Konica RF frameline coverage

[tonal1]

How do the framlines in the Konica RF viewfinder compare in coverage to those of the Leica M's? M cameras do of course vary in field of view of the framelines, but I'm curious how Hexar RF designers layed out their rangefinder design in relation to, say, an M6. Specifically, I'm curious to know if the 35mm framelines would translate well for a 40mm lens, ie. are they overly conservative for a 35mm lens, too large (doubtfull), or fairly accurate?

 

[pvdhaar]

The 28mm frame lines are the exact width/height that's shown by the CV 25mm finder lines. I even recall posting a question about it a very long time ago.
The 28mm lines worked splendid for the CV25.. So I concluded that at least the wider framelines on the Hexar RF are not conservative at all, but very aggressive. You'll really get nothing more in print than the lines show.

For the longer focal lengths, framing was difficult because of the 0.6x magnification. The 90mm framelines were so thick compared to the entire frame, that you'd already have a different field of view if you judged composition by the outside or the inside of the brightlines.

The 50mm fell somewhere in between. I found it quite accurate and very well centered throughout the distance range, though in the prints you'd always get that wee bit more all around that avoided cropped faces.

In my view, using 35mm lines on the Hexar RF with a 40mm lens is somewhat pushing it. You'd have to really pay attention to keep the subjects well within the inside of the frame lines.

 

[tonal1]

Wow. That's great Peter. You thoroughly and succinctly answer my question.

Thanks!

 

[principe azul]

Interested in Peter's response, because I'm just starting to use a 25mm on the Hexar, and it brings up the 28mm framelines. I've been framing outside the 28mm frame because it seems a hair narrower than the field of view of the Ricoh GR-D, which is 28mm equivalent, or an SLR 28mm. I make these comparisons at a middle distance, maybe about 3m.

In relation to the M6, I can only compare with the 0.72 version. The Hexar (0.6 magnification) shows a wider field at 28mm than the 0.72 M6, which has to squash it in a bit. This affects other framelines on the M6, as the 35mm, for instance, has to be squeezed a little so it doesn't look too close to the 28. (Remember that the M4 finder is virtually the same as the 0.72 M6 but only goes as wide as 35mm, where the framelines are already close to the edge.)

35mm on the M4 is reasonably accurate. The Hexar is ever so slightly narrower. The M6 is noticeably narrower, by quite a margin.

I conclude that the Hexar framelines are pretty reliable, though the M4 (or M2) has the edge. The M6 is far behind.

40mm on an M6 at 35mm might be reasonably accurate. But it's really pushing it on a Hexar.

That said, people's shooting styles differ, and the Hexar's accuracy may be something you can ignore. 😉