I just got an M4P. Its my first look thru the "6 frame" finder ever! Is it normal for the 90 and 135 lines to be sort of hard to display all at once (I mean all 4 lines or points at once from each selection). The "smaller" frames, seem to make me keep my eye just perfectly centered for the brightlines to appear. The least bit left, and the right side goes blank. Going to the right seems to effect it less, but there still is some darkening in that direction. I dont recall my M3 (which I've not had for years) being so finicky on eye placement.

-- Charles (blueshottub@telocity.com), April 12, 2002

Answers

Yes. Happens with the M6s, too, at least the .72 finder. Probably stems from the same modification(s) (about 1981) that causes RF patch flare, since (in my case) it does not happen with an M4-2 that's only 3-4 years older than the -P.

Eventually you'll get familiar enough with where the line is supposed to be that you won't notice ths missing part as much - at least for the 90. I now tend to forget it happens except when I see a post like this. I haven't noticed it happening with the 135 frame, too - but that's no doubt because I have no 135 lens.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), April 12, 2002.

Well, I have a 35mm lens, but the 135 frame shows, and it sorta irks me. I didn't notice it when I first got the camera.... oh well, if its more or less normal, I'll live with it.

-- Charles (blueshottub@telocity.com), April 12, 2002.

My M6 TTL 0.58 and 0.85 also have 90mm frame lines (and 135mm on the 0.85) which disappear. I understand it is a common flaw with Leica viewfinders that goes back quite a few years. I suppose I could send mine back to Leica but I'm not convinced they would do much to fix the problem. I have gotten use to it.

-- Doug from Tumwater (dbaker9128@aol.com), April 12, 2002.

Charles: This is indeed normal. I have M3's and an M6. The brighlines on the 3's are much easier to use than on the 6. I wear glasses and moving my eye away from dead center causes the RF patch to flare and/or make the framelines difficult to see.

I regret to inform you, get used to it.

-- Mark A. Johnson (logical1@catholic.org), April 13, 2002.