Leica 1.25x finder magnifier

T

Tim

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Is anyone using one of these doohickeys? Had a brief play with one over the weekend, it seems to work beautifully and looks like a great idea, but Oh! the price!

Anyone got any real world feedback on them?

tim
 
I saw one listed used for $230. Yes, oh the price. It does seem like a great idea. When you looked through it what frame lines were visible? You have an M6 right? .72? Could you see the 50mm lines with it? How much did it enlarge the 90 and 135 framelines?
 
In a fit of insanity, I actually bought this as well when I bought my Leica. It works very well, but I rarely use it. I have an MP which is .72. The 50mm frame lines are a bit smaller than what the 35mm lines are like normally. The 90mm frames are about the same size, perhaps a bit smaller than the 75 frames normally are. To be honest though, I think it is best suited to the M3 and 90mm lens. It makes the 90mm framelines like a 50mm on .72...you can really get accurate framing and focusing with that combo, and the 135 is actually usable! It also makes the rangefinder patch gigantic...perhaps about 3/4 of the size of the 135 framelines on the .72! For all its help though, it still does not work as well as a higher mag viewfinder. There is no distortion, but you cannot see the full 35mm framelines on a .72, even though you are supposed to be able to. You can angle your eye to see all the edges, but not all at the same time.

Oh, and that 230 used price is insane. I got mine new at adorama in August 2003 for 200 bucks.
 
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The current list is USD 229 at Adorama, but apparently they go in and out of stock fairly regularly. They list for AUD 399 here......

Rover, my M6 is a TTL .58. Really really sweet with a 35mm (which is my prime lens) and also great with a 28. But the 90 frameline is pretty small, which is why i was considering the magnifier. I find I use the 35mm for about 80% of my shots, and the 90mm for another 15%. Remaining 5% is mostly 21mm.
The .58 finder is usable with the 90, but kinda only just.

On my camera, with the finder magnifier on, the .28 lines are next to useless, you have to crane around to see the 35 lines, the 50 lines are just the right size (about like the 35 frames without the mag), the 90 lines are quite usable. Which is pretty much exactly the same as a normal .72 finder.
But as Stuart said, the Rangefinder patch is much bigger relatively.
It kinda gives you effectively 2 finders in one.

But...there's a big difference between trying it on the camera for 10 minutes and actually using it. And it's a fair chunk of money for something you end up not using.

tim
 
Yes, I have one and use it regularly. Yes, the price is a bit breathtaking. However, it does have some thoughtful details (which may or may not account for the handsome profit). It comes with a sturdy little leather case designed to snap onto the Leica strap. The case has a small tether cord which can be attached to a freely rotating collar on the eyepiece, making it a bit less likely that you'll drop the eyepiece during fitting/unfitting.

In my case the eyepiece was somewhat essential. I purchased my M7 with the 0.58 viewfinder, anticipating that I would be mostly shooting wide. But after indulging in a 90mm f/2.0 lens I found that the magnifier was very handy, converting the viewfinder to a 0.72. I find myself shooting with the eyepiece mounted most of the time these days. It also has the desirable effect of moving my face back just a bit from the camera.

So is it worth the price? Well, that's really up to you. If you have good eyesight and a 0.72 (or 0.85) viewfinder I'd say probably not.
 
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