Leica M viewfinders 0.72 vs 0.85

[rayfoxlee]

Hi all,
I would value some help from M users who have both 0.72 and 0.85 cameras, as I am having a bit of trouble hunting down a decent M7 at sensible prices (what, in the UK?!) and need to be flexible.

I have an M2 with CV 15 and 24 lenses with separate v/finders, CV 35, Summicron DR f2 and 90mm Elmar. I mainly shoot with wides and very seldom use the Elmar, but will want to add a 75 CV at some stage.

The pictorial representations of the different finders shown in Gunter Osterloh's Advanced Photo School book (p. 41) on the M cameras suggest that the 35mm framelines in the 0.72 are fairly well in from the edge, when in reality there are pretty close to the edge, even without wearing glasses. In the 0.85 finder, are the 35mm framelines in about the same position as for a 28 mm lens viewed through a 0.72 finder - pretty darned close to the edge of the frame? I don't need to wear glasses for photography (so far).

By the by, my first attempt at an M7 purchase fell over when I found the blinking light in the viewfinder hardly ever extinguished, thanks to the compensation dial not locating correctly. I hear this happens fairly often. Any advice from M7 users on other problems to watch for would be really useful!

Thanks

Ray

 

[Livesteamer]

I have two classic M6's and a M6 .85 non ttl. Wearing glasses I find the .85 finder difficult with a 35mm lens. In a pinch I will put a 35mm on it but it usually wears a 50mm Summilux. I would reccomend the .85 finder for 50mm or longer, especially if you already have a .72 finder for the wider lenses. Joe

 

[sepiareverb]

35mm lines in a .85 are much like the 28 lines in a .72, a little more space around but not much.

As to the DX dial and blinking dots- dust seems to get under the dial and make things go awry- when the dot starts blinking on one of mine a quick spin back and forth a few times of that dial puts things right for a good while. It happens to two of my three somewhat regularly, one of them is an a la carte. My stock .85 model rarely has this trouble.

I prefer the optical DX reader for unloading (film just drops right out rather than having to be pulled out), but finding that in a .85 may be hard.

 

[peter_n]

In the 0.85 finder, are the 35mm framelines in about the same position as for a 28 mm lens viewed through a 0.72 finder - pretty darned close to the edge of the frame? I don't need to wear glasses for photography (so far).

Yes Ray, you can't really say you can see too much around the 35mm framelines on a 0.85x mag body. Conventional advice says use both eyes in that situation.

I also use a 0.72x for lenses <=35mm, and a 0.85x for lenses >=50mm. Works for me.

 

[sepiareverb]

90 lines do appear in the .58, and I love the .58 for a 35mm lens.

 

[Turtle]

The 0.85 is miles better IMO for 50/75 not only bec the frame lines appear larger but they seem more accurate. A casual look recently suggested that the 0.85 lines show more area for the 50 than the 0.72, which has notoriously tight 50mm lines.

I dont use my 0.85 for 35mm, but for reasons I cannot quite explain find the 35mm on 0.85 ' feels more natural' than 28 on 0.72. The 35 lines on 0.85 may be slightly less 'out there' but it could also be because to get a wide angle feel in a viewinder you cant have your eyes darting about. You kinda need to be able to take it in in one go, hence my use of 0.58 for 28mm. Up to the eye 35mmon 0.85 feels bareable, but 28 on 0.72 makes me whince and I dont wear glasses. That said, the 0.72 finder is IMO perfect for 35mm, with 0.58 quite OK too.

I would try and ensure you get a M7 with the new MP finder as the original M6 finder flares badly in the 0.85 variant. I have used both and this is a very real issue when focusing something in the shade and there is bright light elsewhere in the frame off to the side.