Leica M : Manual Frameline Selector

[JPSuisse]

Hi All

I dropped my M8 yesterday (which survived seemingly without a mark). But it got me thinking, and I took a look at the M. This model has only automatic frame selection as I understand.

Does anybody wager to make a guess, if Leica will release an M with manual frameline selection? This would be preferable for me, because I occasionally quickly toggle over to see, if a different lens wouldn't be better, without taking my eye away from the camera.

Or, maybe another related question, can everyone really get use to the loss of the manual frameline selector feature? What's your experience?

Regards,

John

 

[Godfrey]

Probably the only time I use the manual frameline selector is when I fit either the Nokton 40/1.4 or M-Rokkor 40/2 lens to the M9 or M4-2 because they bring up the 50mm frame lines—their FoV is much closer to what is shown with the 35mm frame lines, and I'm reluctant to modify the lenses' cams.

The lack of this control is likely something that I'll never miss if I buy an M, just like the USB port.

G

 

[Ben Z]

I've had an M for a few weeks now, haven't had time to put my M9 up for sale yet. I miss the frame line selector very much. I used it because it was there, not because I had to, but it became an ingrained habit going back decades, and my left middle finger still looks for it. Kind of like what your left foot does with an automatic transmission if you're used to driving a stick. I'm sure in time I'll adjust. I've had the mechanism break on me in the past, and I assume it's a costcutting measure. At least the M240 came in at the same price as the M9. For my money they could've left off the live view/EVF and video functions and kept the selector, but it is what it is.

 

[V-12]

In many years of Leica photography I think I've used the frameline selector three or four times for the hell of it. Getting an sense of what your lenses will cover is what most photographers do, and you only need to consider how many other camera manufacturers incorporate something similar to realise just how important a frameline selector is, or is not.

V

 

[JPSuisse]

HI V-12, well, thanks for the input.

Of course, it's true that as you use your lenses you get a better feel for the different focal lengths. You obviously don't need such aids then. Even though I often, while just looking, think that a picture is right for 21mm, for example, when I see it framed in a different focal length, I might change my mind. That's for me at least, so the selector was a good feature.

John

 

[Doug]

I haven't used the frameline selector in recent years, because I have a good idea of the framing of the lenses I use. I very rarely change lenses in the field so I don't find the need to check different framing. If and when the lens is changed for another, that's soon enough for me to see the different frame-set.

One exception is when using a 40mm lens, I will loop a rubber band around the M2 frame lever stretching over to the strap lug to hold the lever in the 35mm position. The M8's lever shape is also compatible with this usage.

I do remember though using the frameline selector lever after getting the M2 while learning the system and what the different lenses might do.

 

[Ben Z]

If we accept the premise that any photographer worth his salt should be able to envision the field of the various focal lengths without previewing the frame lines, then why bother to have the frameline for the attached lens? Surely it would be cheaper to manufacture these cameras without the frame line mechanism altogether 😉

One thing I frequently used the selector for was when I used a 90mm I would toggle the 75mm frame lines, which closely approximates the field of view of a 90mm at infinity. I find it more intuitive than guesstimating outside the 90 lines.

 

[FrozenInTime]

I use the frame select lever quite frequently - to get a vertical or horizontal reference .

The M.240 not having is just one more point me tipping against getting one.

 

[jaapv]

But it does have various crop marks...

 

[jaapv]

I've had an M for a few weeks now, haven't had time to put my M9 up for sale yet. I miss the frame line selector very much. I used it because it was there, not because I had to, but it became an ingrained habit going back decades, and my left middle finger still looks for it. Kind of like what your left foot does with an automatic transmission if you're used to driving a stick. I'm sure in time I'll adjust. I've had the mechanism break on me in the past, and I assume it's a costcutting measure. At least the M240 came in at the same price as the M9. For my money they could've left off the live view/EVF and video functions and kept the selector, but it is what it is.

It is not cost-cutting, there was no space...🙁

 

[Ben Z]

It is not cost-cutting, there was no space...🙁

Oh, I wasn't aware of that. What made me think it was cost cutting was that they also deleted it from the M-E which I would assume does have the space as it's the same camera as the M9.

 

[jaapv]

Yes, indeed there would be space there. maybe they got fed up by replacing lost levers....😀

 

[coelacanth]

I feel it's like BMW MINI's center speedo. Most people don't really need or use it, but quite a lot of people (likely the existing/long time fans of the car, not the general public) are now unhappy they took it away from the new 3rd generation. It's a rather unique feature for the model, although M's selector lever is maybe not as prominent.

I use it rarely as I pretty much shoot 50mm and 35mm only so my brain remembers the views, and 75mm line can be used for leveling with 50mm lens which I use 90% of time. That said, I'll probably miss it if it's gone from my film and digital M bodies.

 

[Ben Z]

That center speedo is the single reason I never bought a Mini Cooper. The devil is in the details.

 

[ironhorse]

The center speedo is far superior to the navigation system that occupies that spot in my wife's Mini.

 

[Ben Z]

I wear progressive-focal glasses and unless I turned my head, the center speedo was blurry for me. I have never used the analog speedo in my 911, because it's off to the left and the numbering is small and close together. The tach is straight ahead and there's a nice large digital speedo display in it. As for NAV, that's something I would never pay for in a car. My iphone has it and I stream the turn-by-turn directions through the stereo speakers with Bluetooth.

 

[Livesteamer]

I have sometimes wanted a manual frame selection, not automatic and there is a reason why. I use some old screw mount lenses with the adapters. The only difference in the adapters is which frame line they bring up. If I could manually select the frame lines then I would not need to change adapters when I go from an old 50 to a 35 or a 28. Not a big deal but I can see how it might be nice. Joe

 

[jaapv]

Isn't it more practical to have the appropriate adapter fitted to each lens?

 

[Livesteamer]

I sometimes travel with just an M6 and a IIIc. I have four screwmount to M adapters but having a frame selector that could be manually set would simplify things. In reality this is a very small complaint but a selector that could do both manual and automatic would be nice and probably not too hard to engineer. Joe

 

[Ben Z]

By manual selector I take it you don't mean the spring-loaded jobby as on the M9 (or M6) but a switchable selector as on the Epson R-D1 or Voitlanders?