102 / Comprehensive instructions/Basic picture settings
The bright-line frame view- and rangefinder
The LEICA M8’s bright-line frame view- and rangefind-
er is not only a very high-quality, large, brilliant and
bright viewfinder, it is also a highly accurate range-
finder coupled to the lens. It has an enlargement
factor of 0.68x.
If lenses with nominal focal lengths* of 24, 28 (Elmarit
28mm from serial number 2 411 001), 35, 50, 75 and
90mm are used, the associated bright-line frames are
automatically mirrored-in in the combinations
24+35mm, 28+90mm, 50+75mm.
The size of the bright-line frame is matched to the tak-
ing format of the LEICA M8 and corresponds to a sen-
sor size of around 18x27mm at the shortest setting
distance for each focal length. At longer distances,
the camera records more of the subject than can be
seen within the bright-line frames.
The bright-line frames are linked to the distance set-
ting in such a way that parallax – the misalignment
between the lens and the viewfinder axes – is auto-
matically compensated and the image within bright-
line frame and the resulting picture are identical over
the entire distance setting range 0.7m to ∞.
The rectangular distance metering field, which is
brighter than the surrounding image field, is in the
middle of the viewfinder image. All Leica M lenses
from 16 to 135mm focal length connect with the
range finder when used on the LEICA M8.
When the exposure meter is turned on, the exposure
meter LEDs and the flash symbol LED appear at the
lower edge of the viewfinder image.
For more details about setting the distance and expo-
sure metering, together with flash mode, refer to the
relevant sections on pages 104/105/110.
Note:
When using longer focal lengths than those for which
there are bright-line frames (90mm, see above), such
as the 135mm models, their image field in the camera
viewfinder – which is very small to start with – can
only be “determined” very imprecisely.
The frame selector
The frame selector (1.8) expands the possibilities of
the LEICA M8 viewfinder. This built in universal view-
finder allows you to call up those bright-line frames at
any time, which do not belong to the lens currently
being used. You can then see immediately if, for
image composition reasons, it would be better to
photograph the relevant subject using a different focal
length.
If the lever is swung outwards, that is away from the
lens, the frames for 24 and 35mm focal length are
shown*.
If the lever is moved to its vertical central position, the
frames for the focal lengths 50 and 75mm are shown.
If the lever is swung inwards, that is towards the lens,
the frames for 28 and 90mm focal length are shown*.
* see “The extension factor”, p. 87
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