I wear glasses - M3 or M2 best for 50mm?

furcafe said:
The M2 obviously offers more space around the 50mm frames, but @ the cost of a finder w/less eye relief (smaller eyepiece opening, though you can pay a tech to remove it).
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removing the mask does nothing to help eye relief... I've tried. I think they put it there because the prism shape (which you can see with the mask removed) is not terribly pretty.

I shoot a 50mm on an M2 and have glasses... it's fine. no real complaints.

cheers.
 
What i want add to Thomas is that with a .72 m6 I sometime have to guess what is happening within the frameline, but with my m3, it's both eye-relieving and shows more details! i wear stand-alone glasses.
 
I can just see the M3 framelines with glasses, but not beyond; with the M2/4 easily beyond.

I find the M3 excels at such things as watching the subtle expressions on people's faces. I like the M2/4 lines to see the whole frame in space, and for composing geometric shapes, which seem more abstract in the .72 finder.
 
Save the glasses. Rubber O ring 4 drops super glue at 12,3,6 & 9. No more scratched glasses. I like the M3 with the 50mm.
 
My experience was different. Removing the M2's VF mask improved eye relief for me, not a huge amount, but noticeable, especially when using a 35mm. I think much depends on your eyeglass prescription & facial shape.

Whether or not it's worth the money is another issue. I haven't had it done on my M4 or KS-15(4) (sold my M2 years ago), but might in the future should I need to send them out for repair or CLA.

Not sure what you mean by "prism shape" not being pretty, as you don't see anything uglier than you see inside a M3. IIRC, Tom A wrote that the mask was put in to reduce any flare from light coming in from the rear of the eyepiece. Whatever the reason, it must not have been a big problem, because Leitz/Leica eventually got rid of it & the modern M bodies (M6, maybe earlier?) don't have the mask.

mooge said:
removing the mask does nothing to help eye relief... I've tried. I think they put it there because the prism shape (which you can see with the mask removed) is not terribly pretty.

I shoot a 50mm on an M2 and have glasses... it's fine. no real complaints.

cheers.
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thomasw_ said:
OP, I have used numerous Ms, with VFs of .91x, .85x, .72x and even .58x. I am terribly short-sighted and have had to wear corrective lenses since I was 8. Wearing glasses with a RF is cumbersome and compromising. No matter which body you select, your ability to compose is not as effective when compared to shooting without glasses. This applies when using a .58x VF up to a .91x VF; it is a matter of 'to what extent is the compromise' of a given VF magnification when focusing or composing. For this reason my RF practice has made me become a contact lens wearer when I shoot. Using the highest magnification VF possible affords you the most accurate focusing and the most distinct composing (because of the higher magnification). Therefore I recommend you use a 50mm with a M3 if you wear contacts: this is the very best VF with a 50mm lens, there is no compromise. Otherwise I'd recommend the M2 with a 50mm lens if you will not wear contacts; this is not the best VF for a 50mm, there is a compromise, but it does work best for a glass wearer.
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I agree with much of what you say, but wanted to add something that may ameliorate the "compromise" a little. If someone goes the 0.72 route, just take a step closer. Being closer increases the focusing accuracy (not always needed give depth of field issues), and often results in a better picture.

Of course, 99% of the time a 0.72 w/ 50mm lens focuses just fine.
 
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kknox said:
Save the glasses. Rubber O ring 4 drops super glue at 12,3,6 & 9. No more scratched glasses. I like the M3 with the 50mm.
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Don't do that anywhere with glass nearby, including the viewfinder. Super glue emits fumes that can fog glass quite badly.
 
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