How much better is the right diopter on an M-body?

Frank Petronio

Frank Petronio

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I am about to re-enter the Leica M-space but with older eyes that need reading glasses. I've gotten more and more frustrated with several of my cameras, the SLRs and TLRs, because I now find my eyesight makes it harder to focus on their viewing screens, even though my eyes aren't that bad (yet). I do like my modern DSLRs with their built-in diopter adjustment (one of the few things that I like about them!).

So with an M6 and a +1 to +2 correction, is it worth the hassle of getting a screw-in diopter? Or is the viewfinder so clear and clean that i'll be able to reliably focus and compose without that relatively minor correction?

And if so, what are the best values - clearest - most secure diopters?

Also I am planning on a 0.72 M6 to use mostly with a 35mm, and not wearing my reading glasses while shooting. Any cautions?
 
I'll tell you one thing, I couldn't use the camera without my -3 diopter. I'm pretty nearsighted and lazy about using contact lenses. I find it does not detract from the viewfinder image in the least.
 
While the Leica viewfinder is indeed very good, if your eyesight is lacking, then it becomes harder to focus critically.

In terms of value, I think there aren't many choices on the market. New Leica is great if you can go down to the store for a 'fitting'.

Otherwise, you can buy new off-brand diopters from store on eBay (from Hong Kong). For about the same price as these, you can get used Leica ones.
 
Frank--the diopter makes all the difference--even on an M3 and especially on an M6. Do get one and try it. The larger dealers used to have a big display from which you could choose a diopter and try it--haven't seen one of those in a while.
The correct diopter will absolutely make the difference between an in-focus and out-of-focus shot.
Good luck!!!
Paul
 
i have one on my m6 . found it to frustrating to focus through my glasses .
i ended up buying a leica brand one i do not trust the chinese ones on ebay their more expensive but it's a one time purchase for a important part of the camera
 
I bought 2 excellent diopters from HK Supplies on Ebay for $39.00 US. I can only imagine what the Leica equivalent would cost because I didn't try to find out.

These things make all the difference from squinting through my glasses and not seeing the frame lines to seeing everything easily. I wear my glasses on a cord around my neck (yes, very uncool) and simply drop my glasses to my chest when I put my eye to the camera.

I put the correction diopters on any camera I have that will accept them.
 
You really don't have to be able to see two sharp images in the rangefinder patch. You can still get accurate focus if they're fuzzy. When they coincide you should notice a sudden increase in contrast within the patch. This is worth trying even if you do opt to buy diopter lenses. The day might come when you shoot with another camera.
 
Do they make diopters for very near-sighted people? Do the numbers correspond with prescription eyewear strength? If so, I'd need a very much higher number than -3.
 
I use +1 diopters on all my Leicas. Even with my glasses which correct my eyesight fine, the finder in both RF's and SLR's are still a little unclear. A +1 on the Leica snaps it up really sharp. Same with SLR's by the way (although the diopter strength varies with different SLR's between +.5 and +.1 for me). I have both Leica brand diopters (think I paid $79 each for them) and the eBay third party ones. Can't really tell any difference in clarity between them, though.
 
with nikons i absolutely needed to use the on camera diopter adjustment.
with the m6 it doesn't seem so bad.
i need them for reading only.
possibly it could be enhanced if i do get one for the leica.

what strength would be used for reading glasses?
 
Frank Petronio said:
So with an M6 and a +1 to +2 correction, is it worth the hassle of getting a screw-in diopter? Or is the viewfinder so clear and clean that i'll be able to reliably focus and compose without that relatively minor correction?

Also I am planning on a 0.72 M6 to use mostly with a 35mm, and not wearing my reading glasses while shooting. Any cautions?
Click to expand...


I have the setup you're thinking of . . . 0.72 M6 used with a 35mm and a +2 diopter. The diopter makes using the camera sure, positive and relaxing. You can usually find one used if you ask the dealers who stock Leica. Even at the inflated price asked for a new one, it is defineitely woth it for me.
 
Diopters make a world of difference. If you really want a sublime experience, try a Zeiss Ikon with the correct diopter! Leica (and Zeiss) viewfinders are already -0.5, so you have to account for that when buying a diopter.
 
I'm also thinking of buying one...
I need something about -1...-2.

I'm tired of scratching my glasses (plastic hameleon)...

But there is one problem that disturbs me. How do you (guys who have this correction diopters) actually looking around... I mean if you don't look in the camera all the time, then you wear glasses, or what?.. Or if none, then you don't have option to view clearly what you might want to shoot...
 
Frank if I understand you correctly, is your distance eyeglass prescription between +1 to +2 diopters? If so I would highly advise using a Leica brand diopter. Remember that the standard Leica finder has a power of -0.5 diopters so you'll need to increase the dioptric power of your distance prescription by +0.5 diopters when selecting the proper eyepiece diopter if using the camera without your glasses, so if your distance prescription is for example +1.50 D, then use a +2.00 D eyepiece. If you plan to use your glasses when looking through the finder I'd instead advise a +0.5 D eyepiece as that will compensate for the built in -0.5 diopter power. This will greatly help focusing at close disatances of 1 m or less. I know this for a fact as this is what I use when wearing my glasses.
 
This is an issue

This is an issue

I used between -1 and -2 diopters on my M's, equivalent to my prescriptions, and when removing the camera and looking around, things far away are a bit fuzzy and take a few seconds to adjust back and forth.

I know that many folks, possibly closer the the -1 and < 2 can adjust easily, but at -2 and stronger myopic correction, you should probably have glasses around to put on immediately when not viewing through your camera.

Discuss this with your eye dr. if possible.

Nugard said:
I'm also thinking of buying one...
I need something about -1...-2.

I'm tired of scratching my glasses (plastic hameleon)...

But there is one problem that disturbs me. How do you (guys who have this correction diopters) actually looking around... I mean if you don't look in the camera all the time, then you wear glasses, or what?.. Or if none, then you don't have option to view clearly what you might want to shoot...
Click to expand...
 
My eye doctor?.. Heh... Don't have one...

Must decide all by myself... :/

Fuzzy... Yeap... But when you shoot at the street, you ought to see clearly for 5-10m... Without glasses I don't see clearly for 1m... So what to do?..
 
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I'd consider glasses

I'd consider glasses

on all the time, and no camera diopter for safety reasons in this case.

Nugard said:
My eye doctor?.. Heh... Don't have one...

Must decide all by myself... :/

Fuzzy... Yeap... But when you shoot at the street, you ought to see clearly for 5-10m... Without glasses I don't see clearly for 1m... So what to do?..
Click to expand...
 
Frank Petronio said:
.......
So with an M6 and a +1 to +2 correction, is it worth the hassle of getting a screw-in diopter? Or is the viewfinder so clear and clean that i'll be able to reliably focus and compose without that relatively minor correction?

And if so, what are the best values - clearest - most secure diopters?

Also I am planning on a 0.72 M6 to use mostly with a 35mm, and not wearing my reading glasses while shooting. Any cautions?
Click to expand...

As you get older, your eyes ability to adjust becomes less, regardless of the optical prescription that you might need for distance. So the value of the screw-in diopter becomes more critical. There is a wikipedia page with a graph that shows what happens. It's near the end of:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyeglass_prescription

Leica screw-ins are available in 0.5 diopter increments. I suggest that you go to a photo store with your camera and try the values around your optical prescription. Do the test in dim light if possible, and look at objects through the viewfinder at various distances, near and far. Take your time! It is said that whatever value you need to view an object at 1meter or a bit less (not through the camera, just looking) is the correct value.

I am short sighted and need -1.5diopter for my M6. On my Mamiya, where the diopters are available in 1 whole diopter increments (no half values) i find the weaker -1 better than the stronger -2. If you need plus diopter values, i don't know if slightly stronger or weaker would be the way to go if you are between values.
 
I use the Megaperl 1.15 magnifier with dioptic adjustment on my M6ttl with the .58 viewfinder. It was like a veil lifted from my eyes and makes focussing a breeze. So if you don't mind the slight increase in viewfinder magnification (I love it) it's another option.
 
I was getting a little disenchanted with my M2, yes I could focus ok - in reasonably good light, but what I was seeing in the finder was not crystal clear. My Nikkormats have +2 dioptre lenses in, the size I need for reading, and were far better for focussing and composing. Enquiries revealed that a Leica lens would cost me UK £60 + V.A.T!, being a Yorkshireman, and a pensioner, I baulked at this prospect - for one small round piece of glass :eek:, so bought a Voigtlander round lens, for £10, slightly different diameter - so a little 'jiggery-pokery' on the lathe was needed to the suround rim. Well...the transformation is amazing! - crystal clear!, and I'm back in love with the M2 :)
Dave.
 
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