viramati
Established
I had the x1.25 and lost it but was happy with it. I then got the x1.4 and actually find it makes it harder to focus as the focus patch seems less sharp. the magnification for using the 90 is welcome but will be returning for the x1.25
ramosa
B&W
ah, i was on the B&H waiting list for the 1.25x. i got an email from them today and just ordered it, as it's back in stock. thus, come wednesday, i will have both magnifers (1.4x and 1.25x) in hand and can assess which ones i want or don't want. thanks for all of your comments. it has well educated me in this process.
ramosa
B&W
my conclusion
my conclusion
Again, the recent purchase of an 80mm lens piqued my interest in magnifiers for use (on my M8) with this lens, as well as, perhaps, my 28 and 50. Having now tried both the 1.25x and 1.4x Leica magnifiers, I could opt for both--or one or the other. Instead, I’ll opt for neither.
The 1.4x makes little sense for me. It works well with the 80 and is usable with the 50. (I say “usable” because there isn't a lot of excess room around the framed image when using the 1.4x with the 50.) The 1.4x does not work with the 28. The 1.25x works better for me, being good with the 50 and 80 and useable with the 28. (Again, there isn't a lot of excess room around the framed image when using the 1.25x with the 28.)
What I have found is that both magnifiers help enlarge the framing area and may provide some quite small improvement in focusing—but the benefits in these regards are not substantial for me. (I have good eyesight and do not wear glasses when shooting.)
While providing such small benefits for me, the magnifiers have some drawbacks. The 1.4x is quite large, creating a dimmer image and a tunneling effect. The 1.25x is a more usable size. Both magnifiers, of course, don’t come for free. Also important is my desire to keep my RF approach as simple as possible, so the idea of needing to mess around with additional devices is not appealing (unless they bare substantial benefit). Consistent with related comments in previous RFF posts, I found the magnifiers to take some fiddling to get on and off--and to be yet another thing to have in the way when shooting or when inserting the camera in a bag (e.g., either my Domke 803 or Domke 5XB).
So, for me, the magnifiers are a miss. I can, however, see the magnifiers posing significant benefits for three types of M photographers. First, the magnifiers may bring benefits to folks with weaker eyesight. Second, the magnifiers may bring benefits to folks who are trying to use the Nocti at F/1.0. (I don’t think it’s necessary for shooting at F/1.4, but F/1.0 may be a different story altogether.) Third, the magnifiers may make sense for someone who shoots primarily with 75mm, 90mm and up lenses.
Thanks again for your input on this. It’s one of those purchases that leads to learning--and a quick return.
my conclusion
Again, the recent purchase of an 80mm lens piqued my interest in magnifiers for use (on my M8) with this lens, as well as, perhaps, my 28 and 50. Having now tried both the 1.25x and 1.4x Leica magnifiers, I could opt for both--or one or the other. Instead, I’ll opt for neither.
The 1.4x makes little sense for me. It works well with the 80 and is usable with the 50. (I say “usable” because there isn't a lot of excess room around the framed image when using the 1.4x with the 50.) The 1.4x does not work with the 28. The 1.25x works better for me, being good with the 50 and 80 and useable with the 28. (Again, there isn't a lot of excess room around the framed image when using the 1.25x with the 28.)
What I have found is that both magnifiers help enlarge the framing area and may provide some quite small improvement in focusing—but the benefits in these regards are not substantial for me. (I have good eyesight and do not wear glasses when shooting.)
While providing such small benefits for me, the magnifiers have some drawbacks. The 1.4x is quite large, creating a dimmer image and a tunneling effect. The 1.25x is a more usable size. Both magnifiers, of course, don’t come for free. Also important is my desire to keep my RF approach as simple as possible, so the idea of needing to mess around with additional devices is not appealing (unless they bare substantial benefit). Consistent with related comments in previous RFF posts, I found the magnifiers to take some fiddling to get on and off--and to be yet another thing to have in the way when shooting or when inserting the camera in a bag (e.g., either my Domke 803 or Domke 5XB).
So, for me, the magnifiers are a miss. I can, however, see the magnifiers posing significant benefits for three types of M photographers. First, the magnifiers may bring benefits to folks with weaker eyesight. Second, the magnifiers may bring benefits to folks who are trying to use the Nocti at F/1.0. (I don’t think it’s necessary for shooting at F/1.4, but F/1.0 may be a different story altogether.) Third, the magnifiers may make sense for someone who shoots primarily with 75mm, 90mm and up lenses.
Thanks again for your input on this. It’s one of those purchases that leads to learning--and a quick return.