Leica M3 and 135 mm framelines

[Martin B]

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My M3 shows a bit unusual behavior with the top part of the 135 mm framelines: if correctly focused, the upper right corner blanks out but it comes back when purposely defocused in center patch window. When defocused towards the other turn, the right corner appears more clear but the left corner starts blanking out. What does this mean - is this normal with some of the earlier M3 models (mine is a double stroke from 1956)? I don't see the same with the 50 and 90 mm framelines/corners which are all visible the same strength throughout the focus range (that's why I found out about this fairly late in the testing process only after I used a 135/4 lens and moved the lever in the 135 position with other lenses attached showing repeatedly the same issue). My first guess was that this was a specific feature made for the 135 mm framelines to allow some DoF prediction, but I didn't find anything described about this. My rangefinder path window doesn't has the notches at the top and bottom lines described as feature of later rangefinder models from 1957 onward which can be used for DoF prediction - this might be unrelated to my initial question with the 135 mm frameline upper corners. Could this be linked to an early sign of delamination? I don't see any other issue which could point to this.

Edited May 31, 2017 by Martin B

[Martin B]

I just tested this issue again in the afternoon sunlight today - I believe it is nothing to worry about, I found that the brightness of the top frameline and its neighboring top corner marks depend a lot on the viewing angle when looking through the viewfinder glass. Just changing my eye position a bit up or down changed the brightness of this frameline and its corners from more to less. Looks to me as if this is simply a feature of the wider viewfinder. Interestingly though this phenomena does not occur with the 50 and 90 mm framelines/corners. I just wonder if anybody else has seen this on their M3? A lens is not required, simply move the lever to the left into the 135 mm frameline view position. 

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[Ko.Fe.]

Mine is the same and does the same.

[Martin B]

Mine is the same and does the same.

 

TRIPLE-LIKE ! This is what I hoped to hear, thanks for posting!