M9 Frameline Question

[Pioneer]

Just a quick question. Is it possible to have some framelines removed from the M9?

I love the framelines on my M3. Things are clean and not distracting. On those rare occasions where I use a lens wider than 50mm I don't mind using an external viewfinder.

 

[Rob-F]

DAG can remove unwanted framelines on film Leicas, so I don't see why he couldn't on an M9. The framelines work on the same principle.

 

[Pioneer]

Thanks.

I'll get in touch with them.

 

[Rob-F]

Yet another M9 frameline question

Yet another M9 frameline question

Here's another M9 framelines question. As we all know, the 50mm frameline on the M6, M7, and MP is undersized, covering about the same as a 60mm lens on an SLR. 😱 The 35mm frameline is a little too small, but not that much. Did they make the M9 the same way? The framelines on my M8.2 are much better, corresponding well to what I actually get. This is partly because the M8.2 framelines are all based on a 2 meter distance, rather than the closer distance on which the M6 framelines were based. But the 50mm frameline is undersized beyond that. I wonder if Leica made the 35mm & 50mm M9 framelines in the proper proportion to the rest, like on the M2/M3/M8.2, or if they continued their policy of undersizing the 35 & 50mm ones.

This could help decide whether I will ever get an M9.

 

[uhoh7]

You should get an M9, but the framelines seem to say: at least you will get this!

the 75 and 90 are really crazy, but it may that I'm shooting infinity alot.

the 50 is pretty good.

 

[Rob-F]

You should get an M9, but the framelines seem to say: at least you will get this!

the 75 and 90 are really crazy, but it may that I'm shooting infinity alot.

the 50 is pretty good.

Does this mean that you find the M9 framelines, especially the 75 and 90, too small? (I know they are based on a one meter distance, rather than the 2 meters of the M8.2, which in itself makes them smaller.)

 

[Godfrey]

DAG can remove unwanted framelines on film Leicas, so I don't see why he couldn't on an M9. The framelines work on the same principle.

I wrote Don some time ago asking this question as I prefer the M4/early M4-2 viewfinder magnification and framelines over the M9 and its siblings. His response was, "The M8/M9/etc viewfinder assembly is quite a lot more complex than any of the film cameras were. Many of the parts are quite different and difficult to access. I don't recommend attempting to modify it and won't take jobs like that."

Mostly, for me, I find the .68x magnification on the M9 too low and it makes the frame lines and focusing patch too small, difficult to see. I bought a 1.25x viewfinder magnifier and find it to be a good solution for 50mm and up focal lengths. The extra frame lines are a bother that I've just become accustomed to.

G