What magnification do/would you use?!

S

suzums

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Hi all,

This is my first thread up on RFF. I'm pretty new to rangefinders and been learning more about it each day from the posts on here.

I've been doing some reading up on Leica's choice of viewfinder magnifications. And I was just wondering which magnification you've chosen or would choose and why?!
 
Within the Leica realm, I'd go for a 0.85x. Good for tele, normal and slightly wide (35). For wideangles (25 and wider) you'll use external finders anyhow.

Have used an 0.6x viewfinder on a HexarRF, but it was no fun for my 90mm.
 
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I use fast 50's and Telephoto's. I prefer the Leica M3 0.92x finder. I also have an M2 with its 0.72x finder as found on the newer line. It is fine for the 50, and useable for the 90. If you use wide-angle lenses, the 0.72x is a good choice. The 0.85x finder will accommodate a 35mm lens, which the M3 finder does not.
 
0.72 with the 1.25 Okular for 90-135 lenses and the Summilux 50 ( better focussing accuracy). The best of two worlds. the 0.90 magnification is great for the longer lenghts and the 0.72 is fine for wider angles.
 
Which would be a smart choice if I like shooting under 35mm?!
 
The 0.72x with a 28mm lens would probably be Okay for you when wearing contacts. With eyeglasses, you will probably not see the 28mm framelines. A 0.58x will be better for 28mm, if that is to be your primary lens you may consider it.
 
If you mostly wear contacts, and the main focal length you use is 35mm, then I would advise a 0.72 viewfinder magnification. W/o glasses the 35mm framelines are very easy to see. With glasses, you will probably need to rotate your eye somewhat to see the entire 35mm frameline. With a higher magnification (0.85), the 35mm frame lines are more difficult to see. With a reduced magnification (0.58), the 35mm framelines are very easy to see and there is space around the framelines, which aides in composition. But the image in the reduced magnified viewfinder is very small, which I believe makes focusing more difficult. Also, the framellines for the longer lenses in the 0.58 are very small.

For eyeglass wearers, the Leica viewfinder options are not an ideal. Each one will have pros, cons and compromises.

The other option is to wait until August when the Zeiss Ikon comes out. It has a HUGE viewfinder (with 0.74 mag) which, I believe, will make the 0.58 M somewhat less desirable. Eyeglass wearers who have viewed the prototype have reported no problems in seeing the 35mm framelines in this new camera. But at this point, we don't know how the camera will operate in the field. I suspect there won't be much problems, because the only electronics are a meter and AE, but the Leica M is a known quantity -- it works.
 
sgy1962 said:
The other option is to wait until August when the Zeiss Ikon comes out. It has a HUGE viewfinder (with 0.74 mag) which, I believe, will make the 0.58 M somewhat less desirable. Eyeglass wearers who have viewed the prototype have reported no problems in seeing the 35mm framelines in this new camera. But at this point, we don't know how the camera will operate in the field. I suspect there won't be much problems, because the only electronics are a meter and AE, but the Leica M is a known quantity -- it works.
Click to expand...


Interesting! This I didn't know :)


Cheers! I'll have to look into that!
 
By the way, I wear eyeglasses and use a 0.72. Not an ideal solution, but it works; it gives me the flexibility to use the 35-50-90 focal lengths which I have. I suspect that if I had a 0.58 I may tend to use the versatile 35mm focal length more, but every time I look through this viewfinder I reach the same conclusion -- the image is so small (actually only 20% smaller).

If you can get to some store to lokk through the various focal lengths, then that would be your best option. Some folks know right away if they like the high or low magnification once they look through the viewfinders.
 
Brian Sweeney said:
The 0.72x with a 28mm lens would probably be Okay for you when wearing contacts. With eyeglasses, you will probably not see the 28mm framelines. A 0.58x will be better for 28mm, if that is to be your primary lens you may consider it.
Click to expand...


Is the extra viewfinder needed for Leica's really need for lenses 21/24/28? With or without glasses...
 
XPan II:

VIEWFINDER Bright-frame type viewfinder (ambient
light), automatic parallax compensation, automatic standard/
panorama format switchover via selector dial,
automatic magnification switchover according to lens
fitted (0.45x with 30 mm and 45 mm lenses, 0.66x
with 90 mm lens). Integral LCD display showing shutter
speed, exposure compensation, and exposure metering
indication. Field of view > 85 %.
Diopter correction lenses (-4D to +2D) are available.
 
Leica has diopter correction lenses... I wear glasses for reading (well really even seeing anything within 1.50 m) but that doesn't stop me from seeing the M6/.72 viewfinder without glasses or correction lenses perfectly. I have to put them on again to check anything on the camera though. Why are these Leica letters and numbers so ***** small!!? :mad:
 
Hi Susie and welcome to the forum! :) You need a separate viewfinder for anything wider than 28mm for a 0.72 mag cam. I have a 21mm and would be lost without a separate VF with parallax correction. I use a 0.72 mag cam and love it and I have a 0.85 mag body coming in the mail. That will be used for 90/135mm work.

 
A number of years ago, prior to wearing glasses, I used a .72 M and found all the frames easy to use. I just got back from doing a comparison between the .58 and .72 magnifications. I primarily shoot with a 35mm lens. I found that the .58 was superior for my needs: it provides an easy view of the 35mm frameline with enough area around the frame to really aid in composition. Compared to the Nikon D70 which I've been using lately the viewfinder seems huge. With the .72 I could still see the 35mm frameline but couldn't see any area around it.

I also looked at the Bessa R3A with the 1:1 finder. I couldn't see the 40mm line at all and could barely see the 50. If you wear glasses this camera isn't really practical (and by extension the R-D1 as well...) which is a shame because it feels really nice in the hand and the 40/1.4 is a superb looking lens.
 
it depends. i wear glasses and can see the 40mm framelines as well as the 35mm framelines on an m2, and there's a good amount of space around the 50.
 
Thanks everyone for the input! Very much appericiated! :)

I guess I'll really need to try it out for myself once I'm set on what I want!
 
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