How useable is the .58 mag finder?

[Chuck A]

I am saving for an M. I am curious whether the .58 mag finder is useable. I have been using an Oly RC and I think the finder mag is about .6 on this camera. The viewfinder is small but the framelines are very easy to see for the 42mm lens. I like being able to see the framelines easier. The problem seems to lie in the size of the RF patch. It is pretty useable though. Is it the same on the M?

Is it concievable to get a .58 finder for use with wider lenses and buy the Leica mag eyepiece to make it a .72 when needed? Are there any problems associated with doing this?

Also, how close does the outside edge of the .58 mag finder approximate a 21mm lens? It looks rather wide and that it might be close. That way you wouldn't need an external finder.

 

[furcafe]

Yes, it's "useable," although it's a matter of personal preference. Is it possible for you to actually look through a 0.58 VF @ a local store?

I've never used an Olympus RC so I can't provide you w/a direct comparison. The VF magnification difference affects the size of the RF patch, of course, but I never had any problem w/the 0.58's RF patch being so small as to make the camera not useable.

 

[alansoon]

I have a .58, and the CV 21/4.0. The viewfinder by no means is able to replace the 21mm finder which is incredibly wide (and a joy to use).

 

[Chuck A]

Thanks for the info folks. I will have to make a long trip to see a Leica finder. I live in the boonies. The camera shops around here don't stock any Leicas.

 

[Chuck A]

Alan Soon,

Nice website. I didn't have time to get through most of the pics right now, but I will certainly come back to them.

 

[alansoon]

Thanks Chuck, much appreciated.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Chuck, you'd be better off with a 0.72 magnification VF. The 0.58 won't allow you to see too well if you want to use a long lens, but the 0.72 lends itself to using all kinds of focal lengths, from 28 to 135... without adding anything to the camera.

Alan... did you finally sell that Canon 35/2 lens you had a couple of years ago? Just wondering. We spoke briefly about doing business but I later pulled out, remember... Take care!

 

[Michael C]

I have the .58 VF on my M7 because I wear glasses and stick with a 35mm lens. Many glass-wearers also seem to prefer the .58.

 

[jaapv]

Chuck, you'd be better off with a 0.72 magnification VF. The 0.58 won't allow you to see too well if you want to use a long lens, but the 0.72 lends itself to using all kinds of focal lengths, from 28 to 135... without adding anything to the camera.

It does work with the 135, but that is all said. I could'nt be without my 1.25 Okular.

 

[Chuck A]

Chuck, you'd be better off with a 0.72 magnification VF. The 0.58 won't allow you to see too well if you want to use a long lens, but the 0.72 lends itself to using all kinds of focal lengths, from 28 to 135... without adding anything to the camera.

The second part of my question addresses this. Could you get the .58 finder and then use the Leica 1.25 mag eyepiece when you want to use a longer lens? I know that you are adding something to the camera. Has anybody tried this or is it not that workable in practice? 😕

 

[jaapv]

Leica lists the combination in the manual that is with the eyepiece so it is certainly possible. If I remember to dig it up tonight I will post the official table of usable focal lenghts.

 

[alansoon]

Solares, hmm... I don't remember. But I did sell the lens -- which I really do regret.

 

[Fred]

Michael C is correct, for people who need glasses the .58 is the one if you want to see the wider frames. A 90 is fine with a .58 also but you need to be careful on the focus close up wide open. Add the 1.25x and all should be OK for a 90 Sumicron. Remember the Voigtlander RF (not R3A) have 0.7 VF and a much shorter RF base than the Leica .58 and they can cope fine with a 90 at F3.5 ish.

 

[vincentbenoit]

If I were to get a Leica I would most certainly go for the 0.58x finder because
- I wear glasses
- 90% of my shots are taken with wide-angle lenses (28mm and 35mm)
- I value the ability to see outside of the framelines as an aid to composition
- for telephoto use, there's always the possility to add the eyepiece magnifier.
However... the new Zeiss Ikon (due sometime this summer) is claimed to feature a 0.74x, high-eyepoint viewfinder which makes it possible for glasses wearers to easily see the 28mm framelines. I'm really anxious to try it - if it's as good as I expect it to be then the Ikon will be my choice over a 0.58x Leica.
Cheers
Vincent

 

[Tim]

It's a very personal thing; you really need to find somewhere where you can look through all three. If you can't do that, the Leica website actually has a nice page comparing finder views and framelines.
Be aware that the .58 finder does not have 135 framelines. This is either a good or a bad thing, it means that the 35 view is uncluttered - great if a 35 is your prime.
The outer edge of the finder is approximately the view of a 24mm lens, so i'm told. You'll still need an external finder for a 21.
The other thing with the .58 is that the 28mm framelines are actually usable - I don't wear glasses but find that with the .72 finder it's almost impossible to see the 28 framelines.
I find a 90 perfectly usable with the .58. I thought about the 1.25x mag, but it costs so much and I didn't really have problems with focussing as it was that in the end i decided to put the money towards more glass....... 🙂

Oh, I have a M6TTL 0.58, btw.......

 

[Tim]

Leica's VF choice page:

http://www.leica-camera.com/imperia/md/images/leica/produkte/msystem/kamera/54.jpg

 

[sgy1962]

I echo Tim's comments -- it is a personal thing based on the lenses which you use.

I wear glasses, use 35-50-90 focal lengths, and did not like the 0.58 viewfinder the several times I've looked through them enough to change from the 0.72 which I have. The 0.58 has better eye relief (i.e., it allows you to see the 28mm and 35mm framelines easier), but it comes at a cost of a shorter rangefinder base and a 20% smaller image within the viewfinder. I concluded that the benefits of the extra eye relief was offset by the perceived extra difficulty in focusing in low light due to the smaller image in the viewfinder. It was a trade off.

The new Zeiss Ikon, coming out in the end of August, has a HUGE viewfinder with a .74 magnification. Folks who wear eyeglasses and have handled one of the prototypes have toild me that they have had no trouble in seeing the 28mm and 35mm framelines on this new camera. If the ZI has sufficient build quality, and no glitches, I suspect you see many 0.58's hitting the used market when it comes out, because it has eyerelief w/o the limitations. We'll see.

 

[Matthew]

I wear glasses and much prefer the .58 to the .72 magnification. I mostly use a 35mm Summicron and find that while the framelines are viewable on the .72, the .58 allows me to see enough around the frame that it's an advantage for composition. If you add the magnifier to this camera it is the same magnification as the .72. I've used the 75 Summilux with this camera and didn't have much trouble with focusing. Weight is another thing; compared to my little pre-ASPH Summicron, that lens is a beast.

The outside edge of the the entire .58 viewfinder is slightly less than a 24mm lens. You really need an external finder with this or the 21. The bigger thing, rather than the finder not covering the area of the lens, is that the wide angle distortion of both the 21 and 24 is such that composition without actual seeing the effect of this is quite difficult. I find that the perspective of the viewfinder is fine for anything in the 28-50 range, what you see is what you'll get in terms of perspective.

On another note, the .58 is getting more difficult to find (according to the people at Photo Village in Manhattan there simply weren't that many made) and soon will only be available as an a la carte option. So if you want one new, you should act as quickly as is economically practical for you.

If you don't wear glasses, get the .72 and you'll be fine.

 

[Chuck A]

I use lenses mostly in the 28 to 50 range. Occasionally using something longer or shorter. I will have to find a .58 finder so that I can see one. Living in the boonies makes it hard. I really like being able to see lots of space around the frames.


The Zeiss is interesting but I imagine that it will be expensive.

 

[Matthew]

The Zeiss Ikon is listed at slightly more than $1600 new (assuming the pricing doesn't increase when actually released). This is in the same price range of a used M6 TTL and about $400-800 less than a used M7 or MP.

If you don't need glasses, there is plenty of room around the 35 frame on a .72. The 28 doesn't have much room around it in either magnification.