Leica Magnifier 1x25 or 1x4?

[Alex Krasotkin]

Dear friends,

I am looking to get Leica Magnifier in order to use on my M7 0.85 and perhaps also on future M8. At present, I am happy with 50mm frame in my M7 to use with my pre-asph 50/1.4, but 75 mm frame is certainly not convenient, which does not allow to use my Summilux 75/1.4 more frequently. Since I am considering to buy M8 in the nearest future to couple with my current M7, I want to choose between 1x1.25 and x1.4 magnifiers.

Can you share your views and experience please. I am wondering if the picture in the viewfinder will be darker with magnifier. There are also magnifiers from hksuppliers for the fraction of Leica magnifier price, but I am not sure that it is of the same quality as Leica.

Best regards,
Alex

 

[sepiareverb]

I use the 1.25x on my .85 M7 for the 75 and 90 lenses. Not any darker that I can tell, and the 75 frames are fantastic. I'm considering the 1.4x for the 90, and especially would prefer the greater magnification on the M8.

 

[JRG]

I currently own both the 1.25x and 1.40x Leica magnifiers. (Don't ask! 🙂 )

I wear glasses and currently have the DAG eyepiece protector on my M4. All that said, a few observations.

1) I don't detect much darkening with the 1.25x, but it's definitely there with the 1.4x. (I think optics pretty much dictates that darkening will increase with x.)

2) With my glasses/vision/etc., I can't really use the 1.4x comfortably. (So, I'll sell it soon.) I find the 1.25x much easier to use.

3) On both magnifiers, the threads that screw into the eyepiece are only barely long enough to do their job. And at least on the copies that I own, the threads on the 1.4x project out just a tiny bit further than those on the 1.25x; holding them side by side, you can see a small difference. The result is that the 1.4x will mount with the DAG protector in place, the 1.25x will not. [This may just be the examplars that I own.]

Overall: They are not cheap, but they work really well --- if you can see what you need to see. If I didn't wear glasses, I'd be tempted to keep the 1.4x. But the 1.25x is a big help with the 90mm framelines, and I can use it easily, so it stays.

 

[Nugard]

I use glasses, and have seen 0.85 viewfinder with x1.4 magnifier. I could hardly see my 50mm frame... And I couldn't see the 75mm... Maybe it's because I don't have it... 😉
But ethier way, I would recommend the x1.25 magnifier.

PS: А почему такая иконка у темы?..

 

[peter_n]

Alex I only have experience with the Leica 1.25x on a 0.85x M body + Noctilux. I have 20/20 vision in my viewing eye but the 1.25x magnifier helps - I'm actually able to get very close-by subject matter in focus on a regular basis. I haven't noticed any darkening of the VF. I've read that users of the HK product like it but I haven't seen a comparison of it with the Leica products.

 

[Austerby]

I use the HK 1.25 on my 0.58 MP for use with 75mm and longer lenses. It's convenient, effective and doesn't noticeably darken the image.

 

[Calzone]

I wear glasses and use a Leica 1.40x magnifier on a M6 with 0.72 viewfinder.It is effective with both a 50mm and my 75 lux, but scanning is required when using it with a fifty.On your M7, I would expect that a 1.40x would require scanning with a 75mm. It is kinda like the 28mm frames on my M6.I notice no darkening and find the magnifier to help focus under dim lighting especially. Expensive, but worth it.Calzone

 

[payasam]

If Roland Ferider were to see this, he would tell you that because of simple physics the image seen through a magnifier will be darker. I can say that to me this darkening is not noticeable. I have a 1.25 magnifier by HK Supplies, which I find does not suit me as it sticks out rather a lot and is not usable with a 35mm lens on my M2. I am uthappam AT gmail DOT com.

 

[rickp]

alex
i wear glasses, and use the megaperls 1.35 magnifier with variable diopter on my m8. i can't compare it with the leica originals, but i find this one very useful for focusing the 50 and 75mm lenses.
greetings from hamburg
rick

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

I have the HK 1.25x magnifier. For the .72 viewfinder using the 35mm lines is a fairly difficult. Even with a lot of hunting and moving around the lines are difficult to see. The 50mm framelines show up and are fairly easy to see. I use it when shooting wide open and when the lights go low.

As for dimming, it's there but hardly noticeable. You really have to sit down and swap the magnifier in and out to notice a difference. I don't really notice the dimming, the trade off for a larger rangefinder patch more in handy when shooting wide open.

 

[Dralowid]

Using .72 and x 1.25, very happy, very useable. WARNING. I screw a diopter lens into the magnifier. Last time I cam to undo it, it unscrewed the magnifier and the lenses fell out. Took a while to get the thing back together without any dust inside!

Michael

 

[haffy]

I have a .72 M6 and want to see the 35mm frames a little more, should I get an .85 magnifier ? And where to buy them, is there any cheaper alternetive to try?