Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/08/17

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Inaccuracy of M6 Viewfinder Frames
From: Henning Wulff <henningw@archiphoto.com>
Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2003 21:56:21 -0700
References: <02BEF7BE-D09E-11D7-8C4B-003065F2FE36@xsmail.com>

At 5:31 PM +0700 8/17/03, Mitch Alland wrote:
>I've always known that the M6 viewfinder frames are set for a 
>23x35mm image at the closest focus of the lens and that at longer 
>focusing distances the film frame will contain an increasingly 
>larger field than shown within the frame. But how dramatically this 
>changes was brought home to me only when I looked and focused 
>through the Fuji 6x9 viewfinder. The difference between what is 
>covered at close focus and infinity is enormous! And the frame in 
>the Fuji 6x9 changes in size to  provide an accurate framing view 
>throughout the focusing range. Why has Leica not been able to have 
>its frame lines change in size to accommodate the changing size of 
>the field throughout the focusing range?  Is it just a question of 
>minimal R&D by a small company...or are there technical reasons?
>
>--Mitch/Bangkok

the Fuji design is good, but they don't have to deal with a variety 
of focal lengths (the amount of change of area depends on focal 
length, or rather, the extension percentage). This would complicate 
the M6 finder immensely, especially as for the .72 finder, always two 
focal lengths are shown together.

Also, due the focal length again, the change in cropping is much 
greater the larger the format. Just try to figure out how much your 
360mm 'standard' lens on an 8x10 camera has to be extended to fill 
your frame with an object 24x36mm. You'll need the full length of 
your hallway!

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    *            Henning J. Wulff
   /|\      Wulff Photography & Design
  /###\   mailto:henningw@archiphoto.com
  |[ ]|     http://www.archiphoto.com
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In reply to: Message from Mitch Alland <malland@xsmail.com> ([Leica] Inaccuracy of M6 Viewfinder Frames)