M6 Flare problem

["Hans Pahlen" <hans.pahlen@mark.komvux.se>]

Members of the LUG,
   Thank you so much for all your help.  It's reassuring to see that some
of the
members of the Leica users group have noticed the same problem.  I though=
t
you
might be interested in reading the latest response from Sonke Peters at
Leica -
just to get a glimpse of what they're working on right now.  Thanks again
for
your assistance.

Sincerely,

Evan M. Scheele
=20

> Mr. Peters,
>    Thank you for your prompt and courteous response.  I have several mo=
re
> questions for you; I hope you won't mind answering them. =20
> 1) Why can't the brightline frame illumination window on the M6 simply =
be
made
> of a more opaque plastic?  Covering it with a translucent layer of tape
takes
> away the flare without significantly diminishing the brightness of the
finder
> frames or the LEDs.  The probem seems so simple to solve - is it someho=
w
more
> complicated than it appears?
> 2) Could you please specifically explain the redesign of the viewfinder
to
> accomodate the LEDs and how this causes the flare problem?  Is the
problem also
> related to the redesign of the viewfinder to accomodate the addition of
the 75mm
> and 28mm brightline frames?  I was curious because I noticed exactly th=
e
same
> problem several years ago in an M4-P, which as you know also has the 28=
mm
> viewfinder, but no LEDs.
> 3) Do you know of any other temporary solutions which customers have
found
> besides the use of tape, or is that what others have done as well?
> 4) Will the eventual solution which you are working on be retrofitable =
to
older
> M6 bodies or will I have to trade in my current M6 for a new one in ord=
er
to
> correct the problem?
> I thank you in advance for any detailed information which you can give
me.
> sincerely,
> Evan M. Scheele


On Thu, 19 Dec 1996 13:29:46 +0100 peters.pm@leica-camera.com (PM M-Syste=
m,
Soenke Peters) wrote:

>ad 1) Our R&D-Department tried a lot of different materials to solve thi=
s
>problem. I can not tell you precise details because I am not an engineer=
,
>but I can assure you that I am going to discuss your suggestion with our
>specialists
>ad 2) The M3 viewfinder had a totally different design. Your suspicion
that
>the problem is related with the lower magnification of the viewfinder is
>correct. As the M4-p and the M6 have nearly the same viewfinder they bot=
h
>have the same problem.
>ad 3) I do not know other solutions. I sometimes cover the "frame window=
"
>in the middle with my finger if the problem occures. Not a good solution=
,
>but it works.
>ad 4) It will not be retrofitable to older M6 bodies. But I can assure y=
ou
>that nothing will be introduced before photokina 98. So please do not se=
ll
>anything and don=B4t panic
>
>Sincerely
>
>S=F6nke Peters
>