Viewfinder upgrade/change

[celluloidprop]

I've read that you can get any M upgraded to the new flare-proof yada yada viewfinder through DAG or Leica, for a price.

Is that only for the .72, or could someone get an old M4-P (or current M7 .72) changed to a .58 viewfinder if they wanted?

 

[furcafe]

You're talking about 2 different things. The flare-reduction kit can be installed inside any post M4-P/pre-late M7/MP VF of any magnification. DAG charged me $183 (incl. return shipping) to do that last year.

Switching magnifications & such is very possible but also a much bigger deal, especially if you want to install an older VF that's no longer manufactured (like an M3/M2/M4). I have no idea how much that costs, but do know it's doable.

 

[aizan]

how about installing a new viewfinder in an old body, like a .58x m2?

 

[furcafe]

Also doable, although I don't why you would want to do that (easier, albeit sometimes expensive, to get an M2/M3 VF fixed or recemented).

how about installing a new viewfinder in an old body, like a .58x m2?

 

[celluloidprop]

Ah, thanks, I thought the flare-reduction kit was actually just an entirely new viewfinder. The .58-4 frameline VF (only available new on the a la carte plan, I think) sounded like something that would have been nice on an old M4-2/M4-P body, but major surgery probably cancels out any value from buying used.

 

[furcafe]

I believe the late M7-MP VF has some other improvements (coated glass, etc.) that go beyond the condenser thingie that makes up the flare-reduction kit, but the kit does a pretty good job @ doing what it's supposed to do. As to getting a 0.58 VF, yeah, it's probably much more cost-efficient to just get a used M6 TTL w/that magnification.

Ah, thanks, I thought the flare-reduction kit was actually just an entirely new viewfinder. The .58-4 frameline VF (only available new on the a la carte plan, I think) sounded like something that would have been nice on an old M4-2/M4-P body, but major surgery probably cancels out any value from buying used.

 

[CameraQuest]

real world, it is usually much more effective financially just to buy the M camera with the magnfication you need and sell the old camera, , than to invest money changing M finders. Changing M finders is an expensive proposition. worse, you will find that you won't get most of those dollars back when it comes to sell or trade that camera with the new finder.

Stephen