Can you see 28mm framelines on M262 ??

[thedirektor]

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I am considering buying a 28mm lens (Elmarit or Voigtlander) for my M262. Ideally I would like to go to the Leica store or RedDotCamera in London and actually try a 28mm on the camera but I may not be able to. So a question, dear, helpful Forum users... when I have my 35mm on the frame line is almost to the edge of the viewfinder and I have to swivel my eyes to see it all, so how would the 28mm frame lines be ? Would I even be able to see them ? Many thanks and Good WeekEnd to all.

Edited February 18, 2023 by thedirektor

[Ray Vonn]

It's just how you'd imagine it would be, almost touching the sides of the OVF.  It obviously doesn't make an difference in terms of focusing through the rangefinder but it's not like using a 50mm lens where you can comfortably see someone move into the frame in preparation for the shot.  On the upside, it's terrific for hyperfocal focusing to the extent that you often won't have to use the viewfinder to focus with the subject most likely, with practice, ending up in the frame.  In this respect, I find it considerably better than a 35mm lens, that extra 7mm from 35 to 28 really counts.

[Gregm61]

I have both the prior version f2.8 Elmarit and f2 Summicron ASPH 28mm lenses. Whether on my M262, M246 or MP240, the 28mm framelines are hopelessly outside my eyeglass-fitted eyes from seeing all at one time. Add the 28mm Summicron's oversized hood and viewing is truly compromised, but it becomes something you get used to working around as you place your subject in the frame and scan around the field you get to where you can approximate things well enough.

One additional workaround I wound up doing, primarily for the day I decide to use the 28mm lens on my film M4, I purchased a Leica 28mm finder, one of the earlier models with the locking foot, from a seller in Japan and have slipped it in the shoe of my digital bodies for a try, so it puts using the 28mm on the same user-level as when I have the 18mm Super Elmar fitted, but one, especially with glasses on, can definitely frame much easier with the accessory finder.

 

[pippy]

Having just double-checked myself I can confirm the answers given by both Ray and Greg which is that the 28mm framelines are not all visible at the same time. Although I don't have any problems seeing the 35mm framelines my experience with the 28 set matches yours with the 35 lines in that a bit of eye-ball swivelling is required although in practice essentially what I see in the v/f is very close to what the lens captures.

Oddly enough it's not something I had ever noticed but my 262 is the M-D version so, there being no screen, cannot compare 'v/f image' with 'image recorded' on the spot.

A word on the subject of 28mm lenses; if you - like me - prefer to keep v/f blockage to an absolute minimum then I would strongly advise you to try out various lens-options in person. The amount of blockage caused by some 28s can be very frustrating and sometimes in ways which might not initially seem very obvious. To take the 28mm Elmarit ASPH v1 and v2 lenses as an example; although these lenses share the same dimensions (52mm x 30mm) the difference in the sizes of their respective lens-hoods was what settled the matter for me.

Just a thought.

Philip.

Edited February 20, 2023 by pippy

[PhoToad]

vor 20 Stunden schrieb Gregm61:

I have [...] the prior version f2.8 Elmarit [...]. [...] On my [...] MP240, the 28mm framelines are hopelessly outside my eyeglass-fitted eyes from seeing all at one time. [...] But it becomes something you get used to working around as you place your subject in the frame and scan around the field you get to where you can approximate things well enough.

Same experience here. When I feel that way, I could also use my external VF-2, but mostly get around by just focusing and composing through the OVF with a 28 mm lens.

[thedirektor]

On 2/18/2023 at 1:59 PM, Ray Vonn said:

It's just how you'd imagine it would be, almost touching the sides of the OVF.  It obviously doesn't make an difference in terms of focusing through the rangefinder but it's not like using a 50mm lens where you can comfortably see someone move into the frame in preparation for the shot.  On the upside, it's terrific for hyperfocal focusing to the extent that you often won't have to use the viewfinder to focus with the subject most likely, with practice, ending up in the frame.  In this respect, I find it considerably better than a 35mm lens, that extra 7mm from 35 to 28 really counts.

Thank you Ray. Thanks for your take on what the 28mm gives you over the 35mm. That's exactly why I've been toying with idea of going to 28mm for travel and landscape. And also to train myself with a new focal length for stills. I'm fine for motion pictures !! For stills I'm strictly an amateur. Many thanks. All best 

[thedirektor]

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On 2/19/2023 at 3:35 PM, Gregm61 said:

I have both the prior version f2.8 Elmarit and f2 Summicron ASPH 28mm lenses. Whether on my M262, M246 or MP240, the 28mm framelines are hopelessly outside my eyeglass-fitted eyes from seeing all at one time. Add the 28mm Summicron's oversized hood and viewing is truly compromised, but it becomes something you get used to working around as you place your subject in the frame and scan around the field you get to where you can approximate things well enough.

One additional workaround I wound up doing, primarily for the day I decide to use the 28mm lens on my film M4, I purchased a Leica 28mm finder, one of the earlier models with the locking foot, from a seller in Japan and have slipped it in the shoe of my digital bodies for a try, so it puts using the 28mm on the same user-level as when I have the 18mm Super Elmar fitted, but one, especially with glasses on, can definitely frame much easier with the accessory finder.

 

Thank you Greg for your very informative reply. I think even with eyeball swivelling I'd like to try the 28mm. And if the swivelling is too much the finder is a good idea. Regards Indra

[thedirektor]

4 hours ago, PhoToad said:

Same experience here. When I feel that way, I could also use my external VF-2, but mostly get around by just focusing and composing through the OVF with a 28 mm lens.

Thanks PhoToad. You've confirmed what I imagined. I'm not one for very precise framing, especially on wide lenses, so I think Ill just point and shoot, Regards Indra

[Herr Barnack]

My experience with M cameras and 28mm lenses (28 Summicron v.1 and 28 Elmarit current version) has been that the bright lines are right at the edges of the OVF.  If you can see it in the OVF, it will be on your negative or present in your DNG file.  In his comments above, @Ray Vonn gets it right.

[thedirektor]

5 hours ago, Herr Barnack said:

My experience with M cameras and 28mm lenses (28 Summicron v.1 and 28 Elmarit current version) has been that the bright lines are right at the edges of the OVF.  If you can see it in the OVF, it will be on your negative or present in your DNG file.  In his comments above, @Ray Vonn gets it right.

Danke schön  Herr Barnack. Pretty much get that the whole viewfinder gives you the 28mm coverage  Regards Indra