[Leica] 40mm framing with M3 WAS Tmax 3200 (att: Bill)

[daniel.ridings at edd.uio.no (Daniel Ridings)]

On Fri, 18 Feb 2005, bill harting wrote:

> Interesting, the comment about the framelines on the 40mm Summicron. I 
> would
> dearly like to have a 50 Summicron that will focus closer than the
> collapsible (excellent performer that it is) that is my main 50, and I see
> 40mms available from time to time at affordable prices. Yet for years I 
> have
> used a 35 (no eyes) on my M3 and used the outer edge of what can been seen
> in the finder as my "frame", successfully -- but then I'm not that
> particular about the edges (often I am surprised).

Bill, I went back and did a comparison between the framelines in the CL
for the 40 and the viewing area of the M3. I've been making an issue of
nothing. For all practical intents and purposes 40mm matches the whole
viewfinder of the M3; at least the part of the viewfinder that you see
with glasses on. If you squish your eye right up to the camera without
glasses you might be able to see a little more than the 40 gives you.

If you see one of these (40mm Summicrons) for a good price, I'd go for it.
On my M3 the rangefinder stays with the lens all the way down to minimum
focus (0,8 meters or 2.7 feet).

I hear the 40mm Rokkor is also a very good lens, but I've never seen or
used one.

Best,
Daniel