ZI viewfinder experience/eye relief with glasses

[uhligfd]

I would like to know how well the ZI works with glasses.

I have not had a chance to see one in "person". I have tried the M6 0.72 (no good), the Bessa 2 and 3 (a bit larger, clearer, but still no go for wideangle lens views).
The only usable viewfinders for me and wide settings were in Contax Gs with their telescopic 0.6 magn. viewfinders.

So, what wideangle framelines am I supposed and likely to see edge-to-edge with far sighted glasses?
50mm, 35mm, 28mm, or all the way out to the very edge at approximately 25mm?

Please only answer if you wear glasses regularly. There are old posts here of a year + back with surmises ... I need to know the truth if I can, before plucking down ... sight unseen ...

Thanks!

 

[JSpicer]

I wear distance glasses, and I can see the 35mm frame lines. The shutter speed display is almost out of sight on the left side of the viewfinder. I also found that my prescription required that I purchase the +1 Diopter eyepiece correction lens.

John Spicer

 

[back alley]

i wear tri focal lenses and used to be able to shoot without glasses but no more.
i use the zi...50 is easy to see as is the 35. the 28 is ok but i move my eye around a tiny bit. i also use the entire finder for the 25 and really need to move around. i think i actually intuit the fov more than 'see' it.

joe

 

[jgeenen]

I am short sighted - about -4 and can confirm Johns observation. Framelines down to 35mm are easy to overview; to see the speed LEDs, I have to off-center my view (which significantly lowers the contrast of the rangefinder patch); I am not able to see all 28mm framelines at once.

For me the best is to use the right eye (no additional distance caused by my protruding nose).

 

[julianphotoart]

I agree with prior posts.

1. I wear thick glasses all the time
2. I use the ZI
3. 28 lines iffy
4. 35 lines fine
5. The difficulty seeing the shutterspeed "display" down the left side is a pain whether one wears glasses or not; it's the one real failing of the ZI.

 

[whitecat]

I wear glasses and I can tell you that the ZI viewfinder is better for me than the M7.

 

[jano]

I also have thick glasses. I can see the 28 and/or 35 if I really concentrate hard, and maybe tilt/roll/bank my head a bit. The others are easy to see. The shutter speed is difficult to read in the viewfinder when you are outside.

 

[troym]

I am also nearsighted and wear a high prescription. I have no problem seeing the 35 framelines on the ZI. The 28 framelines are closer to the edge of the viewfinder, but I can see them, too, without much difficulty. I find that if you concentrate on the focus patch rather than the framelines, you can see the framelines more easily.

I also agree with the comments about the shutterspeed display.

 

[lawrence]

0.58 is gr8

0.58 is gr8

If you wear glasses all the time -- as I do now -- and you want to have no problems seeing 28mm frame lines then a Leica with the 0.58 finder is the only way to go. Just try one 😛