Why the bluish tint to MP's RF & VF glass?

[marke]

I just got a new MP a couple days ago. I've noticed that the color of the glass on both the viewfinder and the rangefinder windows, when looking from the front of the camera, has a bluish tint to them. The rangefinder window is especially blue, and shows smears very easily. My M6 TTL is nothing like this.

Does anyone know the reason for this difference? I figure it from extra coating(s), but I've never seen anyone ever mention it. I'm curious to know how the coatings have changed.

 

[payasam]

Haven't seen the MP, but the M3 had a bluish V/F and a yellowish R/F window, the idea being to make focussing a little easier. If there's no blue when looking into the eye-piece, nothing to worry about.

 

[marke]

Haven't seen the MP, but the M3 had a bluish V/F and a yellowish R/F window, the idea being to make focussing a little easier. If there's no blue when looking into the eye-piece, nothing to worry about.

Both the VF and the RF windows have the same blue tint in my MP when viewed from the front. And when I compare the view through MP and the M6 TTL, I see no difference in contrast or otherwise.

I'm not worried about it, since I've seen this same thing in other on-line pictures of the MP. I'm just curious.

 

[marke]

I've been wondering this myself. I have three MP's, all almost exactly the same age, two of which are a-la-carte's built at the same time and with similar serial numbers. Depending on the angle of light, the black chrome MP's windows are a brilliant blue/violet color, where as it's twin silver chrome model, has only a very faint blueish tint, and the stock black paint MP, has no blue tint at all.

I have noticed no difference in the clarity and flare resistance, etc. between them, but that's not to say that there couldn't be a difference. Anyone else with experience on this matter?

The front of the VF window in my stock black paint MP is slightly blue/violet, where as the same window in my M6 TTL is only slightly blue.

The front of the RF window in my MP is brilliant blue (similar to what I'e seen in other on-line images of the MP), where as the same window in my M6 TTL is clear.

Thanks for your comparison. I'm also curious of anyone else has seen this.

 

[JNewell]

I am pretty sure what you're seeing is anti-reflection coating. It should increase light transmission, although you probably can't see the difference.

 

[marke]

I am pretty sure what you're seeing is anti-reflection coating. It should increase light transmission, although you probably can't see the difference.

I imagine you're right. I'm just curious, since we know about the changes in coatings on Leica lenses through the years, but I've never seen any info on the coatings of the VF glass in their cameras.

I find it interesting how much more intense the color/coating is on my MP's RF window, as compared to the glass on the VF window. And also, how this has not been consistant in the various later models mentioned by myself and others here.

 

[dreamsandart]

With the blue-purple tint looking from the front of the MP you are seeing is the new improved 'multi-coating' of the finder. Leica made a big thing out of this when the M7 came out as it improves light transmission going through the finder. Compared to my M4 it makes for a slightly brighter finder, maybe a 1/2 to full stop improvement, and is suppose to cut flare a bit too (again looking from the front the outer windows have less reflection on the MP compared to the pre-MP cameras). Also, all the non-multi coated surfaces on the MP are blackened [to prevent flare].

Like a mulit-coated lens that has color tint when looking into it but renders natural color on the film, looking through the finder the view is neutral in color if not a bit warm.

Also, the MP improved the rangefinder with a plastic 'extra' lens (was glass in the M2//4/5 )that was taken out of the rangefinder design in later production M4-2 making the rangefinder less prone to rangefinder 'white-out'.

All in all, the best M-series finder since the M5 or early M4-2.

 

[trph_2000]

I see that your stock black paint MP looks like it has Vulkanit rather
than the sandpaper skin. Interesting