raid
Dad Photographer
Yes, I see clearly without the 1.25X magnifier.
I have to look through it again to check it out.
john_s
Well-known
Sorry Raid. I wasn't clear. What I meant was, if you look through the magnifier on its own (not on the camera) it should give you a clear image (if you don't need spectacles) but magnified. If it's not clear in this case I would be surprised but it might lead to some explanation.
Luke_Miller
Established
I use both the Leica 1.25 and 1.4 magnifiers on my M9. I use a +0.5 diopter eyepiece screwed onto the viewfinder to focus without a magnifier mounted. When I mount one of my magnifiers I need to add a corrective diopter to it, but +0.5 is no longer sufficient. I need a +1.0 with the 1.25 and a +1.5 with the 1.4. The addition of the magnifier seems to change the optical formula of the viewfinder. Some eyes can accommodate that change while others (like mine) require some assistance.
raid
Dad Photographer
Thank you, Luke. This explains it.
icebear
Veteran
I have an E-clypse 1.25 from match technical on my MM. Initially to help with focussing my 2/90 wide open but it "got stuck" on there, so I don't even take it off when I use a 35. Works great, no issues, tack sharp, nothing blurry.
raid
Dad Photographer
This morning, I have tried using the 35 Lux and then the 75 Lux wide open with and without the 1.25X magnifier.
1. When I look through the magnifier alone, everything is clear.
2. When I use the magnifier with the 35 Lux, things get less clear than not using the piece.
3. Using the 75mm Lux wide open has always been easy for me. The 1.25X does not help me at all in focusing with this lens. The results are sharper than when using the 35 Lux wide open.
4. My eye sight is still OK, and I do not wear glasses. A + 0.5 diopter would help though for dark scenes.
Overall, I would say that the combination of {1,25X; M9 VF; my eye sight} is not working well as a team. It is interesting that quite a few users of non-Leica magnifiers are happy with their magnifiers.
1. When I look through the magnifier alone, everything is clear.
2. When I use the magnifier with the 35 Lux, things get less clear than not using the piece.
3. Using the 75mm Lux wide open has always been easy for me. The 1.25X does not help me at all in focusing with this lens. The results are sharper than when using the 35 Lux wide open.
4. My eye sight is still OK, and I do not wear glasses. A + 0.5 diopter would help though for dark scenes.
Overall, I would say that the combination of {1,25X; M9 VF; my eye sight} is not working well as a team. It is interesting that quite a few users of non-Leica magnifiers are happy with their magnifiers.
john_s
Well-known
As I referred to above, I like mine because it has diopter adjustment which I knew I needed. It's interesting that Luke has found the need for diopters changes when using the magnifier. I wouldn't have expected that.
When choosing diopters I recommend trial and error rather than relying on opticians' prescriptions. Fortunately Leica makes them in 0.5diopter increments so you can get close to the value you need. Test patiently in not very bright light, and as a test target choose a distance that you need good focusing for, such as portraits. As we get older our eyes' focus range diminishes a lot, in my case almost to zero.
When using a rangefinder you are looking at the subject through an optical system and with my adjustable magnifier there can be a slight improvement when going from close portraits to groups at a larger distance if I readjust the diopter value. The SLR is different, inasmuch as you're always looking at exactly the same distance, the optical distance to the ground glass screen, typically something like a meter (optically).
Raid, I hope you get this all sorted out!
alan davus
Well-known
I've had one of the Megaperl's 1.15 magnifiers with dioptre adjustment(as mentioned above) for probably 10 years using it on both my M6 and ME. It is perfectly clear and the dioptre adjustment works brilliantly. Couldn't survive with out it.
Last edited:
Pioneer
Veteran
It is "clear" (pun intended) that I will need to gather up an assortment of diopters and begin testing them with my magnifier.
gunston
Established
any one tried the 1.35x magnifier from Japan Exposure?
raid
Dad Photographer
I may do this one day, but not now. Are there any users of a Leica 1.25x here at RFF who did not have to add a diopter adjustment and they do not wear glasses?
Mackinaw
Think Different
Reading glasses only, and I don’t use a diopter adjustment. I have and use the 1.25X and 1.4X magnifiers. Both look sharp when I look through them.
Jim B.
Jim B.
raid
Dad Photographer
Hi Jim,
Would you then wear glasses?
Would you then wear glasses?
john_s
Well-known
Whether one needs a diopter or not is partly a function of age. When young, the eye can accommodate a range of adjustment that it can't do in older age. Look at the graph three-quarters of the way down this wiki page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyeglass_prescription
I still don't understand why someone who can see clearly through the viewfinder of an RF camera without a diopter would need one with a magnifier.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyeglass_prescription
I still don't understand why someone who can see clearly through the viewfinder of an RF camera without a diopter would need one with a magnifier.
raid
Dad Photographer
I have no clue why, John. I can just ignore my Leica 1.25X and focus without it quite well. Thanks for the link.
Mackinaw
Think Different
I need reading glasses for anything closer than about three feet. From that point on, everything is tack-sharp and I don’t need glasses.
I have no problem focusing my MP without the 1.25X magnifier (and without wearing glasses). I use the magnifier when I shoot with my Canon 50/0.95 (M-mount) or 75mm Summilux wide-open (or close to it). With theses two lenses, the magnifier makes a difference.
Jim B.
Finglas
Established
Raid, I don't use glasses with any of my cameras RF or SLR (both film)
So I can say I do use the Leica 1.25x WITHOUT diopter.
As mentioned on my original reply, my MP has a VF of 0.85 and the 1.25x gives me 1.06 which is great for both eyes open shooting so no diopters!
all the best,
John
Luke_Miller
Established
Other than old age I don't understand why either. I can generally focus my M9 without a corrective diopter, but adding a +0.5 improves things. I cannot focus using my 1.25 or 1.4 magnifier without a corrective diopter. In my case the effect of adding the magnifier seems to be similar to moving closer to the object in the rangefinder. It gets larger, but now I need a corrective diopter in order to see it clearly. I have no doubt that before I started to need reading glasses that I would need no corrective diopters with or without the magnifiers.
raid
Dad Photographer
Combining the replies by John and Luke, it seems to be my eye sight requires a diopter when using the 1.25x. I may need a weak diopter in general, and then when using the 1.25x, this need gets amplified.
raid
Dad Photographer
Luke, I seem to be having your situation. I can focus easily with the M9 without the 1.25x and diopter.