retrofocus wrote:
Interesting! Mine was made between 1978 and 1979. My serial number is within the largest batch of 6000 copies made numbered 1502001 to 1508000 (closer to the end of this batch production). Likely this means it was made in 1979 and already had the condenser removed.
CQ says its removal was half way I :
“Mr. Horst Braun, Manager of Leica Repairs, has confirmed a modification of the M4-2 finder about half way into production. As I understand it, a small condenser lens was removed from the frameline masks which had the effect of increasing the brilliance of the finder image and its frames. Unfortunately, it is not possible to retrofit this into later M's.” https://www.cameraquest.com/mguide.htm#M4-2%20and%20M4-P
“Mr. Horst Braun, Manager of Leica Repairs, has confirmed a modification of the M4-2 finder about half way into production. As I understand it, a small condenser lens was removed from the frameline masks which had the effect of increasing the brilliance of the finder image and its frames. Unfortunately, it is not possible to retrofit this into later M's.” https://www.cameraquest.com/mguide.htm#M4-2%20and%20M4-P
That twists a created culprit into a positive sounding message - pretty much saying that by removing the condenser lens improved the brightness of the finder image and frames [but caused patch flare].......
retrofocus wrote:
That twists a created culprit into a positive sounding message - pretty much saying that by removing the condenser lens improved the brightness of the finder image and frames [but caused patch flare].......
+1. Assuming that the M3 has such condenser lens piece, I don't see a difference in brightness between my M3, M4-2, and M6. Actually I use some polarized foil on top of the frame line window on my M6 are mentioned earlier to reduce the patch flare and the finder and frame lines are still bright enough! IMO the only reason to remove this lens was originally made by Leica to reduce manufacturing cost.
Leica changed the eyepiece aperture to one that was 20% larger halfway through the M4 run. When I had the M2, I had DAG install one and it was easier to see the entire viewfinder. When I sent my early M4 for some work, he didn’t have any of the parts. It’s not a big difference but I can tell when using the M4 after using the M4-2.
retrofocus wrote:
That twists a created culprit into a positive sounding message - pretty much saying that by removing the condenser lens improved the brightness of the finder image and frames [but caused patch flare].......
Indeed. Still, my M4-2 never flared.
I could never decide if I preferred its thicker frames. Not as pretty, but easier gauge at or near infinity rather than imagining even further out from 1m (or 0.7).
