Non OEM 1.15x eyepiece magnifier - Banned in the US?

[photobizzz]

Well after seeing a Leica 1.25x magnifier in the classifieds I started checking around the internet for a cheaper, off brand alternative. There are not a lot of choices out there and although the one listed in the classifieds is at a great price it is a bit out of my price range for something I don't really need; more just a want (like a 1:1 VF) I own a Leica M3 and while the VF is already pretty nice having a 1:1 VF would be sweet.

These Leica brand 1.25x magnifiers sell new at BHPhoto for $300, but there is an off brand (MS-MAG) that is for sale for 16,900 yen ($185) but it not available to US & German markets:

"ATTENTION: due to Leica patent restrictions, this product is not available to customers for rangefinder camera use in Germany and the United States of America!"

Now how the h*ll can Leica get this banned from sale in the US? It does not say Leica on it, and is just a threaded optical magnifier. Just because it happens to fit the same thread pitch and diameter as a Leica M eyepiece does not infringe on copyright, or does it?

Maybe someone with more knowledge in this area can enlighten me. Not that I would be spending $185 on it if I can't afford to buy the $100 one in the classifieds right now but it just kinda gets my hackles up...

Here is a link to the product page: MS-MAG 1.15x Eyepiece

Does anyone else know of a $50 alternative to these expensive magnifiers?

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

I'm not sure how that works either but the key words are *rangefinder use*. You can still buy them for use on "other optical equipment".

 

[Gregoryniss]

there are some chinese made ones on Ebay for around $100. Here's a link:

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_tr...nkw=leica+magnifier&_sacat=See-All-Categories

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I bought a generic finder here on RFF a while ago, and just picked up the Leica finder. The generic looks like the ones on Ebay from China. I'll do a comparison of the two, and then will probably put the generic back into the classifieds for $50.

The view on the generic is fine with glasses for the 75mm and 90mm framelines, and I can focus the 10.5cm F2.5 Nikkor perfectly with it. The eye-relief on the Leica looks much larger, I suspect the 50mm framelines are easy to see. For glasses, I put a layer of plastic over the eyepiece of the magnifier. I am going to try some O-Rings as well, something that I do for the M3Double Stroke.

In a couple of weeks I'll post some shots using the Nikon Digital and macro-lens, a good combo for through-the-viewfinder shots.

 

[john_s]

I doubt that the "Leica patent restrictions" means much in practice. The laws of optics are in the public domain!

I have one of these MS-MAG x1.15 units and although it was very expensive, it is superb. I need some diopter correction which is built into this model and the continuously variable adjustment is perfect for my eyes which have very little accommodation left (i.e. they don't focus the way they used to).

On the matter of diopter, I don't think the diopter adjustment range of this unit is as great as stated in the ad (at the minus end of the scale), based on my observation.

 

[ampguy]

I have a couple of these, but only use the Megaperls (Japan Exposures) 1.25 on the RD1. It works great, and the variable diopter eliminates my need to stack one. On the RD1, 28 lines get hard to see fully with the 1.25, 1.15 would be optimal.

For the Leica, I have a HK Supplies 1.25, but almost never use it, it extends further out than a Megaperls (Japan Exposures), and has no diopter on it. I plan to put it in my next posting in the classifieds if I don't forget.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I just took delivery of the Leica finder, and gave a quick test with my M8. With my thick glasses, I could see the 50mm framelines with the Leica finder but "just miss" with the generic. No problem with the 75mm framelines with the generic. The optics on both are close with the Leica finder maybe slightly larger in diameter. The design of the Leica finder lets you get closer to the glass, the generic finder extends the finder frame back a bit more. Well worth the upgrade for me. I'll try both out in the next week.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

there are some chinese made ones on Ebay for around $100. Here's a link:

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_tr...nkw=leica+magnifier&_sacat=See-All-Categories

WOW! Those guys have DRAMATICALLY increased thier prices in the last 5 months. I bought one of thier 1.25x magnifiers for my Leica, from them on Ebay, for $50 back in october of last year.

 

[xwhatsit]

I'm not sure how that works either but the key words are *rangefinder use*. You can still buy them for use on "other optical equipment".

+1 -- you can still buy it, but you're `not allowed' to use it on your rangefinder. Tell them you're buying it for your `microscope.' 😎

 

[jamato8]

I bought mine for my telescope. Just be sure you never get caught with it on your Leica, oh my.

So they can't sell it in the US for a Leica. So how do after market lens get sold for Leica? Is there a licensing issue that you need to go through?

 

[Sonnar Brian]

All I could think of would be the threads for the Leica eyepiece, perhaps they are still under patent? The M-Mount patent has expired, so it can be copied. I'm surprised the Eyepiece magnifier is an issue.

 

[drpops]

The magnifier should not be an issue. It is a 2 element design of reverse gailiean configuration. I have no clue how it could be patented. prior art goes back hundreds of years.