1.25 or 1.4 magnifier?

[madhatter]

Hi all,

I have enjoyed reading this forum for a while now and have learnt a lot of invaluable info from everyone's post and questions. Great forum!

This is my first post and my question is;
which would be a better magnifier to buy out of the two? I will use it to help me focus on a 50mm lens with a M9 that i recently bought. I also wear glasses for distance vision.

I did a search for this topic but could not find the answers so if there is one please lead me to it. Thanks!

 

[Brian Legge]

I use a 1.25x on an M4 with a 0.72 finder.

Its about as much magnification as I'd want with a 50mm lens. I don't wear glasses and its already on the boundary of what I can see where I position my eye.

 

[jaapv]

Why on earth would you need a magnifier for a 50 mm lens? Even the vast majority of Noctilux users manage without.

 

[madhatter]

Why on earth would you need a magnifier for a 50 mm lens? Even the vast majority of Noctilux users manage without.

I have trouble focussing in the RF patch. I'm guessing the magnifier will help me see it more clearly..my eyes are weak i guess..

 

[burancap]

Go for a DIOPTER!

 

[Calzone]

Why on earth would you need a magnifier for a 50 mm lens? Even the vast majority of Noctilux users manage without.

I found that the added magnification helps. Had a 0.85 M6 especially for 50's. Some people use/like the M3 for the added magnification of 0.92 for use with a 50, but I found that with my glasses that this was too much.

1.25X0.72=0.90.
1.40X0.72=1.008

I own a Leica 1.40X magnifier that I use with my 75 Lux, but I tend not to use any magnifier with a 50 because of the Peephole effect.

Cal

 

[john_s]

I have trouble focussing in the RF patch. I'm guessing the magnifier will help me see it more clearly..my eyes are weak i guess..

As someone suggested, maybe with or without your eyeglasses you're not able to actually focus your eye on the rangefinder patch. The image within the patch should be quite sharp and the point where patch and main image coincide should be sharp. (of course in poor light it's more difficult to see it)

This would lead to either having eyeglasses made for use with the rangefinder camera, or an off the shelf diopter.

I use the 1.15 magnifier from

http://www.japanexposures.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=110

even with 50mm lenses and I love it. It has adjustable diopter built in, and since I'm old (poor accommodation, i.e. my eyes have almost no focus range in themselves) and my eye is between Leica diopter values, the adjustable feature enables me to set it up perfectly, and I mean perfectly.

There is also a x1.35 unit

http://www.japanexposures.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=109

These units are expensive, but IMO worth it.

Incidentally, i think you can ignore the wording about patent restrictions.

 

[Mackinaw]

I own the 1.25X and 1.4X magnifiers and use with my M-mount converted Canon 50/0.95 and with my 75mm Summilux on my Leica MP. No doubt they make critical focusing easier, especially when using theses lenses wide-open. If forced to choose one, I'd go with the 1.25 magnifier.

Jim B.

 

[jalpuerto]

Personally, I use a Leica M4 x.072 with a x1.25 magnifier from Phottix (Chinese): http://www.phottix.com/en/accessories/1-25x-viewfinder-magnifier-for-leica-black.html

At first I was hesitant to buy from them since there are highly regarded magnifiers from Japan Exposures, Leica, etc. but when I received it in the mail it exceeded my expectations. Really clear, multi-coated, solidly built and it even came with a tiny leather case like the Leica one does. Here's a quick snap from my iPhone:

The viewfinder itself makes it even easier to keep both eyes open while shooting. I wear contacts usually and with the magnifier I can see a little more than the 50mm lines. With glasses, I just take the viewfinder off all together so I feel like the x1.4 might be a little too much.

The only thing I miss is the nearly flat back profile of my M4 😛

 

[jaapv]

The first thing to check for is a diopter. Go to your optician and use his tryout glasses to determine the correct strength. You will need a diopter for a magnifier ase well, otherwise the only thing it will magnify are your vision problems. If you have astigmatism the only thing that will help you is a Walter Eyepiece.
If the rangefinder is set up correctly focussing a 50 mm lens is a doddle. I can focus up to 270 mm without problem ( admittedly the latter is not easy, but it is even more difficult using a magnifier for me.)

 

[ShinX414]

just asking cuz i'm a beginner, does it mean once i put on a magnifier in worst case i won't be able to see the framing lines (for example for the 28mm)?

 

[jalpuerto]

just asking cuz i'm a beginner, does it mean once i put on a magnifier in worst case i won't be able to see the framing lines (for example for the 28mm)?

Depends on a few things like whether you wear glasses and what viewfinder is in your M (.58/.72/.85/.91). But, yes, if you put on a viewfinder magnifier, it'll generally be harder or impossible to see the wider frame lines.

For example:

M4 .72 Viewfinder - 35mm lines are at the edge of the window

M4 .72 Viewfinder + x1.25 --> .90 - 50mm lines are at the edge of the window

 

[jaapv]

Who makes a 270mm lens RF coupled for a Leica M?

ApoTelyt+Komura 2x extender.

 

[ferider]

Try one before you buy it.

I use a 1.25x occasionally with my 75 Summilux, but even then, I often prefer to focus without magnifier. Because it somehow feels uncomfortable - like looking through a tunnel .... cann't explain it better. For a 50/1.4 or slower, you don't really need one, IMO, with proper technique (pre-focus and move). YMMV.

Roland.

 

[madhatter]

Thanks everyone for all the info. A member on this forum had one around that he is going to send to me to try. So I will soon know whether I should get one or not. 🙂)