Frameline removal?

[thrid]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Has anyone heard if it is possible to have certain frame lines blocked on the M11? I'd love to get rid of the 75mm markings, so I only see those for 50mm.

This used to be a simple procedure that someone like DAG or Sherry Krauter could perform, but I'm not sure if they work on the digital bodies.

I also have a sneaking suspicion that Leica would balk at doing this. 

 

Anyone?

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[jdlaing]

42 minutes ago, thrid said:

Has anyone heard if it is possible to have certain frame lines blocked on the M11? I'd love to get rid of the 75mm markings, so I only see those for 50mm.

This used to be a simple procedure that someone like DAG or Sherry Krauter could perform, but I'm not sure if they work on the digital bodies.

I also have a sneaking suspicion that Leica would balk at doing this. 

 

Anyone?

Sherry Krauter won’t. 

[wizard]

vor 1 Stunde schrieb thrid:

This used to be a simple procedure that someone like DAG or Sherry Krauter could perform,

It actually wasn't that simple, as it required to replace the original frame lines generator device by a new one which only had cutouts for the desired frame lines (so less the 75 frame lines in your example). In any case, it required a new part from Leica. Not sure whether Leica still offers those parts to third party repair persons. And I am not sure whether Leica still makes those parts in the first place.

I hear you though. My M7 is modfied to show just the 50mm frame, as I always disliked the 50 and 75 frames showing up together.

[thrid]

1 hour ago, wizard said:

It actually wasn't that simple, as it required to replace the original frame lines generator device by a new one which only had cutouts for the desired frame lines (so less the 75 frame lines in your example). In any case, it required a new part from Leica. Not sure whether Leica still offers those parts to third party repair persons. And I am not sure whether Leica still makes those parts in the first place.

I hear you though. My M7 is modfied to show just the 50mm frame, as I always disliked the 50 and 75 frames showing up together.

DAG and others didn't swap the actual frame line mask, mainly because no such alternate part exists from Leica.

They simply blocked the lines on the existing mask with either some kind of material they painted on or if memory doesn't fail me applied a special film or tape. I had this conversation with Don Goldberg about 20 years ago, when I wanted to get my M7 modified. 

On the film bodies the only way to get an official reduced frame line set from Leica was to order an entire replacement rangefinder for the MP3. I believe this also gave you 1m frame lines instead of the standard 0.7 on the M6 and newer bodies, but that may have only been the case for the LHSA edition. But that was not a cheap job. It was close to $1000 in the early 2000's

I think for a while you could order a custom MP a' la carte with a reduced set, but that was also in the early 2000's.

On the film bodies you also couldn't swap the M2/M4 mask into the newer M6/M7/MP rangefinder since they are of a different construction. If I remember correctly on the M2 it's a metal and glass sandwich and the newer ones are all metal.

At one point I was toying with the idea of making laser cut replacement masks with various frame line sets, but there wasn't enough demand to justify the time and effort

Anyhow, I'll shoot DAG an email to see if they can do it.

The downside is that I just got my M11 and it's my only digital M body.  At this point I really don't want to lose the camera for a few months...

[lct]

Never liked the 50/75 pair of frame lines either, reason why i got an M6J in the first place. Now, what to do with my 75mm lenses? I could use them in LV mode only but it would be too much of a frustration so I've got used to the idea of using the M11 as is with its 50/75 frame lines. Not the answer you expected i guess, sorry. 

[dpitt]

15 hours ago, thrid said:

I also have a sneaking suspicion that Leica would balk at doing this.

Maybe they would. But if they could find a way to activate or de-activate the lines in the menu that would be one of the most desirable RF improvements in 50 years i guess. There are some types of glass that can be turned opaque electronically so why not... I love the simple frame lines of my M2. The only model to provide 35/50/90 mm frames without any additional clutter.

[wizard]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

vor 14 Stunden schrieb thrid:

I think for a while you could order a custom MP a' la carte with a reduced set, but that was also in the early 2000's.

Several reduced frame set were part of the á la carte option for many years, not only for the MP, but also for the M7. This is how I got my reduced frame set. 35, 50 and 90 frames only were also available at that time.

[steveBK]

This is the kinda thing I would pay Leica $500-1000 extra on a body to let me customize at order time

 

[Jeff S]

19 hours ago, thrid said:

DAG and others didn't swap the actual frame line mask, mainly because no such alternate part exists from Leica.

They simply blocked the lines on the existing mask with either some kind of material they painted on or if memory doesn't fail me applied a special film or tape. I had this conversation with Don Goldberg about 20 years ago, when I wanted to get my M7 modified. 

On the film bodies the only way to get an official reduced frame line set from Leica was to order an entire replacement rangefinder for the MP3. I believe this also gave you 1m frame lines instead of the standard 0.7 on the M6 and newer bodies, but that may have only been the case for the LHSA edition. But that was not a cheap job. It was close to $1000 in the early 2000's

I think for a while you could order a custom MP a' la carte with a reduced set, but that was also in the early 2000's.

On the film bodies you also couldn't swap the M2/M4 mask into the newer M6/M7/MP rangefinder since they are of a different construction. If I remember correctly on the M2 it's a metal and glass sandwich and the newer ones are all metal.

At one point I was toying with the idea of making laser cut replacement masks with various frame line sets, but there wasn't enough demand to justify the time and effort

Anyhow, I'll shoot DAG an email to see if they can do it.

The downside is that I just got my M11 and it's my only digital M body.  At this point I really don't want to lose the camera for a few months...

He won’t with the M10, or presumably later models…

Jeff