Leica rangefinder patch

[andrewteee]

I have a new Zeiss Ikon and I'm finding the rangefinder patch hard to see. I had an Ikon a few years ago and it did not seem to be a problem, but sold it early last year.

I'm at the age where the eyes are starting their long slow decline. Just last week I received my first eyeglass prescription, though I don't have the eyeglasses yet. I'll should receive those this week and I'll see if that helps, though they are really only intended for low light right now.

I have read that the Leica rangefinder patch is "higher contrast". I'm wondering if that might mean that it is easier to see than the Ikon patch? I know that the Leica VF is smaller than the Ikon VF.

At any rate, any advice for eyesight and how to be a middle aged rangefinder shooter is appreciated.

 

[Paul Luscher]

Hmmm...I started using rangefinders because with my deteriorating vision, it became easier for me to focus with the rangefinder patch in low light, than with an SLR. Too many times, the film came out of my Nikon FE2 with every frame but one or two either soft or out of focus...

One thing about the ZI: the way the rangefinder patch is set up, your eye has to be EXACTLY CENTERED relative to the viewfinder, so to speak, for the patch to be visible. If you're looking through the viewfinder eyepiece slightly to one side or the other, the patch will fade out.

Good part is, that by making sure that you're eye's centered in the viewfinder, you will shoot exactly what you see....

 

[andrewteee]

Thanks, I'll check tonight on the eye/VF alignment. But agree that the rangefinder helps with manual focus more than other types.

 

[Steve M.]

That's a good tip about the eye needing to be lined up correctly. Most of my focus difficulties w/ rangefinders are due to this, and some cameras are worse than others.

My solution was to use a Bessa R2a, because with it's magnification I could leave my eyeglasses on. Focusing was a snap, and I wear bifocals. After selling the Bessa I noticed that if I was trying to shoot w/o eyeglasses, then nothing worked as well an an M3. That big yellow patch made things really sweet, especially coupled to the big view in the finder.

 

[astro8]

I've heard the Ikon finder is the best of all finders. I have a similiar problem with my R-D1, getting my eye 'lined up'. After taking a few shots I can 'feel' where my eye needs to be and it becomes less of a problem. I'm at that age, well, passed it really where I'm looking at either glasses, contacts or a diopter.

For some of us I'm afraid our eyes aren't what they once were. I have a Minolta 7 where I remember only a few years ago the finder seemed bright and it was easy to focus. I used it again last week but the only way I could see the patch clearly was in full daylight. I thought the finder must of clouded up or hazed. I confirmed with my 12 year old with his relatively brand shiny new eyes and he said he could see the patch clearly even in a relatively dark room. Such is life...

 

[jaapv]

An interesting thread, but what does it do in a digital Leica M forum?😕

 

[andrewteee]

An interesting thread, but what does it do in a digital Leica M forum?😕

I started by asking about the Leica rangefinder patch. I figured there would be more Leica shooters here than in the ZM forum. I had to pick one.

 

[Jim Evidon]

I have 2 Leicas, M8 & M4P as well as a Zeiss ZM. I find the Zeiss finder to be brighter and the patch larger while not as contrasty. I wear glasses full time but shoot with diopter correction lenses on the finder. I have no problems seeing the patch on all the cameras, probably because I center my eye as a matter of course so I cam clearly see the frame lines. Try it.