MP viewfinder

[xasthur]

Hey all,

I have a M4-2 with a 35mm lens on it which I enjoy. The only annoyance that I have is that I can't see the framelines as I wear glasses. I had someone say something about upgrading to a better viewfinder which I assume is the MP viewfinder. From what I gathered this upgrade would mostly be for the flare that the stock M4-2 gets which doesn't really bother me.

From my understanding the MP viewfinder has framelines for 28mm lenses. So my question is. Since the MP has 28mm framelines does it make the 35mm framelines easier to see? When I put a 50mm lens on my M4-2 I can see those framelines no problem. Would upgrading the viewfinder to one with 28mm framelines make it easier to see 35mm for a glasses user?

 

[jrose125]

Unless you get a 0.58x magnification viewfinder put in, no, getting a MP (which are typically 0.72x magnification) viewfinder installed won't make the framelines easier to see.

Since you wear glasses and obviously like shooting 35mm, I think the 0.58x viewfinder would be perfect - especially seeing as how the 35mm framelines are stand-alone with those viewfinders.

 

[jonmanjiro]

0.58 finder. Otherwise, don't bother.

Edit: ditto what jrose125 said! Or just sell you camera and buy an M6 TTL 0.58 or MP 0.58 (or even an M7 0.58) instead.

 

[Beemermark]

Except for the M3 all Leica M viewfinders have the same magnification - .72x. The MP, M7, M9, etc simply added the 28mm framelines which are nothing more than the edge of the VF.

 

[Bill Blackwell]

Hey all,

I have a M4-2 with a 35mm lens on it which I enjoy. The only annoyance that I have is that I can't see the framelines as I wear glasses. I had someone say something about upgrading to a better viewfinder which I assume is the MP viewfinder. From what I gathered this upgrade would mostly be for the flare that the stock M4-2 gets which doesn't really bother me.

From my understanding the MP viewfinder has framelines for 28mm lenses. So my question is. Since the MP has 28mm framelines does it make the 35mm framelines easier to see? When I put a 50mm lens on my M4-2 I can see those framelines no problem. Would upgrading the viewfinder to one with 28mm framelines make it easier to see 35mm for a glasses user?

No. The MP finder references are about a condenser lens removed about half-way into the M4-2 run all the way through the M6. It was added back with the introduction of the MP.

There used to be mag finders available for sale on eBay. You'd want a .85 reduction mag finder, which would effectively turn your M4-2's .72 finder into a .61 finder allowing you to more easily see your 35mm framelines with your glasses on.

But I haven't seen these for sale in some time.

If you bear with it, you'll get used to looking around in the VF with your glasses on. I've done it for many years.

"Upgrading" your finder from .72 to .58 would be cost prohibitive! So you don't want to go there.

 

[kshapero]

Except for the M3 all Leica M viewfinders have the same magnification - .72x. The MP, M7, M9, etc simply added the 28mm framelines which are nothing more than the edge of the VF.

No, not so. Beginning with the M6, then MP (new version) and the M7 a .58 Viewfinder became available. But I do not see how it can be installed on an M4 much less any other Film M rangefinder.

 

[Beemermark]

No, not so. Beginning with the M6, then MP (new version) and the M7 a .58 Viewfinder became available. But I do not see how it can be installed on an M4 much less any other Film M rangefinder.

I think the M6 only came in .85x. The M6 TTL was available in .58x. I had an M7 in .58x but, regretfully, sold it. However my point was that the standard VF is .72. .58x VF are about as rare as hen's teeth (and just as expsensive.

 

[Huss]

Except for the M3 all Leica M viewfinders have the same magnification - .72x. The MP, M7, M9, etc simply added the 28mm framelines which are nothing more than the edge of the VF.

.58, .72 and .85 were available on the M film cameras.

 

[Beemermark]

So I can find an M4 with .58 and .85 VF?


A more elegant solution is to simply buy a 35mm shoe VF.

 

[jonmanjiro]

No, not so. Beginning with the M6, then MP (new version) and the M7 a .58 Viewfinder became available. But I do not see how it can be installed on an M4 much less any other Film M rangefinder.

There is a lot of interchangeability with Leica M film camera parts (besides the M5 for obvious reasons) and modern finders do indeed fit in the older film M cameras. RFFer simonsawsunlight has two Leica M2s that now have modern MP finders in them installed by Leica. They're both 0.72 finders but could have easily been 0.58 finders if Simon chose to go that way. But that's an expensive route to go down. Would be cheaper to sell the current camera and buy a camera with a 0.58 finder already in it.

 

[aizan]

I wear glasses and can't see the MP's 35mm framelines in full. I can just barely see the top and bottom framelines, but I have to shift my eye to see the sides.

You can either trade it in for a 0.58 Leica M or consider switching to the Konica Hexar RF, Minolta CLE, Voigtländer Bessa R4a, or Zeiss Ikon.

 

[WJJ3]

When I put a 50mm lens on my M4-2 I can see those framelines no problem.

Get a Leitz 35mm lens with finder attachment, aka goggles, and you're in business.

Otherwise, find a body with a 0.58 magnification finder, the most affordable being an M6TTL. You will not be disappointed.

 

[xasthur]

Oh I see, I always wondered why people want .58 or .72 and now I understand. Which M bodies specifically have the .58 so I can keep a look out for one and do they say .58 on the front of the VF window?

I had a M2 with 35mm for a while and had the same annoyance. I'm use to it now, but got curious when I hear people changing out viewfinders on their Ms for different ones and wanting .58 or .72 and whatnot.

 

[jonmanjiro]

Oh I see, I always wondered why people want .58 or .72 and now I understand. Which M bodies specifically have the .58 so I can keep a look out for one and do they say .58 on the front of the VF window?

0.58 finder. Otherwise, don't bother.

Edit: ditto what jrose125 said! Or just sell you camera and buy an M6 TTL 0.58 or MP 0.58 (or even an M7 0.58) instead.

 

[keytarjunkie]

Oh I see, I always wondered why people want .58 or .72 and now I understand. Which M bodies specifically have the .58 so I can keep a look out for one and do they say .58 on the front of the VF window?

Leica M6 TTL, M7, and MP have the 0.58 option. It is labeled on the viewfinder. Two things to bear in mind - these (along with the 0.85) are much less common to come across used than the stock 0.72 finder, and the focusing is less accurate than the 0.72 due to the magnification. It will be difficult to achieve good focus with longer lenses. But obviously much better to use the wider framelines with glasses.

If you can be like Jon and have a 0.58 MP and a 0.85 MP, you really have the best two-M setup ever!

 

[jrose125]

I think the M6 only came in .85x. The M6 TTL was available in .58x.

The M6 was only available in 0.72x until the M6J was released in 1994 with a 0.85 finder. In 1998, 0.85x viewfinders became an option on the regular production model. In 2001, the first 0.58x viewfinder was available on the M6 TTL

 

[Highway 61]

When you have to wear thick glasses and want to use a 35mm lens the 0.58 VF is mandatory indeed if you want to see the whole framing field at once and, moreover, want to still benefit from that "off screen" sight which will make you a real Leica photographer always keeping both eyes open. 😉

But - with the 0.58 viewfinder the 50mm framing field is miniscule and is, frankly, a PITA, ditto with the rangefinder patch size (this, with all lenses). Such one that most of the 0.58 viewfinders users have to screw a 1.25x lupe on their finders eyepieces when mounting their 50mm lens.

Decisions decisions... 😀

 

[splitimageview]

What about just adding an aux viewfinder for 35mm? Is there enough eye relief for glasses?

 

[Deleted member 65559]

What about just adding an aux viewfinder for 35mm? Is there enough eye relief for glasses?

I don't care for the bulk or change in weight/balance of the goggled lenses. As an eyeglass wearer, I often use an auxiliary finder. The SBLOO is one of the best & the Voigtlander metal 35mm finder is sweet. They make for quick shooting or careful compositions.

IMG_2799 by , on Flickr

 

[icebear]

Hey all,

....From what I gathered this upgrade would mostly be for the flare that the stock M4-2 gets which doesn't really bother me.

...

I had a M6 finder upgraded to the MP type finder as the flare bothered me quite a bit. That does not in any way change the eye relief distance which is your problem when wearing your glasses.
How about corrective lenses that you can screw into the finder eye piece? That way you can use the camera viewfinder w/o glasses. Much cheaper than a different body or even having Leica changing the finder. Whatever you decide, good luck.