M8 Viewfinder Magnifier?

[JohnTF]

Anyone using a magnifier for the viewfinder? If so, which, and how is that working out?

Do you recommend strictly the Leica Made?

I find the 50mm and up frames a bit on the small size for my eyes.

Regards, John

 

[__hh]

I have the 1.25X el-cheapo version that sells for about $50 on fleaBay. Yes, it does make the framelines larger, but the tradeoff does not seem to be worth it for me.

The protruding VF, the dimmer view, and the extra distance from eye to camera all negate the advantages of a magnified view.

 

[ali_baba]

i've used the cheap-o japanese $50 dollar jobs, don't recomend them.
the megapearls one is nice but i can't get used to the diopter being built in, it keeps moving and i can't get it right -- annoying.

i have both leica mag's 1.4x is my go to one unless i'm shooting with a 35mm lens on the m8 then its 1.25.

the 1.4x protrudes quite a bit but its rubber ring is attached unlike the 1.25x which the rubber ring is very easily lost.

either way i use them when shooting over a 35mm on the m8, and when shooting with the 135, 90, 75, or noctilux it's a lifesaver wide open!

hope that helps.
i have an extra megapearls 1.35 if you're interested, pm me.

 

[JNewell]

I need diopters and have been using the 1.25x Leica VFM with a +1.5 diopter. It works perfectly for me for every frameline 35 and up and is usable but tight with 28mm. 24mm doesn't work at all. Focusing accuracy, speed and confidence improved by, let's see, about 125% (?) ;-)

 

[JohnTF]

I need diopters and have been using the 1.25x Leica VFM with a +1.5 diopter. It works perfectly for me for every frameline 35 and up and is usable but tight with 28mm. 24mm doesn't work at all. Focusing accuracy, speed and confidence improved by, let's see, about 125% (?) ;-)

Sounds reasonable. ;-)

John

 

[DennisPT]

I wear glasses and thought it was great to use the Leica 1.25X for the 50 frameline. After a while I still couldn't find myself comfortable with the view. I took that off afterwards and felt more natural. I know it's me and maybe I'm used to my CL viewfinder.

 

[payasam]

I have a 1.25x from HK Supplies which I have not used in the month since I got it from a fellow member. It's well enough made but no good with a 35mm lens. I am uthappam AT gmail DOT com and cannot advertise in the classifieds because I cannot send the necessary $2 or $5.

 

[jaapv]

I have tried them all (with exception of the Leica 1.4x) and find they seem great for a short while and are nearly always discarded after a few months. The best way to go is imo to get the diopter correction exactly right. All lenses can be focussed with confidence then.

How to find the correct diopter?
The elegant way:
Go to the local optician and hold the try-out lenses between your eye and the viewfinder until you find the one that allows you to see the RANGEFINDER PATCH sharply and efortlessly. The rest of the image may be slightly soft.
The practical way:
Go to the local chemist and use his el-cheapo reading glasses to try out.

Those correction lenses are incredibly expensive -99 Euro- so it really pays to get it right at the first try.

Note that the correction lens for the Leica magnifiers must be 0.5 diopter weaker than the one for the viewfinder itself. You cannot use one lens for both.

The wait for the lenses can be very long if your shop has to order them. In my experience Meister can usually supply them at short notice.

My solution for the Megaperls 1.35 telescope was to put a scratch on the diopter adjustment ring at 12 o'clock to enable me to readjust it quickly.

 

[JohnTF]

I have tried them all (with exception of the Leica 1.4x) and find they seem great for a short while and are nearly always discarded after a few months. The best way to go is imo to get the diopter correction exactly right. All lenses can be focussed with confidence then.

How to find the correct diopter?
The elegant way:
Go to the local optician and hold the try-out lenses between your eye and the viewfinder until you find the one that allows you to see the RANGEFINDER PATCH sharply and efortlessly. The rest of the image may be slightly soft.
The practical way:
Go to the local chemist and use his el-cheapo reading glasses to try out.

Those correction lenses are incredibly expensive -99 Euro- so it really pays to get it right at the first try.

Note that the correction lens for the Leica magnifiers must be 0.5 diopter weaker than the one for the viewfinder itself. You cannot use one lens for both.

The wait for the lenses can be very long if your shop has to order them. In my experience Meister can usually supply them at short notice.

My solution for the Megaperls 1.35 telescope was to put a scratch on the diopter adjustment ring at 12 o'clock to enable me to readjust it quickly.

Am pretty sure the prices are up from a few years back when the local shops were common in Prague, but I was getting single prescription glass lenses made for $6.00 per lens with one day service. I had some reading glasses made, lenses fitted for odd frames, and bought glasses for my friend who does not have insurance. They were also able to fit lenses from a broken pair of frames to new frames for a reasonable charge.

Beer is excellent, so might be worth a road trip. ;-)

Next trip I will have glasses made, very good quality work.

If they adopt the Euro, the whole point may be moot. ;-)


Regards, John

 

[jaapv]

Yes- but will those glasses screw into your viewfinder?😛

 

[Ben Z]

I've had 1.25x for a long time. I used it a lot back when I was shooting film regularly and carrying 2 bodies. I had the magnifier on the body I used for the 90 and 135. Since I only use one M8, and the magnifier makes using the 28mm framelines impossible (I use a +1 diopter and keep my glasses on), I quit using it.

For diopters, the reason I use one plus my glasses is that I'm very nearsighted and if I take my glasses off I'm nearly blind, but I need less minus correction to see the rangefinder clearly.

 

[payasam]

I did what Jaap suggests a couple of years back, before cataract surgery, and had a special pair of Camera Glasses made up -- one lens for finder, the other for fine print on body and lens.

 

[JohnTF]

Yes- but will those glasses screw into your viewfinder?😛

Price includes fitting them to your device or frames.

I had some antique frames fitted with my prescription for $12 in one day.

Regards, John

 

[JohnTF]

I did what Jaap suggests a couple of years back, before cataract surgery, and had a special pair of Camera Glasses made up -- one lens for finder, the other for fine print on body and lens.

Had a friend who had contacts made with one eye for reading and the other eye for distance, have no idea how he made it work.

My distance vision is excellent, but am having trouble reading any settings on the camera. I am not accustomed to looking through any glasses for camera viewing and when I leave bifocals on and try it, just does not work for me.

Sounds as if people are suggesting to wait for the more expensive magnifier to come along.

I do have auxiliary finders, but it is not the best solution. I would rather have larger frames in the M8 and use the auxiliary finders for the wide lenses. Seems as if I may soon spend more for finders than the camera. ;-)

I can use the built 50 and 90 frames, but they are not comfortable to my mind. I have the SHOOC, but seems an expensive camera to be switching around for the proper view.

Regards, John

 

[JohnTF]

I've had 1.25x for a long time. I used it a lot back when I was shooting film regularly and carrying 2 bodies. I had the magnifier on the body I used for the 90 and 135. Since I only use one M8, and the magnifier makes using the 28mm framelines impossible (I use a +1 diopter and keep my glasses on), I quit using it.

For diopters, the reason I use one plus my glasses is that I'm very nearsighted and if I take my glasses off I'm nearly blind, but I need less minus correction to see the rangefinder clearly.

Right, I carried two Contax G2's in the same manner.

Now I understand, Leica is telling me to buy another M8. ;-)

I have considered it, at the right price, it may be the solution, plus I will get less dust while changing lenses.

Regards, John

 

[jaapv]

Price includes fitting them to your device or frames.

I had some antique frames fitted with my prescription for $12 in one day.

Regards, John

Problem is, most opticians cannot grind 10 mm glasses.

 

[Ben Z]

Had a friend who had contacts made with one eye for reading and the other eye for distance, have no idea how he made it work.

Not long ago I inquired about Lasik and the docs told me that with someone like me who is nearsighted but needs bifocals to read, that they do one eye for distance and the other eye for reading, and "the brain automatically adjusts". My immediate question was, "what if I get something in one eye and can't see out of it well for a while?" Of course there was no good answer. Consequently, I'm still wearing glasses 😉

 

[JohnTF]

Problem is, most opticians cannot grind 10 mm glasses.

The guys there seem to have fewer limits than those I come across here, I would not rule it out until they do. Fingers crossed, if I get back there, I will have several pairs of glasses made, and if I have any custom work to be done, I will ask.

Jorge in Uruapan has an optician friend who does a number of special jobs for his needs.

Or perhaps with the chains taking over, all the old guys who did the special jobs will be replaced.

Few places work in glass at all, but they do there. And no place here would cut my perfectly good sunglasses down to fit a replacement frame, centering the axis of the lens correctly as well.

Many Czechs call the whole thing "Czech Hands" able to do almost anything, and accept challenges. I believe there are fewer and fewer repairmen in the world, and many "parts replacers".

Regards, John

 

[Tom Niblick]

I have a megapearls 1.33 with an adjustable diopter. I thought it was great when I first got it and used it most of the time because it gave me a nearly 1 to 1 view like the old M3. After a few weeks I found taking my glasses on and off tedious. So I set the focus for my glasses. Then the 35 mm frame was harder to see. Then I found that there were more glass surfaces to clean and then refocus. So I put it in my bag and pull it out when I use my 90 mm lens... when I remember... or have the time to clean, screw and refocus. Perhaps if I had a 50 mm that fit my M8 or a 75 mm or a 135, I'd use the magnifier more often. (In fact, it is probably the best accessory I can think of for a 75 mm lens due to Leica's piss poor frame lines for that focal length.)

Tom

 

[JohnTF]

I have a megapearls 1.33 with an adjustable diopter. I thought it was great when I first got it and used it most of the time because it gave me a nearly 1 to 1 view like the old M3. After a few weeks I found taking my glasses on and off tedious. So I set the focus for my glasses. Then the 35 mm frame was harder to see. Then I found that there were more glass surfaces to clean and then refocus. So I put it in my bag and pull it out when I use my 90 mm lens... when I remember... or have the time to clean, screw and refocus. Perhaps if I had a 50 mm that fit my M8 or a 75 mm or a 135, I'd use the magnifier more often. (In fact, it is probably the best accessory I can think of for a 75 mm lens due to Leica's piss poor frame lines for that focal length.)

Tom

Am afraid I am beginning to see the strength of your words, though I like the camera and many of the images, I find I have not sorted out the kit I need. I feel OK with the 12mm, 35mm, and the 90mm, but the rest I lack confidence. The fifty frame lines seem just too far away, and inaccurate to boot. I am almost tempted to start juggling auxiliary finders.

Well, stick a banana in my case and I will chimp.

I would like to have a better, i.e. closer, sense of what I am shooting with the 50 and up.

Regards, John