andenos Posted October 19, 2020 Share #1  Posted October 19, 2020 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have a question regarding the Leica M5. According to the user manual, when a 35mm, 50mm, 90mm or 135mm lens is attached, the corresponding illuminated focal frame should appear automatically in the viewfinder. However, when I attach a Summicron 50mm lens to my M5, this does not happen. I still see the 35mm frame in the viewfinder, not the 50mm frame. So I have to manually activate the illuminated focal frame by using the lever on the front of the camera. My question now: Is this normal? Am I doing something wrong? Have I misunderstood the manual? Or is there something wrong with my camera? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 19, 2020 Posted October 19, 2020 Hi andenos, Take a look here Illuminated focal frame of Leica M5. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Maarten Posted October 19, 2020 Share #2 Â Posted October 19, 2020 Assuming you are using a true M-lens and not an LTM Summicron with the wrong (35mm) adapter, the frame selector probably got sticky. It's good though that it works manually, then nothing is damaged. After many years of service your camera is likely due for a Clean/Lubricate/Adjust (CLA) from a good technician. Addresses for technical service in the various regions can be found in this forum as well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andenos Posted October 19, 2020 Author Share #3 Â Posted October 19, 2020 Thank you for your answer. Yes, it is an original Leica Summicron 50mm (version 3) lens. Just for comprehension: How does the camera recognize the focal length? If it can, there has to be some physical difference on the lens mount depending on focal length, so that the camera can adjust the mechanics accordingly. I never noticed any. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted October 19, 2020 Share #4  Posted October 19, 2020 (edited) 18 minutes ago, andenos said: Thank you for your answer. Yes, it is an original Leica Summicron 50mm (version 3) lens. Just for comprehension: How does the camera recognize the focal length? If it can, there has to be some physical difference on the lens mount depending on focal length, so that the camera can adjust the mechanics accordingly. I never noticed any. Apart from illumination method (window on front of camera until the M9; switching to LED illumination with M240 and thereafter), the frame line masks work as shown and described here by Mark for the M8...  Jeff Edited October 19, 2020 by Jeff S Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted October 19, 2020 Share #5  Posted October 19, 2020 6 minutes ago, andenos said: Just for comprehension: How does the camera recognize the focal length? If it can, there has to be some physical difference on the lens mount depending on focal length, so that the camera can adjust the mechanics accordingly. I never noticed any. 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! One of the four flanges on each lens comes in three slightly different lengths, to move a very small tab or short lever inside the camera mouth, and set the M5 frame lines to 35/135 or 50 or 90mm viewing. Leica simply installs the appropriate mount type on each lens, according to focal length. It is the flange that ends up at about the 3 o'clock position when the lens is fully mounted and the camera/lens is viewed from the front. The default position of the framelines (no lens mounted, or a lens with the shortest flange mounted) is for 35/135mm. A 50mm lens (or today, also a 75mm lens) will have a slightly longer flange, that pushes the ineternal camera lever 1mm or so for 50mm lines. And a 90 (or also 28mm) lens will have the longest flange, which pushes the internal camera lever another extra mm or so for 90mm frame lines. Inside the camera there is a complex linkage of levers, connected to the external frame selection lever on the front, and also extending several cms upwards to connect to the framelines in the viewfinder.These levers eventually push or pull on the gold and black camera parts shown in Jeff's link above, to reveal the correct framelines. If you camera is "stuck" on 35mm, that could be a sticky mechanism (old grease dried and hardened, grit, or dust) or a broken or weakened spring, that prevents the linkage from moving away from the default position. Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! One of the four flanges on each lens comes in three slightly different lengths, to move a very small tab or short lever inside the camera mouth, and set the M5 frame lines to 35/135 or 50 or 90mm viewing. Leica simply installs the appropriate mount type on each lens, according to focal length. It is the flange that ends up at about the 3 o'clock position when the lens is fully mounted and the camera/lens is viewed from the front. The default position of the framelines (no lens mounted, or a lens with the shortest flange mounted) is for 35/135mm. A 50mm lens (or today, also a 75mm lens) will have a slightly longer flange, that pushes the ineternal camera lever 1mm or so for 50mm lines. And a 90 (or also 28mm) lens will have the longest flange, which pushes the internal camera lever another extra mm or so for 90mm frame lines. Inside the camera there is a complex linkage of levers, connected to the external frame selection lever on the front, and also extending several cms upwards to connect to the framelines in the viewfinder.These levers eventually push or pull on the gold and black camera parts shown in Jeff's link above, to reveal the correct framelines. If you camera is "stuck" on 35mm, that could be a sticky mechanism (old grease dried and hardened, grit, or dust) or a broken or weakened spring, that prevents the linkage from moving away from the default position. ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/314341-illuminated-focal-frame-of-leica-m5/?do=findComment&comment=4065497'>More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted October 19, 2020 Share #6  Posted October 19, 2020 The parallax correction movement, described in the last paragraph of Mark’s first linked post, is a clever bit, as he notes.  Jeff Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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