Semi-reflective bottom part of viewfinder, WHY?

[HuubL]

The M2, 3, 4 an 5 don't have it, but the viewfinders of later cameras (M6, 7, MP) have a semi-reflective strip in the bottom. Anybody knows why?

 

[aizan]

i think it's for the led meter display.

 

[HuubL]

Thanks! Yes that seems logical.

 

[nzhang]

According to "Leica M, the advantage school of photography": The windows of the range viewfinder of a leica M6 are closelly fitted flush with the surface of the cover plate of camera, so that they are eaier to clean than those on predecessor models. The cover glass on the viewfinder window has a silvered stripe along its bottom edge, so that the LEDs of the exposure meter can be seen more distinctly against bright coloered subjects. The silvering does not affect the image in the viewfinder."