Getting the body was the easy bit (cheapest of the M's ???) - the M4-2 doesn't have 28/75 frames (less clutter in the viewfinder IMO) but is the edge of the viewfinder enough of a guide to get things in using a 28mm? I'm pondering on a 28/1.9 and 50/1.5 Voigtlander combo in preference to my earlier 21/35/90 choice. Why? - I've never been exited by the perspective of 35mm lenses as they seem neither one thing nor the other . As for the 90 - it's a small area in large finder - I 'm not convinced of long lenses on RF yet! As for the 21mm - do I need the coverage of a 21mm - err no. 28mm has enough 'grab' and the 50 has enough 'selection' in my working method (I will keep my EOS and 70-210 to pull things in)

-- John griffin (John@griffinphoto.u-net.com), February 22, 2002

Answers

The main reason I like RF cameras is the feeling of rightness I get when the picture is set up well in the finder. For that reason--a picture delineated out of a context--I like the 90mm frame. On the other hand,I can't get that feeling if I'm smashing my eye against the finder and have to look around to see the whole photo. If it was me, I'd spring for the finder, or not buy the lens.

-- Michael Darnton (mdarnton@hotmail.com), February 22, 2002.

John. The 90 is a classic focal length that's been with the Leica RF system since the early 1930s. And Leica produces the best 90mm lenses ever. I think anyone who thinks this is not good for an RF is missing out on an exquisite lens for portraiture, landscape, general travel photography.

As far as the 28mm lens, you will need an auxiliary VF. You can buy the Voigtlander version or Leica gives you two choices, the 28 mm brightline or the 21-24-28 mm zoom VF. I personally like the 28 mm BL, because it does let you see outside of the 28 mm field. But any one should be fine.

One final alternative is that Leica can upgrade the VF of the M4-2 to add the 28/75 VF lines. This is a simple conversion. Just contact Leica USA (or whatever country) and they will provide the price. I may be no more expensive than buying a separate VF, and more convenient.

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), February 22, 2002.

Eliot is right that putting the six frame mask set is relatively inexpensive. It is not all peaches and cream though. The six frame mask set requires that an extra lens in the viewfinder be removed (it will not physically fit otherwise). This lens is already gone in late M4-2 cameras. On some cameras, when the extra lens is removed, it causes a problem with the focusing patch drifting as the eye is moved around the finder. This will cause focusing inaccuracies with lenses focused wide open and close. Only have a good Leica tech do the switch and, if you have a early camera with the extra lens, have them test it carefully for focus patch drift. If there is a drift problem it is better to stick with the four frame finder.

In answer to one of your other questions, the complete coverage of the 0.72x finder is a pretty good aproximation of the 28mm field of view.

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), February 22, 2002.

First Leica M I ever owned was an M2 - and the first M lens was a 28. I got along fine using the whole built-in finder (and without mashing my glasses against the eyepiece).

The field of view of an M4-2 is identical with all the other .72 finders - M2, M4, M4-P, M6, M7(?). The only thing the later bodies added was the frame lines. So just imagine them.

Shoot, I use a Hexar RF finder for framing a 21 - works fine.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), February 24, 2002.