Noob Leica question

[MarkoKovacevic]

[See attached image]
What is the highlighted thing in the image used for in use of the leica? I have read the manual and while it shows it, it does not explain what it is used for.
Any ideas?

 

[LeicaTom]

That`s the diopter , sets the viewfinder sharpness for your eyes to adjust to when you are getting ready to focus..... 😉

Tom

 

[nzeeman]

diopter correction maybe??

 

[nzeeman]

i was the slowest between three of us 🙁

 

[MarkoKovacevic]

They had that back then?! Sorry for the stupid question, just am excited to get mine 😀

 

[nzeeman]

it is not a stupid question - members are here to help each other...
did you buy that camera?

 

[tennis-joe]

Help me help you, as Tom Cruise said !

 

[brachal]

There's really nothing else like a Barnack Leica. I love mine; it changed the way I take pictures.

 

[cmdrzed]

I love my Barnack Leica as well. It goes everywhere with me and it is so fun to use.

 

[wjlapier]

There's really nothing else like a Barnack Leica. I love mine; it changed the way I take pictures.

Same here. I look before I shoot, as opposed to shoot and then chimp 😉 Seriously, using rangefinders has slowed my shooting down and I'm more aware of what I'm shooting. Love the little Barnacks--though mine is a bit larger because of the Leicavit.

 

[Drewus]

Yeah, add me to the "love Barnack Leica" group. It is so fun to carry around and use, I literally take mine everywhere.

 

[brachal]

I had my IIIf around my neck at our Jazz Fest a few weeks ago. I ran into an old friend, who looked at it and asked, "you take pictures with that thing?"
I replied, "no, I'm wearing it as jewelry. Of course I'm taking pictures with it."
She thought for a second and then said, "you know, you could wear it just as a necklace."

 

[Graybeard]

As many others have indicated, this is a diopter adjustment for the rangefinder. If your vision isn't perfect, you can adjust the RF optics to correct for your vision, sort of like having an eyeglass prescription dialed into your camera.

Loook through the RF, move the diopter control until the image is sharp for you, then just leave it in that position. Barnack Leicas are real jewels; the diopter adjustment wasn't included on the M Leicas.