Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/10/01

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Subject: [Leica] Rangefinder Baseline
From: Marc James Small <msmall@roanoke.infi.net>
Date: Fri, 01 Oct 1999 11:34:28 -0400

At 08:29 AM 10/1/1999 -0500, Greg.Chappell@bankofamerica.com wrote:
>I believe with the 1.5 magnification in the IIIf and IIIc rangefinder it's
>effective rangefinder base is actually LONGER than an M2, M4, M5, M6
>Classic. If it's not long enough, they never should have made one for the
>"M"! I cannot remember if the 1.5 magnification is in the IIIa.

Well, no.

The LTM cameras had a 38mm baseline with a magnification of 1.5X, so the
effective distance was 57mm.  The Leica IV -- the prototype for the M
cameras -- had a 60mm baseline with a magnification of 0.9X, for an
effective baseline of 54mm.  All of the M's have a real baseline of
69.25mm;  with the various magnifications used, the effective baselines are
between 49.86mm and 63.71mm.  

The real winner was the early Contax I, with an effective baseline of 92.7mm.

I am still seeking the dispositive figures for the Retina, Ektra, and
Prominent.

Marc

msmall@roanoke.infi.net  FAX:  +540/343-7315
Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir!