Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/02/23
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Karen: Building a zoom viewfinder would not be that tough of a task. The X-pan has one. However, if it were clear and easy to see, it would be huge from front to back. Because the viewfinder is itself a galilean telescope, the dimension would need to be twice as big at a 2x setting to maintain the same relative brightness (i.e., f/stop). Canon did a variable mag viewfinder (actually, a couple of variations) in the 1950s. It had a fuzzy-edged RF spot, reflected framelines and a tendency to come apart. Even in its best incarnation, in the VI series, it was so-so. The Canon design is flatly incompatible with the projected framelines that Leicas have. Where Leica has really fallen short is in making field-compensating viewfinders. In 1959, at least three cameras (selling for 1/4 to 1/2 the price of an M3) were out that showed 95% of the field at all distances, not just 90% at 10 feet, as the Leica did. Even if it is impractical to combine shrinking-field framelines with a 6-frame finder, I would have loved to see, say, an 0.72 M6 with only 35mm frames (but fully parallax and field corrected) or a 0.85x with only 50mm. You could actually get two sets of framelines in - a Konica IIIM has full-and-half frame 35mm lines like this; the Koni-Omega has lines for the 90 and 180; and the Fuji G690 and G670 have 100 and 150 lines. That of course depends on your having the presence of mind to remember what lenses you are using. Dante On Sunday, February 23, 2003, at 11:19 PM, Karen Nakamura wrote: > >> >>> So let me see if I understand this. >>> After 47 years they still haven't been able to >>> incorporate a zoom vf and I'm suppossed to be excited? >> >> One of the advantages OF a rangefinder for me is being able to see >> more than >> the framed image. > > Yes, but think how convenient it'd be if you could have a little > switch on the side of the camera marked 1.0x, 1.5x, 2.0x and with > that little switch, the finder would switch magnifications. You could > always stay in the magnification level you wanted (0.5, 0.75, and 1.0) > to optimize between seeing "outside" the lines and RF accuracy. > > Imagine how .... groundbreaking that would be.... It would require > engineering of the highest degree and use of the most sophisticated > materials. I bet even the best Japanese engineers couldn't have > even produced that .... 45 years ago. > > Karen > > -- > To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html > > ____________ Dante Stella http://www.dantestella.com - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html