Datsch Posted June 12, 2021 Share #1  Posted June 12, 2021 Advertisement (gone after registration) My M-D has no film plane indicator, and I can't see one on the M240 either. Anyone know even roughly where the film/sensor plane lies? Or do I have to put the shutter into sensor cleaning mode and poke my tape measure in there? 😜 Thanks,  Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 12, 2021 Posted June 12, 2021 Hi Datsch, Take a look here Where is the M240/M-D Film Plane?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
laowai_ Posted June 12, 2021 Share #2  Posted June 12, 2021 27.80 mm behind the bayonet surface https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flange_focal_distance   Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datsch Posted June 12, 2021 Author Share #3 Â Posted June 12, 2021 (edited) Thanks for your super speedy reply laowai_ I think that puts it just where the '"A" of the 'LEICA' on the hot shoe finishes. Or halfway through the Wetzlar Germany line if you have an engraved top. Now I can make the measurements I wanted. Edited June 12, 2021 by Datsch enahncement and clarification 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinot Posted June 13, 2021 Share #4  Posted June 13, 2021 (edited) 20 hours ago, Datsch said: My M-D has no film plane indicator, and I can't see one on the M240 either. Anyone know even roughly where the film/sensor plane lies? Or do I have to put the shutter into sensor cleaning mode and poke my tape measure in there? 😜 Thanks,  Yes, just left of the "A". You can see it on the M-E version I have at least. Here is a picture of the top plate of the M-E 240 with the plane indicator clearly marked. I am not sure why they have removed the marking on some M cameras? I think it should be standard on all of them.  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! Edited June 13, 2021 by martinot Quote 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/321775-where-is-the-m240m-d-film-plane/?do=findComment&comment=4219451'>More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted June 13, 2021 Share #5  Posted June 13, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, martinot said: Yes, just left of the "A". You can see it on the M-E version I have at least. Here is a picture of the top plate of the M-E 240 with the plane indicator clearly marked. I am not sure why they have removed the marking on some M cameras? I think it should be standard on all of them.  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! That’s not the plane indicator. It’s well behind that. See Post #2. Edited June 13, 2021 by jdlaing 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted June 13, 2021 Share #6 Â Posted June 13, 2021 On 6/12/2021 at 9:22 PM, Datsch said: ...do I have to put the shutter into sensor cleaning mode and poke my tape measure in there?... Yes. Philip. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted June 13, 2021 Share #7 Â Posted June 13, 2021 Advertisement (gone after registration) @Datsch can we know why you need the "film plane" (sensor plane) roughly ? Â Out of curiosity, I "measured" 27.8mm from front lens mount on my M-D, yes the hot shoe's "A" can be a rough guide. How accurate do you need ? Â Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david strachan Posted June 14, 2021 Share #8  Posted June 14, 2021 Don't need to poke anything into the camera, particularly a steel ruler which could mark the sensor glass. Use a flat (eg ruler) pressed against the lens mount, lens off. Then measure back 27.8mm from that edge. ... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datsch Posted June 15, 2021 Author Share #9  Posted June 15, 2021 a.noctilux I just like to imagine where the sensor is lurking inside there, doing it's photo-sensitive business for me. And I can toy with the idea of drawing the little plimsoll line symbol on the top plate there, so my camera looks all professional like a nikon or something .... 😉 Also, if I am ever crazy enough to try an Elpro 52 with my M-D, I can measure off the new shorter focus distance with a piece of string going between the sensor plane mark and the subject. Of course it would have to be special red silk Leica string, not just any old piece of string, mind ... pippy I did what you suggested and there was a funny 'clunk' noise when the tape measure hit the sensor. Now I have stripes on all my pictures. I think this is what other manufacturers like Sony call 'Zebra stripes' so I am pleased I now have this advanced facility on my minimalist camera. Then I wondered if I could get a more accurate measurement using a laser measuring tool. Now I have charming little dots of light in my images too, sort of like the Star Wars star field simulation. I soon realised that this was all much too high-tech an approach, so I took the stub of a candle, pointed the M-D up to the sky and popped it in there whilst timing how long it took to burn down. About an hour as it happened which is of course 27.79999914mm as we all know. Now my images have a 'dreamy' look as a result of the molten wax adhering to the sensor. Finally! The true leica feel without having to buy a nocti or a sonnar ... Seriously though, as a new M user it's been fun to check infinity focus (trees on the horizon) do match up in the rangefinder patch and on the lens infinity marker. Likewise a subject at 70cm measured from the film plane also focuses the same in the patch and on the lens marking. So now I know any blurry photos are definitely down to operator error ... 😆 Not that I have had any blurry photos of course (ahem ...) and I am loving the whole M-D experience so far. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted June 15, 2021 Share #10 Â Posted June 15, 2021 (edited) 10 minutes ago, Datsch said: ...I took the stub of a candle, pointed the M-D up to the sky and popped it in there whilst timing how long it took to burn down... No! No!! No!!! You did it Wrong, Datsch! If you took the snaps when the candle was still alight you would have been able to capture the ephemeral Leica Glow! Philip. Edited June 15, 2021 by pippy Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datsch Posted June 16, 2021 Author Share #11 Â Posted June 16, 2021 So I tried the lit candle method but smoke seeped through the viewfinder and stung my eye. In surprise I dropped the camera and as it weighs about 39.8kg it made quite a dent in my toe. Now I walk with a squint and a limp but this has encouraged me to try shooting with my right eye instead and to take things very slowly, which has actually improved my photography. Bravo! And the impact of dropping my nearly-mint M-D has caused some of the paint to rub off, showing a brassy glow which has made even further improvements to the image quality, as is widely understood. What great things one learns on this forum ... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedaes Posted June 16, 2021 Share #12 Â Posted June 16, 2021 1 hour ago, Datsch said: smoke Should have been mentioned - need to use smokeless candle. Sorry to hear it has made you limp.There are Leica products to get you excited. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted June 16, 2021 Share #13 Â Posted June 16, 2021 2 hours ago, Datsch said: ... What great things one learns on this forum ... Something that I learned here is to be "light" : - not taking things too seriously - use the light we have or be able to create - have light touch - be light flare for newbies - turn every conversation light - etc. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinot Posted June 16, 2021 Share #14  Posted June 16, 2021 On 6/13/2021 at 9:20 PM, jdlaing said: That’s not the plane indicator. It’s well behind that. See Post #2. My fault looking at my M-E 240 too quickly without thinking about the Leica M flange distance. It should of course have a dash in a small circle to point to the plane as well. Like the marking on my X-E3 to the left of the hot shoe:  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!  Thanks for correcting me! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!  Thanks for correcting me! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/321775-where-is-the-m240m-d-film-plane/?do=findComment&comment=4221200'>More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted June 16, 2021 Share #15  Posted June 16, 2021 28 minutes ago, martinot said: My fault looking at my M-E 240 too quickly without thinking about the Leica M flange distance. It should of course have a dash in a small circle to point to the plane as well. Like the marking on my X-E3 to the left of the hot shoe:  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!  Thanks for correcting me! Those markings are long gone. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinot Posted June 17, 2021 Share #16 Â Posted June 17, 2021 On 6/16/2021 at 8:43 PM, jdlaing said: Those markings are long gone. Thinking about it, I do not think I have seen them on Leica cameras. At least never on M bodies. Have I missed some? On Fujifilm and some other cameras, they are still used even today. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kismetsky Posted June 18, 2021 Share #17  Posted June 18, 2021 (edited) They used to be under the advance lever on some M film cameras. Edited June 18, 2021 by kismetsky Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Geschlecht Posted June 18, 2021 Share #18 Â Posted June 18, 2021 4 hours ago, martinot said: Thinking about it, I do not think I have seen them on Leica cameras. At least never on M bodies. Have I missed some? On Fujifilm and some other cameras, they are still used even today. Hello Martinot, Right out where you can see it on an M5. Best Regards, Michael 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datsch Posted June 18, 2021 Author Share #19  Posted June 18, 2021 Yes, it was on the M5. 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! Also on the Canon rangefinders. Interestingly, the early ones in this photo seem to use a red dot rather than a line? Is that my imagination?    1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Also on the Canon rangefinders. Interestingly, the early ones in this photo seem to use a red dot rather than a line? Is that my imagination?    ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/321775-where-is-the-m240m-d-film-plane/?do=findComment&comment=4221960'>More sharing options...
Datsch Posted June 18, 2021 Author Share #20  Posted June 18, 2021 Well it is true, early canons did use a red dot. I think that would look smart on a Leica. Maybe a tin of red enamel paint and a tiny paintbrush are in my future ...  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! Quote 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/321775-where-is-the-m240m-d-film-plane/?do=findComment&comment=4221961'>More sharing options...
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