from 1955 above: "Frame selector offers preview of fields of view". Good old simple reason. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbl Posted June 4, 2015 Share #32 Posted June 4, 2015 I like having it, but I almost never actually use it, but I like that it's there. I mostly roughly visualize it. One nice thing somewhat related I like is that the 28/90 combination is nice since those two frame lines display together so you can kind of frame both ways. Not necessary but with my film bodies and the lens holder thing that hooks into the tripod socket, it was pretty awesome. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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