Frameline Preview Lever Wedge

[thedreamscene]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi I just started shooting with an M8.2 and have been using an M-Rokkor 40mm mostly. So I've been using a folded piece of paper to wedge the frameline lever to the 35 framelines.

Is this ok to do over a long period of time or could it have any negative effects on the operation of the camera. Also is the frameline apparatus mechanical or is there some electronic aspect of it that could lead to battery drain? 

[Graham (G4FUJ)]

Mechanical.

[Guest]

I wouldn’t “wedge it”. Just use your finger when framing your shot.

[a.noctilux]

With practices, framing can be learned without aid.

If with the 50 frame lines, I imagine "loosely" around the frame lines a "margin" for 40mm field.

 

That said, I have my 40mm Rokkor modified to show 35mm (by former user), just to say that the field is not "accurate" if acceptable.

 

[wizard]

vor 6 Stunden schrieb thedreamscene:

Is this ok to do over a long period of time or could it have any negative effects on the operation of the camera.

Well, by wedging the lever, you are exerting a continuous force onto that lever for which it was not designed. It was designed for being pivoted around its axis, and not for being wedged, so wedging may cause some damage in the long run (the lever may become loose, etc.). Taping the lever down in its 35mm position may be a better idea.

[tommonego@gmail.com]

My M8 had a 40 Nokton on it when I bought it, I bought it from the original owner. The preview lever was stuck on the 50mm and asking about repair, I would have to send it to Leica. So I worked the lever slowly, after a couple of years it is still less than responsive so I have gotten used to moving it with my left indes finger. I do find the frame lines confusing on the M8. 

[thedreamscene]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Yeh probably best to just move it when I need to. I do have some cut off using the 35 framelines so it might even be better to use the 50 lines and crop if needed

[adan]

Some misconceptions here about how the M frameline actuator lever works:

The default or "rest" position for the lever and framelines is the 35mm/135mm lens position. Remove the lens and you will see that both the lever and the framelines default to the 35/135 position with no lens at all mounted. Put on a body cap and you will see that the lever and lines still default to the 35/135 position. Put the camera with the body cap attached in a drawer for 20 years - and the lever will still remain in the 35/135 position.

The lever is held in that default position by a hold-back spring at low (but non-zero) tension. That spring is the weakest part of the linkage (but not very weak, since it is designed to hold up for probably 100000 or more lens changes or lever preview actuations). 

When a 28/50/75/90mm lens is mounted - THEN the spring is stretched and tensioned a little more, as the lever is forced into one of its other positions by the lens' mounting flange. But not a significant amount, or else all the photographers who mostly use a 50 or a 28 lens would soon have failed frame line mechanisms from the constant extra stress.

Therefore it is actually more stressful on the spring and mechanism (by a tiny amount) to use the 40mm long-term with the lever/framelines in the 50mm position. See Tom's experience.

Wedging the lever in the 35mm position will actually reduce stress and tension on the lever's spring to the minimum default value (the wedge is providing the hold-back force instead of the spring).