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.
 
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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