Does anyone know how to fit a diopter correcting lens on a Leica M2?

[colt1911]

Does anyone know how to fit a diopter correcting lens on a Leica M2?

Is it attached to the existing viewfinder lens fixture, at the back of the camera, or must the existing lens first be removed before fitting the additional item.

If the existing lens must first be removed, then how is this done? Does the lens unscrew? Are any special tools required? Is this something that is best left to the Leica professionals?

Thanks

[hektor]

It is screwed into the existing eye-piece.

[colt1911]

Hi Hektor,

Thanks very much for your response to my question, I really appreciate it.

The next thing I need to find out is what prescription I have in my eye glasses then to track down a suitable correction lens.

Thanks
Johnhh

[k_g_wolf]

Your dealer should have them in stock actally.

If not, he can certainly order them for you to try. The prescription is not exact enough because a built in diopter factor of the vf has to be taken into account. So just try several and choose.

Had to change mine over the years, eyesights are prone to get worse ...

The correction lenses do have a little rubber rim to protect glasses. At least good enough for normal sunglasses, because with the correction lens attached you can leave your glasses in your pocket ...

Best

[andybarton]

I bought mine for my M2 a couple of years ago - it's a metal ring, with no rubber in sight...

Be careful when screwing it into the existing viewfinder - if the thread binds, the whole rear of the viewfinder will unscrew if your remove the correction, not just the correction lens.

[colt1911]

Thanks Karl, Andy for your informative response.

I think a trip to my local Leica dealer this coming Saturday is in order. See what he has in stock and what he can lay his hands on.

I’ll let you guys know how I get on.

Thanks
Johnhh

[wizard]

Originally Posted by andybarton

I bought mine for my M2 a couple of years ago - it's a metal ring, with no rubber in sight...

Andy, that must have been a VERY old one. I have two, one fairly new, the other one years old, and they both have a rubber ring surrounding the correction lens. Comes handy if you screw it onto, say, a M3, as you will then be less prone to scratch your sunglasses.

Andy

[andybarton]

Originally Posted by wizard

Andy, that must have been a VERY old one. I have two, one fairly new, the other one years old, and they both have a rubber ring surrounding the correction lens. Comes handy if you screw it onto, say, a M3, as you will then be less prone to scratch your sunglasses.

Andy

It is the only NEW piece of Leica kit I have ever bought, and was ordered via my dealer from Milton Keynes about 2 years ago.

Definitely no rubber...

[wizard]

Must be from Leica in China then...

[andybarton]

Originally Posted by wizard

Must be from Leica in China then...

It only cost me fifty quid so that's highly likely...

[wizard]

Well, they've got to make profit somewhere... Or, given the price you paid, yours is probably a collector's item .

Really, I have never seen one without the "rubber ring". Actually, there is no separate rubber ring, instead the rubber seems to be vulcanized onto the metal piece that has the thread and holds the correction lens, so in the end it is a one piece construction.

Best,

Andy

[tobey bilek]

The old ones did not have the rubber glass protector.

It is a pain to add or take off glasses, so I sometimes use a correction that allows me to see thru the top of my bifocals.

Few dealers stock them, they are expensive, and need to be changed when your eys change. Consider carefully.

[andybarton]

Apologies all round and I stand corrected. My eyepiece corrector does have a rubber ring.

But, the rubber is SO hard that it looks and feels just like black metal.

[colt1911]

Well here is the latest update as promised.

The good news was that I popped into the local optometrists today to ask if they could tell me what prescription I had in my normal long distance glasses. The very obliging optometrist measured my prescription and reported that it was -1.25 diopter for both lenses.

The next step was a visit to the local Leica agents, not such good news here. After explaining my requirements they just phoned the National Leica Importers/Distributors then handed the phone over to me to discuss my requirements directly with them.

The bottom line was that the Leica distributors were not prepared to obtain a selection of lenses for me to try, and would only source items that they had firm orders for.
So it looks like I’ll just have to take a chance and order one and hope that it’s OK.

Final question (promise not to pester you guys any more), do I order a -1.25 diopter as per my prescription, or should I go for a -0.75?
(i.e. -1.25 minus the -0.5 lens I’m told is fitted as standard in the M2 viewfinder).

[wizard]

John,

go for a -1 diopter, as there is no -1.25 or -0.75. Leica only makes these things in half diopter increments, i.e. -0.5, -1, -1.5 etc.

Choosing a -1 diopter will also leave a certain margin for the future (eyes usually do not get better )

Cheers,

Andy

[colt1911]

Thanks Andy
Johnhh

[andybarton]

I was told that the correction lenses were only available in full dioptre increments.. which is irritating.

I have been myopic since the age of about 16/17 and, through my 20s and 30s, my prescription did not change at all (around -2.75)

Now, in my mid-40s, my eyesight is improving, to the level that I am now only -2.0

I am hoping that by the time I retire, I will be able to see properly again without any artificial aids

(The most likely thing to happen is that I will need reading glasses within the next 10 years, apparently, since if you are myopic, not only do ones eyes often get better as far as long distance is concerned, but the muscles ability to close-focus gets worse. This could be interesting since, IIRC, the eye has to be able to properly focus at around 1m in order to use a viewfinder properly. Perhaps someone could confirm?)

[stumac]

Andy,

I do not know about the M but is correct for the SL, my optometrist gave me a plastic lens that gave me focus at 1 metre, I think it was +1.5, I was able to cut a small section from the center and fit to the special holder from Leica. Works well,

Regards, Stuart

[wizard]

Originally Posted by andybarton

I was told that the correction lenses were only available in full dioptre increments.. which is irritating.

Andy, why don't you believe me ? After all, we share the same first name, and have you ever seen any Andy being not trustworthy ? They DO make them in half diopter increments, at least for the M.

Best,

Andy

P.S.: Remember, I was right on the rubber as well...

[andybarton]

Of course I believe you - clearly I cannot believe what this particular dealer told me!