My Leica M2 and its frames!

[pepeguitarra]

I purchased a Leica M2 in excellent shape from YeYouxin, who also CLAed. I really love the camera almost as my M3. I do have a question. The M2 is supposed to have a 0.72 magnification viewfinder, I want to know if my M2 has the 0.72 or a different one.

When I look though the viewfinder, I barely see the frame, it is so close to the edges (I wear glasses). WHen I remove the glasses, then I see it clearly (not really, my vision is that not good, but I can see the frame). I have been reading around, and this experience seems to happen to people with the M6 and the 0.85 viewfinder. Is anyone familiar with this?

Thanks,

 

[jim0266]

I wear glasses and with the .72 magnification viewfinder I can't easily see all the 35 frame lines at the same time without mashing my facing into the camera. On original M2 viewfinder is also going to have a blueish tint. Hope that helps.

 

[Iestrada]

I wear glasses as well and your description sounds comparable to my experience with the 35mm frame lines.

 

[Highway 61]

The M2 has a 0.72 viewfinder magnification but its 35mm framelines are much closer to what a 35mm lens will capture than what they are in the 0.72 M6 viewfinder. In the 0.72 M6 viewfinder the "35mm" framelines merely display what a 40mm lens will capture.

Written to make it simple, because this is not all true at all focusing distances.

So, in the M2 viewfinder, the 35mm frames are closer to the edges of the viewfinder than what they are in the 0.72 M6 viewfinder, while the viewfinder magnification is the same.

But the 35mm framelines in the M2 viewfinder are easier to see with your glasses on that what they are in a 0.85 M6 viewfinder.

Depending on your eyesight and your own eyepoint and face physiology, a late Leica with a 0.58 viewfinder might be the only solution for you to see the 35mm framelines easily with your glasses on.

 

[pepeguitarra]

Thank you. It makes me feel better. As a bonus, I think I have discovered a benefit of removing the glasses to "see" the 35m mm frame. As everything I see is blurred, I can only see masses, tones, values (darks, lights, and tones of gray), which is wonderful to compose in black and white. So, I will be shooting without glasses just for the composition.

 

[pepeguitarra]

... But the 35mm framelines in the M2 viewfinder are easier to see with your glasses on that what they are in a 0.85 M6 viewfinder.

Aha! I think this very important. I am glad I decided to buy the M2 and not the M6.

 

[Mute-on]

I don't wear glasses and I can't see all of the 35mm frame lines without moving my eye around a bit. I can see all but the bottom line at a glance so I have just adapted. The M2 is my favourite Leica.

Neverthess, if you get a chance to try an MP 0.58 with a 35mm, please do! The 35mm frame lines are a real treat on this magnification. More so for a glasses wearer I imagine.

Enjoy your M2!

Cheers

J