1.25x versus 1.4x

[ramosa]

Hello All,

I am pondering magnifiers for use on my M8. I have not had noticeable problems with focusing, but will be adding a lens with a 75-ish focal length. For that, I am pondering whether I should get the 1.25x magnifier or 1.4x magnifier.

A couple related points. One, I do not wear glasses when shooting. Two, I may also use it when using my Lux 50mm.

I have read quite a few posts, but the posters all have somewhat different "specs" than my own.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[jlindstrom]

I'm currently pondering with the same "issue". I already have a 75 slux and 28 elmarit. Within the next couple of weeks I'll be completing my lens collection with 50 slux pre-asph.

I don't have huge difficulties with the 75 slux, since I have good eyes. But that being said I wouldn't mind larger mag to make focusing faster. What I've read so far is that with a 1.25 mag I could still see the 28mm framelines. To me that sounds like big plus since I could have the mag permanently attached to my m8.

Still, like you I'd appreciate some more opinions on this one. Also I understand megapearls makes mags aswell but they're a lot cheaper than Leica originals.. and they have a 1.35x magnifier also available. So that could also be interesting.

//Juha

 

[maenju]

Here's my take: I've got an el cheapo 1,25x magnifier from Hong Kong which I planned to leave on my M8 all time, as I also read that the 28mm framelines (my standard focal length) would be visible all times. However, even without glasses, you have to move your eyes around a little bit to see the those framelines with magnifier on, which takes away one of the more interesting features of RF photography -- the viewfinder being wider than the actual picture.
This leads me to the conclusion that I will get a MS-MAG 1,15x for constant use (it also has dioptries correction) and might exchange my 1,25x magnifier for a (cheap) 1,4x one to use with my 50mm and 90mm lenses. A bit annoying to haul around two magnifiers, but since I use the 28mm 90% of the time, it wouldn't be a biggie. However I do like the idea of taking photos with both eyes open, so I would still like to go for a magnifier.

 

[ramosa]

Juha: Ah, I, too, have a 28mm. It would be nice if we could use the 1.25x on all three lenses--28, 50 and 75. I have read, in a few posts, that it is feasible to use the 1.25x with a 28.

Maenju: Yes, I read that, too--that you should be able to use a 1.25x with a 28. That you have had problems with this, however, adds complexity to my decision. I guess I could get a 1.4x to use with my 50 and 75--and then remove it to use my 28.

 

[kzphoto]

I photographed a wedding using an M8.2 and the 1.25X magnifier. I was shooting primarily a 28 / 50 summicron combo and the extra magnification proved really handy. I found that after awhile I could shoot the 28 with both eyes open.

In addition to the slight magnification of the window, the 1.25x mag will also increase the size of the rangefinder patch. This is worth the price of the magnifier.

 

[ramosa]

KZ: thank you.

I guess there are three options. First, get a 1.25x and try to use it all on three lenses (28, 50, and 75). Second, get a 1.4x to use on the 50 and 75 and use nothing on the 28. Third, get both a 1.25x and a 1.4x to use on the three lenses.

It is noteworthy that my interest in magnification is primarily for use of the 75 and secondarily for use of the 50.

I will probably give the 1.4x a shot--and use it with my 50 and 75-ish lenses.

 

[jaapv]

If you don't have difficulties focussing, why buy a magnifier?😕
There are drawbacks too - narrowed field of view, loss of contrast, screw on-screw off... Leica magnifiers need different diopter correction than the viewfinder itself too. I actually find I focus better with a properly diopter-corrected naked viewfinder than with a magnifier.

 

[ramosa]

jaap: there seems to be some miscommunication. i would not have pondered a magnifier for my 28 or 50. but, with my new 75-ish lens (actually an 80), i do think a magnifier will be helpful. before this, i had not used a lens longer than a 50. with this new lens, the framed view in my M8 is quite small. thus, i think an enlargement will help.

we will see. i have ordered a 1.4x--and will give it a quick try to see if it is helpful.

 

[Rayt]

I have a .85x M7 with Leica 1.25x dedicated for the Noctilux and longer lenses. I don't wear glasses and can barely see the entire 50mm frame but I get 100% in focus shots with the Noctilux. I can't focus the damn thing any other way. I have tried the 1.4x in a shop and it is about a stop darker than the 1.25x but for a low mag finder I would go for it. It would be good to have a second body with the magnifier permanently attached to one. I notice the 1.25x has at least -0.5 diopter built in and the 1.4x is even stronger.

 

[jaapv]

jaap: there seems to be some miscommunication. i would not have pondered a magnifier for my 28 or 50. but, with my new 75-ish lens (actually an 80), i do think a magnifier will be helpful. before this, i had not used a lens longer than a 50. with this new lens, the framed view in my M8 is quite small. thus, i think an enlargement will help.

we will see. i have ordered a 1.4x--and will give it a quick try to see if it is helpful.

Well, yes, but I find I focus my 135 lenses more easily without a magnifier. I suppose it depends on the way your eyes are configured.

 

[ramosa]

jaap: i'm not sure what i'll think of a magnifier. i have never used one before. it will arrive and i can test it. if it helps a lot, i'll keep it. if not, i can return it. it would need to bring a significant benefit--as i would prefer to have fewer attachments, few things to fiddle with, and fewer things to lose!

 

[jaapv]

Quite agree. I sold a few off by now and have only some megapearls and a historical one left. Never use them any more, but you never know when they might come in handy. Old age comes to all of us 🙁

 

[Tom Niblick]

I have the 133 megapearls. It works on 35 - 90 lenses. I can not see the 28 mm frame wearing glasses and I can just barely see it without glasses while using the adjustable diopter of the magnifier.

It's good for long lenses. I even use it in combo with the 135 Elmarit.

Tom

 

[sepiareverb]

I had both, I now only have the 1.25X. Both are a real poke in the eye if you are not careful, I use the 1.25X occasionally with the 135 lens. Not often worth the pite for me.

 

[ramosa]

hmm ... ok, i received the 1.4x magnifer yesterday and experimented with it. i used it with my 50mm and 80mm, as well as my 28mm. a few impressions ...

first, you can easily see the 50mm framelines. (i have read that you can barely make these out, but i am utterly confused by this comment.) in fact, i could make out almost all of the 28mm framelines.

second, the view is somewhat dimmer, with lower contrast. (this has been mentioned before on RFF.)

third, while it provides an improvement in focus, i found the advance to be mild. (it seems to be better with the enlarged focus area, but worse in regards to being dimmer and having less contrast.) i guess the benefits may vary for people with different types of vision. the -.05 improvement given by the normal M8 viewfinder fits well with my vision. thus, normally, i don't have great problems with focus. with the 1.4x magnifier, focusing was easier, but not markedly so. (in addition, i can see the small advance in focus being helpful to someone using the nocti, but it didn't seem necessary in my use of the lux.)

thus ... i will be returning the 1.4x magnifer. i'm not saying that it's not good; i'm saying that it's not necessary for me. as mentioned in a previous post, i'm a champion of the streamlining of gear. i don't want another item unless it bares a significant overall benefit. and, for me, the 1.4x magnifer does not do so.

saying that, i remain somewhat interested in trying the leica 1.25x magnifer. having used the 1.4x, i know the 1.25x would work with my 28, 50 and 80--and i have read that it is significantly brighter than the 1.4x. however, trying the 1.25x magnifer is not a current option, as it's backordered at all normal leica sellers. (and i would want to use the leica magnifier, not one of a competitor.) but, when it becomes available, i could see myself testing it ... to verity that it can be used on the three aforementioned lenses--and to see if it permits enhanced focus (versus the use of no magnifer) and is brighter than the 1.4x.

 

[cam]

I have a .85x M7 with Leica 1.25x dedicated for the Noctilux and longer lenses. I don't wear glasses and can barely see the entire 50mm frame but I get 100% in focus shots with the Noctilux. I can't focus the damn thing any other way. I have tried the 1.4x in a shop and it is about a stop darker than the 1.25x but for a low mag finder I would go for it. It would be good to have a second body with the magnifier permanently attached to one. I notice the 1.25x has at least -0.5 diopter built in and the 1.4x is even stronger.

can you elaborate on this, please?

i am extremely near-sighted (-4 with my shooting eye) and shoot with my contacts to correct this. as i am getting long in the tooth, i find that to see sharply at 2m (i was told this is where the RF field is), i need a 1+ to correct this. in order to use the in-camera finder (at .-5) then, i need to get a 1.5+ dioptre to correct this.

so are you saying i also need to get a 2+ for use with my 1.25X magnifier? and even stronger if i choose to use the 1.4X 😕

by the way, for anybody using a dioptre -- are they clearly marked so i don't put the wrong one on by mistake?

 

[ramosa]

there are two factors at work here. first, Leica viewfinders (at least the M8 and M9) are already adjusted to -.5. Thus, if a person has -.5 vision, they should not need an additional diopter. but, if their vision is -1.5, they would benefit from adding a -1 diopter. (thus, -.5 + -1 = -1.5.)

second, adding a magnifier (to my knowledge) does not alter the aforementioned scenario. it does, however, enlarge the viewfinder image, which can help with focus. (that said, magnifiers tend to slightly dim the image and decrease contrast in the viewfinder.)

i hope that helps.

 

[Rayt]

can you elaborate on this, please?

i am extremely near-sighted (-4 with my shooting eye) and shoot with my contacts to correct this. as i am getting long in the tooth, i find that to see sharply at 2m (i was told this is where the RF field is), i need a 1+ to correct this. in order to use the in-camera finder (at .-5) then, i need to get a 1.5+ dioptre to correct this.

so are you saying i also need to get a 2+ for use with my 1.25X magnifier? and even stronger if i choose to use the 1.4X 😕

by the way, for anybody using a dioptre -- are they clearly marked so i don't put the wrong one on by mistake?

OK. I normally use a -1.5 Leica diopter on M bodies. When I bought the 1.25x magnifier I screwed the -1.5 diopter onto the magnifier but it was too strong. I mounted a -0.5 diopter on the magnifier and it was about right. So I conclude there is a -1.0 factor built into the magnifier. If you normally need a -4 diopter then you should get a -3 diopter for your 1.25x magnifier.

The strength of Leica diopters are clearly marked.

 

[cam]

i almost never shoot without my contact lenses, hence my distance viewing is pretty much set -- no need ever for any minus dioptres.

so i am going in the opposite direction!

it's reading (or computer), especially in low light, that i struggle with when my lenses are in. for reading close up or the computer, i use anywhere between a 1+ (overcast day/low light) to 1.75+ (really dark light).

after trying on various reading glasses and looking at a 2-3m distance, i was most comfortable with improved vision at 1+. which means, a 1.5+ dioptre is likely what i need for the M8/M9 VF.

i own both the magnifiers and, whilst they worked initially, they are now utterly useless because the dioptre is again going in the incorrect direction... sigh.

i guess it may be time to see my eye doctor again... the odd thing about shooting with a rangefinder is that it made my left eye (yes, i use the wrong eye) improve and my right eye a little worse... perhaps my vision has improved again and i'm not aware of it? either that, or i am just getting older and can't see up close as well with my distance viewing corrected :bang:

bah humbug!

 

[ramosa]

OK. I normally use a -1.5 Leica diopter on M bodies. When I bought the 1.25x magnifier I screwed the -1.5 diopter onto the magnifier but it was too strong. I mounted a -0.5 diopter on the magnifier and it was about right. So I conclude there is a -1.0 factor built into the magnifier. If you normally need a -4 diopter then you should get a -3 diopter for your 1.25x magnifier.

The strength of Leica diopters are clearly marked.

interesting. so there is some diopter-like effect achieved through use of a magnifer?