Leica M : Manual Frameline Selector

[aeturnum]

I frequently use my frame selection lever to check what an alternative lens could do with a scene. I really regret that leica has been removing them - I think they're fantastically useful.

 

[furcafe]

Pretty sure folks were referring to the preview lever ("spring-loaded jobby"), but you bring up a good point. I always thought it would be nice for Leica to offer a true manual override of the automatic frameline mechanism, not just the preview lever.

FTR, I have the M 240 & do miss the spring-loaded jobby on occasion.

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?

 

[dblrifle]

Bought an M3 way back when and have used M's ever since. I cannot ever remember actually USING the frameline selector lever. I can remember working it a couple of times but never actually USING it. I currently have 2 M8's and have auxillary finders on each as I wear glasses and the framelines are virtually unusable to me. I have only one lense for each body a 21mm and a 40mm. So I actually NEVER change lenses. I still have my old original M3 with a 50mm on it and occasionally use it also. To me the lever is like the EVF/live view and movie features. They are virtually worthless to me and I would prefer to not have them on a camera, especially such an expensive RF camera I had bought strictly for the fact it was a RF body. To me they are answers to questions I never asked.

 

[Ben Z]

Originally Leica deleted it on the M2 but then brought it back due to customer demand. That was because originally the M2 was supposed to be an entry-level body but the inclusion of the 35mm frame lines made it a hit with professionals...which to my way of thinking calls BS on the notion that the selector is something that appeals only to less-skilled photographers who don't intuitively know what focal length to choose 😉 I will say this though: the only thing I've ever personally had break on any Leica (and I've owned at least a dozen) was the manual selector linkage (the lens indexing selector continued to work).

 

[V-12]

It wouldn't be an unreasonable conjecture to suppose Leica incorporated a frame line lever for so long was to sell lenses to amateurs. An experienced photographer already understands focal lengths and can visualise them, like if he had a Nikon, but an amateur is open to the 'what if' doubt, and a little lever can not only be charged for in the final price of the camera, but also bring in revenue.

The very fact it is no longer necessary is because the internet fills the void, with 'show me your photos' and questions about lenses that weren't possible before.
V

 

[Tom Niblick]

Originally Leica deleted it on the M2 but then brought it back due to customer demand. That was because originally the M2 was supposed to be an entry-level body but the inclusion of the 35mm frame lines made it a hit with professionals...which to my way of thinking calls BS on the notion that the selector is something that appeals only to less-skilled photographers who don't intuitively know what focal length to choose 😉 I will say this though: the only thing I've ever personally had break on any Leica (and I've owned at least a dozen) was the manual selector linkage (the lens indexing selector continued to work).

My old M2R had the lever as did/does my M4, M8 and M9. In truth, I don't use it all that often but I would miss it if it was gone. Like... well let's see if I really need the 28 for this shot or will the 35 and a step back work just as well... or, do I really need to pull out Big Ugly (135 Elmarit) or will the 90 be close enough. A simple flick tells all. Sure, I usually already know, but that little push is a quick conformation. Now, if only those frame lines were a little bit more accurate...

 

[JPSuisse]

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

Thanks Jaap. This is exactly what I wanted to know. That means for me an M9 now, or maybe in the next M, there will be one!