Aging Eyes

[Pioneer]

For those of us with slowly, but surely, deteriorating eyesight, what would any of you recommend as the easiest focusing M cameras?

Certainly there are extreme wide angle lenses with extra depth of field, hyper-focal settings and magnifiers of different persuasions and makes.

But apart from those work around methods, are there an specific M cameras that seem to have the perfect combination where focusing becomes relatively easy.

 

[Emile de Leon]

The main thing keeping me away from a digital M is exactly that...the dinky squinty lil rangefinder patch ..which I loved to use in my 30's & 40's..but now at 60..not so much..and..I have good eyes..
Basically I would like an M262..but..I pick up my unused M6 and try to get used to that again after the A7..and it really puts me off Leica M..
I never thought I would have to say that..
Maybe the next iteration of the M...will have a solution..

 

[BillBingham2]

I found the Nikon S2 viewfinder easier than my Leica Ms.

B2 (;->

 

[Pioneer]

I found the Nikon S2 viewfinder easier than my Leica Ms.

B2 (;->

Truth be known Bill, my old 1950s Agfa Ambi-Silette has a better viewfinder than any of my Leicas. And goodness knows when it was last cleaned up.

 

[majid]

Thom Hogan made the point the EVF on the Leica SL is good for the ageing eyes of the Leica fan base. The digital loupe function most EVFs offer also helps.

 

[Keith]

I gather you mean film?

If not ... for me the M240 with the EVF fitted wins because you can zoom the image with a quick button press and use focus peaking when it's critical and it only takes a second. This really has been the only way I can get consistent results from my C Sonnar when doing portraits at close range and wide open.

 

[View Range]

Have you discussed your issues with a really good ophthalmologist? Cataract surgery did away with 99% of my vision problems and I'm older than you. I now have no trouble focusing any camera. My vision is 20/20 after surgery without glasses or contacts, five years after the surgery. Refractive Lens Exchange is cataract surgery for folks how don't have cataracts yet. It is expensive because, at least in the US, insurance does not cover Refractive Lens Exchange.

If you have some other eye disease, autofocus cameras may be your only choice.

 

[ReeRay]

I'm with Keith on that one. For general use on my M240 I'm comfortable using the RF patch but happy to resort to the EVF for critical focusing. Best of both worlds for a 70 year old spectacle wearer.

 

[Pioneer]

Hmm. I do have a couple of digital cameras (not from the Leica world) that have focus peaking and magnification. I personally found them a bit disorienting to use. Perhaps I should go back and work with them some more to see if the initial problems can be worked out.

The best the ophthalmologist could offer was a different pair of glasses or contact Leica to have a custom diopter built. (BTW- do you have any idea how much that costs 😱 🙁) Of course I can't see anything on the lens once my glasses come off so that is a real PITA.

Anyway, for general stuff I can get by but, as you have pointed out, it is when I am trying for critical focus that I have problems. And, though you would think otherwise, autofocus is not necessarily the answer all the time. Have you ever tried autofocusing something real small? Most of the time I can get closer with my own lousy eyesight.

I have a couple of slr cameras with really clear, beautiful viewfinders that work great. I may end up moving to those instead. But, since I have only worked with an M3, M6 and an M-A I thought maybe one of the others had a clearer viewfinder. The M-A is quite nice but I still struggle with it sometimes.

 

[Darthfeeble]

I have a Fuji XPro1 with the focus peaking and I've tried and tried to like it and just don't. I just spend a little more time trying to focus on the M9. If you can't see it the suggestion to consult an eye specialist is well taken. I find that I enjoy shooting with my contacts on more than with the glasses, even though I see better with the glasses. Perhaps a set of contacts specifically geared to the camera?

 

[Keith]

Hmm. I do have a couple of digital cameras (not from the Leica world) that have focus peaking and magnification. I personally found them a bit disorienting to use. Perhaps I should go back and work with them some more to see if the initial problems can be worked out.

The best the ophthalmologist could offer was a different pair of glasses or contact Leica to have a custom diopter built. (BTW- do you have any idea how much that costs 😱 🙁) Of course I can't see anything on the lens once my glasses come off so that is a real PITA.

Anyway, for general stuff I can get by but, as you have pointed out, it is when I am trying for critical focus that I have problems. And, though you would think otherwise, autofocus is not necessarily the answer all the time. Have you ever tried autofocusing something real small? Most of the time I can get closer with my own lousy eyesight.

I have a couple of slr cameras with really clear, beautiful viewfinders that work great. I may end up moving to those instead. But, since I have only worked with an M3, M6 and an M-A I thought maybe one of the others had a clearer viewfinder. The M-A is quite nice but I still struggle with it sometimes.

In terms af SLRs it doesn't better than an OM1 ... they are really remarkable!

 

[Emile de Leon]

It took me a year to get comfortable with the A7..now its automatic reflex..and from Noct to 135mm Elmar..it rules..

 

[Pioneer]

In terms af SLRs it doesn't better than an OM1 ... they are really remarkable!

Help! I already have so many cameras, what's just one more...just one more...just one more...

😀

 

[kxl]

Zeiss ZI? (10 characters)

 

[Moto-Uno]

I hadn't had a 35mm camera for some time , and then one day at Kerrisdale camera I happened to pick up an OM-1m and after looking through it's viewfinder I actually bought it, and the meter works a treat, so I'm a +1 with Keith on that suggestion , heck if you pay return postage I could lend it to you for a while .
Peter

 

[madNbad]

My entire life my vision has been 20/600. Basically, I can't see past the end of my elbow. Add to that, a touch of macular degeneration in my dominate eye and laser surgery for a retinal tear a couple of years ago. With all of the cameras I have owned, at this point the rangefinders are the most effective for me. I have a M2 an M6 TTL plus a couple of Kodak Retinas (how ironic), often I find myself switching from one eye to the other to check focus and with the Retinas, taking off my glasses to frame. The floaters and flashers are even more annoying because I have reached a point in my life the arc of cameras I have desired and my income have finally met. Monet did some of his finest work with impaired vision and as long as I can match the images I'll keep at it. After that, I'll buy a Rollei 35.

 

[Pioneer]

madNbad you make me feel silly. I'm worried about a minor issue and you are working through serious vision problems.

Besides, sharpness is only a small component of a great photograph. Composition means far more.

Thanks for reminding us of what is really important.

 

[peterm1]

In my experience the M cameras are not good for aging eyes if you are intent on using one with only the optical finder. I have spent $ on diopter lenses, magnifying lenses etc all with little result. I find myself using my M8 less and less as a result. Maybe using one of the later M cameras that takes the electronic viewfinder add on (with focus peaking) should be OK but I have not tried it myself.

I am using my M lenses on a Sony NEX 7 (which has a pretty good ECF with magnification and focus peaking) for all these reasons.

 

[Ronald M]

Digital .68 is inferior to .72 film. Diopters help a little.