Leica LTM Sally Mann and Leica Rig Question

[raydm6]

There’s a photo of Sally Mann shooting a Leica screwmount with what appears to be a “50”; perhaps a Summitar or Summicron.

What is curious to me is that she is using one of Leica’s bright-line finders: either the 85mm or 90mm (my guess).

If my assumptions are correct, is she using a non-matching FL bl-finder as a framing device? Or perhaps for another reason? Or, maybe someone can offer another explanation because I am not getting this rig set-up: unless it’s a prop-shot.

 

[telenous]

I think you are right. The lens is either a Summitar or a Summicron, the brightline finder a 9cm or 13.5cm one, I don't know which. My guess is she's not framing with the finder, she just uses it because it makes the photo look good. The SBOOI, which would have been correct for the lens, is less impressive looking.

 

[xayraa33]

The only thing that would have made the photo any cooler is if she posed with a Nikon SP
🙂

 

[rfaspen]

Look closely at the photo and you'll see the finder is marked "XX mm" meaning either 90, 85, or 50 mm. Lager shows an unusual example of a 50mm finder in this shape. I think he suggests it's a prototype or something.

 

[Pioneer]

Actually it could be useful. I am shooting with a 50mm lens using the camera's viewfinder but I know that I may want to crop to a 90mm field of view after the fact. This way I know I will have the information in the center where the lens is the sharpest.

 

[Coldkennels]

It also looks like she's "focusing" by grabbing the internal barrel of the lens. Twisting that is a good way to have the lens collapse on you!

 

[Beemermark]

It's a 90mm VF, I have one. She may be switching between the 50mm and a 90mm and just leaving the VF on. SO she looking through the 90mm VF to see if she would prefer that lens before switching lenses on the body. No mystery.

 

[jsrockit]

Could be she is simply checking out someone else's camera and someone took a photo of her.

 

[oldwino]

She's an Artist.

 

[SWB]

It also looks like she's "focusing" by grabbing the internal barrel of the lens. Twisting that is a good way to have the lens collapse on you!

I'm at risk of stating the obvious but there is a focusing tab on the other side of the lens just about where her left forefinger is placed.....

 

[Coldkennels]

I'm at risk of stating the obvious but there is a focusing tab on the other side of the lens just about where her left forefinger is placed.....

The focusing tab is tucked away under her hand, almost. I'm not saying she's not using it, but she'd be having to use a mid-joint on her middle or ring finger to do so, and that would be a very odd way to use that Summitar.

 

[SWB]

Maybe odd for you, I can't comment, but if you look where the focus scale is positioned then where her left hand forefinger is placed it's a natural position for anybody who has used a Leica lens with a focus tab.