Testing the Difference In early and later Leica Frameline Sizes

[Rob-F]

We all know that Leica reduced the size of the viewfinder framelines of later models, compared to the classic M2, M3, M4, M5, and the early M4P. But how much were they reduced? I wanted to do a test, so I set up a carpenter's tape measure on my basement fireplace mantle; Set up a tripod centered on it; and, one by one, mounted eight Leicas on the tripod. I looked in the viewfinder of each one and used the frameline selector lever to bring up each frameline. Then I looked to see where on the tape measure the left and right framelines fell. I subtracted the position of the left frameline from that of the right to get the width included within each frameline. Here's a look at the setup. It happens to be the 35mm frameline on the M9:

I'll get into the results with the M9 later. For now, I'm talking about my results with seven film Leicas.

28mm frameline widths in inches:

M4P: 52.5"
M6 classic: 52"
M6TTL 0.58: 52"
M7 0.58: 53"
MP 0.58: 53"

35mm Frameline widths in inches:

M2: 45"
M4P: 44"
M5: 45"
M6 Classic: 43"
M6TTL, .58: 43"
M7, .58: 43"
MP, .58: 42"

Now for the 50mm framelines:

M2: 28"
M4P: 28"
M5: 28"
M6 classic: 27"
M6TTL 0.58: 27"
M7 0.58: 27"
MP 0.58: 27"

The 75mm framelines:

M4P: 19"
M6 classic: 19"
M6TTL 0.58: 19"
M7 0.58: 19"
MP 0.58: 18"

And the 90mm framelines:

M2: 16"
M4P: 15"
M5: 16"
M6 classic: 15.5"
M6TTL 0.58: 16"
M7 0.58: 15"
MP 0.58: 15.5"

I'm sure there are some small errors in my observations. I simply wrote down what I saw after checking carefully. The 28mm framelines were the most difficult because they depended more on my eye position than the others. What seems consistent was that all cameras from the M6 classic forward have smaller 35, 50, and 90mm framelines than the M2, M4P, and M5. However, the 50mm frameline was not as much smaller as I had come to believe when using the later cameras, being 27 inches wide rather than the 28 inches of the earlier models. This amounts to a reduction of 3.6% in width. I would be interested in results or impressions others may be able to contribute.

The 28mm framelines didn't seem to suffer at all, being actually a little wider in the later models, while the 35mm framelines were almost seven percent narrower in MP compared to my M2. (In the M7 and M6 models, they were reduced by just 4.4 percent.)

Again, there will inevitably be some observation errors in my results, but overall the results seem consistent in showing the reduction in frameline sizes from early to more recent models, owing to the desire on Leica's part to privilege the closest focusing distance over the rest of the range.

So that is what I did in my air conditioned basement this steamy Sunday afternoon. I decided to post it in case it will be of some interest.

 

[pyeh]

That's a great experiment, Rob-F. Thank you very much.
I think you'd see an even greater difference between older and newer viewfinders if you were somehow to repeat this test at a further distance. It would be harder to arrange of course. Perhaps a soccer goal mouth at 30' and rulers stuck horizontally onto the posts, plus an assistant to read the ruler markings.
Somewhere also Leica published the exact distances that the viewfinder framelines of different cameras are designed to represent.

 

[charjohncarter]

Almost every image I take I think, 'Is going to be in the frame or not.' I usually fudge for a little bigger just in case.

Thanks for the information too bad I don't have one of those cameras.

 

[Hari]

I think the reduction in size was
Leica'a attempt to address complaints
from eyeglass wearers.

 

[Rob-F]

I think the reduction in size was
Leica'a attempt to address complaints
from eyeglass wearers.

I think that was the reason for the 0.58 finder. I hope they didn't shrink the framelines just for that reason! It was supposed to be to prevent cropping at the closest focus distance. But it's at the expense of excess coverage at longer distances.

 

[zuiko85]

Even with most all SLR’s, in 35mm anyway, you don’t see the whole frame. Loose framing is the answer I guess, but sure hate to crop such a small negative a lot.