Leica M3 - The Brilliant-Frame Range-Viewfinder

The Brilliant-Frame Range-Vievvlinder
of the LEICA M 3 is designed to function as both a particularly efficient viewfinder and
as a highly accurate coupled rangefinder . Everything visible within the bright line frame
is recorded on the film .. The brilliant frame is coupled to the focusing movement and auto-
matically shifts itself throughout the whole focusing range . This compensates for parallax
errors due to the different positions of the optical axes of the lens and the finder .
The
viewfinder shows the image in almost natural size. So even if you should occasion -
ally open your other eye to survey the field, you wioll n01 be startled by a sudden
change in image scale. The brightness of the brilliant frame is sufficient to show up the
limits of the field equally clearly with dark subjects . An additional advantage is that
the subject remains visible even during the exposure .
In the center of the finder the sharp rectangular rangefinder field is visible. This appears
brighter than surrounding viewfinder area . The rangefinder field disappears if you
cover the small rangefinder window with your finger. This is useful when you want to
observe the effect of your subject in the viewfinder image only .
All
LEICA lenses from 21- through 135 mm couple to the rangefinder . The built-in parallax -
compensated bright-line frame of the LEICA M 3 are for SO -, 90 -, and 135 mm lenses, as
well as for the 35 mm wideangle when a LEICA lens of this focal length with integral
M 3 viewfinder attachment is fitted. The VISOFLEX housing converts the LEICA M 3 into
a
compactly efficient reflex camera for LEITZ lenses from 65- to 400 mm .
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