M9 Viewfinder with eyeglasses (vs. M8.2)

Rob-F

Rob-F

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When I shoot with a film Leica, I often use the .58 finder in preference to the .72 (although I have both). My M8.2 finder works well for me for lenses as wide as 28mm. I can see those frames, and all the smaller ones, just fine.

What will happen if I put the 28mm on an M9? will the 28mm frames be as easily visible with my glasses on? I suspect not.

What can you tell me about this?

Rob
 
My question must not have been clear. I'm trying to figure out if I could see the 28mm framelines in the M9, when wearing glasses. I can't see them with my .72 M6 finder. I think the M9 is about .68, isn't it? So not much different.

There is no way I can see the 24mm frame in my M8.2. Since M9 frames are larger than the corresponding M8.2 ones, and I can't see my 24mm M8.2 frames, my guess is I won't even be able to see the 28mm M9 frames at all. But I have not run across an M9 to look through.
 
Even without glasses on my M-E, I still have to move my eye around to see the entire view. With glasses I can still get close enough to the eye piece to see the frame lines but again I'm having to really move my eye around to see what's inside the 28 frame line.

Don't know if that helps or not. But then I don't have a 28 now and mostly shoot with my 35mm lens.
 
I strongly recommend you get a diopter lens to use your M9 w/o glasses. You will never look back. My wife wears glasses and I got her a diopter and now she's finally starting to like using a RF and taking pictures. Glasses are a real hassle, get over it.
 
Rob, it's do-able, but you have to move around to see the whole frame. For me, it's not enjoyable. Either get a diopter as Klaus suggested or get an external finder if you use the 28mm lens on an M9/MM. I'll gladly lend you my M9/MM if I were still living in STL.
 
JMQ said:
Rob, it's do-able, but you have to move around to see the whole frame. For me, it's not enjoyable. Either get a diopter as Klaus suggested or get an external finder if you use the 28mm lens on an M9/MM. I'll gladly lend you my M9/MM if I were still living in STL.
Click to expand...

JMQ, I know you would, and I appreciate that!

Here's what I have worked out with my M8.2:

28mm and longer: Use the camera's finder.
21mm: Use a 28mm external finder--a perfect match.
15mm CV: Use a 21mm finder, and it's darn close!
24mm: Forget it. Leave it on a film body.

On the M9, I'd have to use an external finder for 28mm and wider. So what will I have gained? Maybe I'm already there? quit while I'm ahead?

I wonder why they didn't have a .58 finder option with the M9?
 
Finders

Finders

I have a problem with Leica viewfinders as I have always worn glasses and just plain find them difficult, period. Those that say use a diopter and dispense with the glasses - if I did this I could not even find the camera much less take a picture with it. I use auxillary finders on both my M8's. I use the CV finder that came with the 21mm CV on the one with the 21mm mounted (it's a 21/25) and a Lietz 50mm on the one with my 40mm CV on it. It makes a workable compromise but that is what it is, a compromise. But when you wear glasses EVERYTHING is a compromise. Using binoculars is equally as difficult.
 
With the M8 (or M8.2 in my case) I use the 28mm aux finder for the 21mm lens; and the 21mm for the 15mm CV. I like my 24mm on the film bodies, but have not been in the habit of using it with the M8.2. I am not able to see the 24mm frame at all, with my glasses on; and can barely find them with my glasses off! If I get around to trying the 24, I will try the 28 and 35mm finders to see which works better. I wish they had made the finder magnification a bit lower. The .58 finder option for the M6, M7, and MP would have been perfect!
 
Rob-F said:
My question must not have been clear. I'm trying to figure out if I could see the 28mm framelines in the M9, when wearing glasses. I can't see them with my .72 M6 finder. I think the M9 is about .68, isn't it? So not much different.

There is no way I can see the 24mm frame in my M8.2. Since M9 frames are larger than the corresponding M8.2 ones, and I can't see my 24mm M8.2 frames, my guess is I won't even be able to see the 28mm M9 frames at all. But I have not run across an M9 to look through.
Click to expand...

I have never been able to see the 28mm framelines in M4-P, M6, M6TTL cameras without taking my glasses off unless it was an M6TTL with .58x viewfinder ... and then just barely. I can't see them in the M9 (.68x mag) either; I use an accessory finder, or just imagine that the whole field is the 28mm and shoot "loose."

Frankly, I find the M9 viewfinder magnification uncomfortably low with anything longer than 35mm too, and use a 1.25x magnifier with 50, 90 and 135 mm lenses. The RF patch is too small with .68x, and the confusion of all the frame lines bugs me. The early production M4-2 (M4) viewfinder with .72x mag and thin, light 35/50/90/135 frame line illumination is the best for me; accessory finders for 21/25 and 28mm do the "precision framing" job, such as it is for RFs.

G
 
I'm not sure it is a problem. I wear glasses and I scan around the edges of the frame, and at the same time I'm realistic in knowing the frame isn't totally accurate anyway.

So scanning around and knowing what is going to be in and what is going to be out of the frame you'd need to do anyway, even with an SLR giving a 100% view, you don't know what you're missing unless you look. So within the parameter of the less accurate viewfinder frame your Leica makes it easier, you just move your eye and not the camera. I do accept the design of your specs can make a difference, bendy frames make it easy to get the viewfinder close to your eye, but there wasn't always bendy framed glasses and I can't remember ever thinking it was a game changer.

V
 
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