Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/01/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]My 1955 Leica M3 has a dial on back which can be set to disclose film type and ASA speed. Also, the leather case has a window thru which the dial is visible. As for the diminution of viewfinder area as we focus closer, the M's don't compensate, but I've never found that to be a problem in the real world. I've found the 50mm to be the best all around lens, particularly when conditions permit moving in or backing away. All the other focal lengths lose their advantage once the subject is out of their specialized range. Had a discussion with Leitz about a variable focal lens for the M. about 20 years ago. They replied that they had experimented with such a design but found it compromised quality and really didn't work well. The viewfinder correspondence proved to be a complicating factor and the camera became ungainly. The dual range Summacron is related to that design. And that didn't go anywhere in the long run. Bob