viewfinder for 40mm

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Is there an accesory viewfinder for 40mm lenses? How do M photographers frame when using 40 Rokkors?

-- John Fleetwood (johnfleetwood@hotmail.com), April 01, 2001

Answers

I've never used a 40 on a Leica, only on the Rollei 35S, but the angle of view is between 35 and 50. Since the Leica's frames are set for field size at close-focus (which is smaller than at infinity), technically the 35mm frames would be more accurate at longer distances and the 50mm frames up close (say 2m and less). Unless you want to fiddle with the camming on the lens, though, if the 40 Rokkor brings up one or the other of those frames, then I'd go with that and simply make mental compensation for the difference.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), April 01, 2001.

Apparantly its about a $25 job for a Leica repair person to modify the 40 so it brings up 35 lines on the M camera instead of the 50 lines. The 35 window on an M camera shows almost a perfect 40mm frame at distances over 20 feet or so. So if you were shooting close up, you'd just have to make sure none of the subject was right up against the frame line and you'd be fine. I use mine on the M3 sometimes by just using the whole finder, and get good results this way as well. I think if I was using it on an M2, 4 or 6 and didn't have a CL or CLE to go with the 40, I'd be tempted to have it modified to bring up the 35 lines.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), April 01, 2001.

It is very easy to modify the 40/2 to bring up the 35/135 framelines on a M camera. The 35/135 is the "default" selection when no lens is mounted. The other frameline pairs are displayed by the lens' mount ear moving the frameline selecter linkage inside the camera right next to the external frame lever. To get the 35/135 framelines with the 40/2 just file the ear smaller until it does not engage the linkage. Mask off the area carefully so no filings get in the works. Round and smooth your finished edges so the mount does not get gouged. That is it.

Cheers,

-- John Collier (jbcollier@home.com), April 04, 2001.


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