R9 and SL2 Viewfinders

[pcsmythe]

I read somewhere (can't remember where) that the SL2 viewfinder is much, much better than the R9 and that Leica should go back to the SL2 viewfinder with the upcoming R10. Anyone have any information on this? Just curious.

[Joop van Heijgen]

Originally Posted by pcsmythe

I read somewhere (can't remember where) that the SL2 viewfinder is much, much better than the R9 and that Leica should go back to the SL2 viewfinder with the upcoming R10. Anyone have any information on this? Just curious.

The SL 2 have the best viewfinder of all Leica SLR cameras!

But the R9 viewfinder is also very good...

The 'R10' wil never get the SL 2 viewfinder because it will be too expensive to make it...

I think the R 9 have the best viewfinder of all actual SLR cameras, including the digital SLR cameras.

[mole73]

Hello Peter,

obviously the viewfinder of the R9 is THE BEST!
Sometimes you can read, that the Leicaflex viewfinders are more brilliant etc., but please, go to a leica shop and compare them. I´ve done it and i know what i saw (i took more than one body in comparison).
Without a doupt the SL2 has a very good one but keep in mind the modern technologies.

For example keep in mind the progress in the optical process:
take a lens of the seventies and compare it with a lens of the same focal length from our days. In the optical and mechanical category there are worlds between them. And the viewfinders are also optical elements.
And please, no one should tell me the opposite!

Greetings

[Joop van Heijgen]

Originally Posted by mole73

Hello Peter,

obviously the viewfinder of the R9 is THE BEST!
Sometimes you can read, that the Leicaflex viewfinders are more brilliant etc., but please, go to a leica shop and compare them. I´ve done it and i know what i saw (i took more than one body in comparison).
Without a doupt the SL2 has a very good one but keep in mind the modern technologies.

For example keep in mind the progress in the optical process:
take a lens of the seventies and compare it with a lens of the same focal length from our days. In the optical and mechanical category there are worlds between them. And the viewfinders are also optical elements.
And please, no one should tell me the opposite!

Greetings

'obviously the viewfinder of the R9 is THE BEST! '


More a matter of taste!

The R9 have a more 'white' viewfinder and the SL 2 have a more 'polarised' viewfinder!
In dark light situations I do prefer the R9 for having its more light viewfinder!
The viewfinder of the SL2 have the character of the M4 viewfinder also a little polarised!
With sunny daylight outside I do prefer the SL 2.

[wildlightphoto]

I'm using the Leicaflex Standard, SL, SL2, R4, and R8. I've also used the R-E and R6.

With long lenses I find the SL or SL2 viewfinders much easier to focus quickly and accurately than any other Leica reflexes, including the R8: it's brighter, more contrasty, higher magnification, no 'hunting' for the optimum focus. Comparing the SL and R8, with the 560mm f/6.8 on the R8 and the 400mm f/6.8 plus 1.4x Extender on the SL, the SL is clearly easier to focus quickly and accurately.

[LVSBB6]

What makes the R9 viewfinder brighter than R8? i have never compared one before.

I have DMR with R8 and always wonder if it is worth the upgrade to R9, or simply get a better focusing screen and call it a day.

[wildlightphoto]

Originally Posted by LVSBB6

What makes the R9 viewfinder brighter than R8?

I have never heard that it is.

[mole73]

Leo:

I don´t think that there is a difference between the R8 and R9.

Joop:

Obviously the question of the brightness and excellence of the viewfinder is a matter of taste. It depends on the focal lenghs you want to use etc. And when i had the possibility to look "through" a SL 2, and in my opinion the SL is the same, there was no doupt, that it has a very good viewfinder.

generelly:

My impression was that the viewfinders of the M´s (and i mean every M) are a bit brighter than these of the R´s.

[rsolomon]

Originally Posted by LVSBB6

What makes the R9 viewfinder brighter than R8? i have never compared one before.

I have DMR with R8 and always wonder if it is worth the upgrade to R9, or simply get a better focusing screen and call it a day.

there are diffrences in the R8 and the R9 but to my knowledge the viewfinder is not one of them.

[leicar7]

The R8 and R9 have exactly the same viewfinders.

I find my focussing reliability somewhat off with the 0.75x R8/9 compared to the 0.86x factor of the SL/SL2 finders. I don't know if one of the finder systems is brighter than the other. But, in terms of focussing, the engineering of the earlier finders is superior, especially outside the central circle or donut, where the three-sided microprisms provide contrast focussing that the ground glass field of the latter cameras does not.

[robert_parker]

I do find it hard work focussing the R9 / DMR combination accurately and this is one of the areas which could be improved in the R10

An option with the R8 / 9 might be to use Brightscreen or similar.

[leicar7]

Isn't there a magnifier out there for the R8/9 viewfinder that was the subject of a thread many months ago? It seems to me that Guy Mancuso might have been involved in its development. I may be mistaken on this, and I apologize to him if I am.

[garyp]

You're right Thomas; but I think it was talked about in the FM thread about the DMR, which may no longer be available.
Guy is still around, try over in the M8 forum.
GaryP

[topoxforddoc]

Gary,

I use the Brightscreen magnifier on my DMR. I find it certainly helps with focussing with a higher hit rate for my images. Guy Mancuso helped with its development a couple of years ago.

Charlie

[pcsmythe]

What is the Brightscreen and where do you find one?

[wildlightphoto]

Originally Posted by pcsmythe

What is the Brightscreen and where do you find one?

Brightscreen Flash Detection <- click here

I tried the first version of the eyepiece magnifier and was underwhelmed by its performance. A second version with improved optics is now available, I ought to give it a try. If not satisfied, returns are no hassle.

[tummydoc]

The SL and SL2 viewfinders achieve their brilliant performance as a result of fine microprisms over the entire screen, as well as central focussing aids such as split-image or coarse microprism. In later R bodies, R8/R9 (which have identical viewing) inclusive, all of the screens are plain matte with no microprisms except in the central focussing area. The so-called "all microprism" screen merely refers to the absence of a split-image aid.

[ejcaliguri@comcast.net]

Hi all;

I think Pascal showed a while ago in the 'older forum' how to adapt the Nikon eyepiece magnifier into a Leica R frame; it looks harder than it is, and is very easy to get done. Works like a charm! ( I was also not impressed with the Brightscreen first version). But this way is cheaper to go as well.
Ed