leica m4-2, glasses and a 35mm lens

[northeast16th]

does anyone know if this combination will work? leica m4-2 with eyeglasses and a 35mm lens? can you see the framelines easily? my glasses are normal size, no coke bottles but just normal sized.

thanks for any insights!

scott

 

[Tom A]

The M4-2 has the same (0.72) magnification factor as the M2/M4/M4P and "standard" M6/MP.
You will be OK with glasses - it is a tight fit but you will be able to see the full frame of the 35 - though are going to have to push them up against the ocular of the finder.
After a while you "mentally" compose according to experience and it becomes less important.

 

[KoNickon]

What Tom said. Not perfect, but a good compromise between magnification and visibility.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I have a Leica M4-2 which I use with a Konica Hexanon 35/f2. The framelines are almost the entire viewfinder, but not quite, and they're relatively easy to find and use.

BTW, I wear bifocals... and love using my Leicas. 🙂

 

[hermannhkg]

Wearing glasses I have no problem with the Canon 35/f2.8 on my M4-2 , yet I'll have to try on contacts someday.

Cheers,

Hermann

 

[Nokton48]

What everybody else has said.
No problems with my M4-2 & 35mm f2 Canon.

 

[literiter]

I have a M4-P and a M2. My eyes must be set farther back than most because I must remove my glasses to see even the 50mm frame lines let alone the 35mm frame lines. Things were a little stupid for a while. I either used contact lenses, bare eyes or simply used my Nikon F3 HP which is only a little better.

I began to use some very nice -2 diopters available from China on the auction for about $40.00 each. All my cameras now have corrective lenses (Hassy 501CM, Nikon F2, F3, Leica M2, M4-P) . I wear my glasses on a cord so they fall to my chest when I need to put the camera to my eyes.

 

[ailardi]

I have used a 35 on formerly owned M4, M4-2 and M4-P, all, of course, with 0.72 finder. As others said, a tight fit, but worked fine. To be honest, for the last 6 years I have used the 35 on a 0.58 M6ttl, which, with glasses, is easier.

 

[Merkin]

One thing to keep in mind is that it will scratch up your glasses. I used some funfoam and double sided tape to make a padded ring around the viewfinder, and when I did that, I had more trouble seeing the framelines. I ended up just not using my glasses, since my prescription in my right eye is barely bad enough to require any correction.

 

[sanmich]

...then god invented the 0.58x.
And god saw that it was good.

 

[Sandwick]

Your mileage may vary. I was pretty disappointed when I first bought my first Leica M (M4-2) and discovered that my spectacles meant I couldn't see all of the 35mm framelines without peering around in the viewfinder; I found it sufficiently annoying that I eventually sold the camera and bought a Bessa R2 as a replacement. After a few years I'm back to a Leica M4-P and, although with my current glasses I can't quite see the vertical parts of the 35mm framelines (top and bottom are just visible), I have developed a pretty good sense of where the outer limits are. Perhaps I'm mellowing with age but it's perfectly workable and doesn't bother me these days - although it seems to bug my wife as one side of my specs have the paint worn off at the top. I think the answer to your question depends on the shape of your forehead/nose and the shape/rigidity of your glasses more than the thickness of the lenses. I can see enough to use a 35mm lens but I certainly can't see all of the 35mm framelines comfortably.

 

[sanmich]

Scott

Seriously, have a look in a 0.58x leica before you make your mind.
It's not always about seing the frames, but also seing anough around the frames to enjoy the RF experience...
I'm using my M2 for 50mm, and my 0.58x for 35/28.