M10 v M6,7,MP Frame lines

[Laidley]

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I shoot primarily 40mm and am looking to repurchase an M10*.   With my M6 and 7 the frame line crop is actually tight on 35 and perfect for 40.  It's been a hot minute since I looked at the MP and it's still got a half a roll in it.

Does anyone know if the frame lines were adjusted on the digital Ms to more closely represent 35  on the inside frame lines or are they still as tight at the M6 M7 at 10ft+.

I know the field of view seems minor but as a 40 shooter it really does make a huge difference. 

Thanks in advance for any helpful insight.

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[a.noctilux]

Good news with M10's LV I can check the framing/comparing to 40mm captured field.

I know that with my 40mm, the tight framing will never be accurate, so I learn to have in my mind, how to frame with "35" after comparing at first with image on LV/Visoflex 020.

Tricky, I learn also to frame "large" ( plenty of room outside the "35", when possible) , stepping back a bit if require.

 

[adan]

Short answer - compared to the M6/M7, the M10 35mm lines will not be quite as perfect for using a 40mm lens (they may show more of the scene than you actually get in the picture, especially close-up).

HOWEVER it will likely not be more than a 2-3% difference.

...................

Long answer - The field of view of lenses narrows a bit when they are focused closer (moved out away from the image plane). The video folks call this "focus breathing" and it is the same effect that allows us to make a larger print in the darkroom, by raising the enlarger head farther from the paper, or projecting an image on a wall, by moving the projector farther from the wall. The image gets larger, so the "constant crop" of the paper, wall, screen, sensor or film contains less of the image.

Since the Leica framelines do not adjust size for this effect, Leica, with the film cameras, traditionally calibrated or optimizing the size and framing accuracy of the viewfinder frames for the worst-case scenario - lens at minimum focus distance (0.7m for the 35s and 40s).

A tighter framing than what the picture would actually contain, at most other distances. To avoid cutting off people's heads or other subject matter accidentally. And to allow for inherent "process" cropping when the film is put into a slide mount, or an enlarger's/scanner's film carrier. Ensuring you get at least what you thought you were getting (plus a safety margin).

Thus your film M 35mm framelines do fairly well at matching the tighter 40mm field of view at medium-longer distances (but reduce the "safety margin").

With the digital Ms, where the whole image is always available (no slide mounts, no negative carriers), Leica (after a false start with the M8) changed the optimized framing accuracy distance to 2 meters/6.6 feet for all lenses. The digital camera framelines show slightly more of the scene than they did on the film cameras, so your 40mm may end up cropping things the 35mm lines "told you" would be in the picture.

On the M10, you will need to allow your own safety margin when using a 40mm with 35mm framelines, especially close-up. But fortunately, since it is digital, you can check the framing immediately after taking the shot, and teach yourself how big the margin needs to be at various distances.

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Edited July 11, 2022 by adan

[Jeff S]

On 7/11/2022 at 3:51 PM, adan said:

And to Leica (after a false start with the M8) changed the optimized framing accuracy distance to 2 meters/6.6 feet for all lenses.

Not quite. Although the M8.2 optimized framing at 2m, the M9 lines were optimized at 1m.  The M240, and beyond, are 2m.

Most aren’t aware of the relationship between  focus distance, focal length and angle of view, as Michael (mjh) once described.

Jeff

[adan]

Ran across a 40mm (C/V f/1.4) in the local shop yesterday. Shot this test for framing (subject distance 8 feet/2.5 meters).

Image - 40mm
White lines - what my M10 35mm framelines included
Black area - what an actual 35mm lens included.

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