Diopter lenses - Have you used them?

[arthurpreston]

I'm finding it more challenging at my age to focus with my M-8. I noticed taht B&H at one time sold some diopter lenses, and I'm wondering if any of you have used them with success. Like them? How do they attach to the camera? Waste of money (when I last checked, they were around $73 U.S.)

[Shootist]

Originally Posted by arthurpreston

I'm finding it more challenging at my age to focus with my M-8. I noticed taht B&H at one time sold some diopter lenses, and I'm wondering if any of you have used them with success. Like them? How do they attach to the camera? Waste of money (when I last checked, they were around $73 U.S.)

Yes I use one. Couldn't focus correctly without one. Only a waist of money if you like blurry out of focus images.

Now the question is what strength do you need.
I normally wear +1.5 reading glasses for normal viewing of things like my computer monitor and +1.75 for reading of books with smaller text and at slightly closer distances then what my monitors are (I've also been known to wear 2 pairs of reading glasses for close up work). But the Leica M range finder has a -.5 diopter built into it and it is set at about 2 meters (7 feet). So I use a +1 diopter on my M8's and any other M camera.
Your best bet is to go someplace that has reading glasses and try +1's, 1.5's and 2's to see what suits you best. The Leica diopters for the M line of cameras only come in .5 increment so no need to try +1.25's or +1.75's reading glasses.

How do they attach? They screw into the normal eyepiece.

[xrogers]

I use them on both my M7 (-1.0) and M8 (-0.5). They screw into the back of the eyepiece, and are thin and pretty much unnoticeable. They do more for accurate focus than the 1.25 magnifier, for me at least. I highly recommend diopters for these cameras.

I thought it was interesting that -1 worked best on my M7, and -0.5 on my M8. There's a variety of intolerances going on here, apparently. If possible, choose a diopter in a store that carries a wide variety so you can try them out and see what works best for you. If not, mail order several from a place that allows returns...

Until later,

Clyde

[arthurpreston]

So...I guess with really bad eyesight (can't see distances well, but up close is ok), I should probably go with the strongest first? Strongest avail is a +3.0 (I assume that the pluses are for those with problems seeing distances). I guess there are no adjustments...i,.e., if you get a +3.0, that's all it is....Maybe I should go back to my eye dr.s office and see what my latest "prescription" would tell me. Thanks for the info on how they mount; I didn't notice the threads in the eyepiece, and never would have realized that diopters would be so SMALL! Good info, and thanks so far.

[sfokevin]

diopter leica, Cameras Photo items on eBay.com

I bought one thru this HK/eBay company... very high quality... and they sell a magnifier too that can attach...

[jimleicam3]

I use the +0.5 and it seems to help, I still have a hard time with quick focus, but I guess I still need to practice, practice, practice.....

[rafael_macia]

I have always used diopters, and have never understood how people with glasses could see frame lines without them. Leica used to make up to -5, (up to what plus I am not sure of), but now they, (Leica) only produce up to minus or plus 3. Aftermarket, produces the same range, for less cost.
Roughly, which diopter is best can be judged from your glasses prescription. I am a minus 4 because 20/400 is my Rx for glasses.
different cameras have different built in diopters of mild correction. which should not affect your choice of which diopter to get.
At one time Leica (Leitz at the time) offered a diopter correction "wheel", some dealers had where you could look through various strength diopters, to help decide which was best.
I would recommend you try different diopters at a Leica dealer.

[lars_bergquist]

My eyesight is good for my age, BUT my eyes are now fix-focused at beyond infinity. I have experimented with diopter correction lenses but found them a nuisance. They mean that you have to remove your specs when shooting, but replacing them when you observe the scene. Being half-blind to what is in front of you except when you are looking through the finder, is not the best recipe for action photography. And that is what an M is for.

My solution is synthetic-lens 'progressive' specs, i.e. with the strength varying steplessly from the top of the lenses (good for infinity) to the lower part (for reading). You learn very fast how to position the head and the camera for sharp viewing of the finder image, and it becomes an instinct in no time. The view forward is not impeded. Changing camera settings does not entail any 'specs-on, specs-off' gymnastics. And the thin lenses mean that the 24mm frame of an M8, or the 28mm frame of an M6, is still visible. It is nearly as good as having 20 year-old eyes, except that I have to wipe the inside of the right lens fairly often! It tends to pick up skin grease from the eyelid.

And yes, these are the specs I use for everything.

The old man from the Age of Bifocals

[stunsworth]

The Chinese diopter lens I have works as well as the Leica one I lost, but isn't 'slim fit' - it protrudes behind the viewfinder somewhat. At the price I paid I can put up with this, though if I lose this cheap one I may go back to the Leica version.

Be aware that neither the Leica nor the Chinese version have threads on the back, so if you want to use a screw in magnifier you have to remove the diopter, screw the magnifier to the viewfinder, and then screw the diopter into the back of the magnifier.

As others have said, they work well.

[Shootist]

Originally Posted by arthurpreston

So...I guess with really bad eyesight (can't see distances well, but up close is ok), I should probably go with the strongest first? Strongest avail is a +3.0 (I assume that the pluses are for those with problems seeing distances). I guess there are no adjustments...i,.e., if you get a +3.0, that's all it is....Maybe I should go back to my eye dr.s office and see what my latest "prescription" would tell me. Thanks for the info on how they mount; I didn't notice the threads in the eyepiece, and never would have realized that diopters would be so SMALL! Good info, and thanks so far.

For bad distance eyesite you need a - (Minus) diopter. For bad near sight, IE for reading, you need a + (Plus) diopter. And you need that diopter to correct your vision at a distance of 2 meters (7 feet).

[climber]

I use reading glasses and found great improvement in adding a Leica diopter. While it screws snugly into the M8 viewfinder, it will not seat properly in the Leica 1.25 magnifier. It stays in place but is very loose and no amount of turning will tighten it. Has anyone else experienced this? Leica New Jersey had no answer.
Steve

[Shootist]

Originally Posted by climber

I use reading glasses and found great improvement in adding a Leica diopter. While it screws snugly into the M8 viewfinder, it will not seat properly in the Leica 1.25 magnifier. It stays in place but is very loose and no amount of turning will tighten it. Has anyone else experienced this? Leica New Jersey had no answer.
Steve

No mine fit in and tighten up just fine in the 1.25X mag. In fact they tighten up to much and I have taken the magnifier apart instead of taking the diopter off.

[V64]

I am presbyopic - like anyone above a certain age - my Prescription is basically +1D(far), +2D(middle approx 2meters), +3d (reading), and I normally use VariFocal lenses in my glasses

I wanted to (a) avoid using glasses with my M8 (problems with framelines and camera shake). (b) avoid having to put on glasses when not taking a picture (c) being able to drive without glasses on a dayout.

My (extreme) solution is to use the following when out for the day.
1. put a +1D on the M8
2. use Contact lenses (+2d left eye, +1d right eye)
3. a cheap pair of reading glasses (+1d left, +2d Right ) for close up reading

With the contacts I pass the driving visual acuity test - and do everything I need to do when setting aperture, Menu etc. In other words I do not need to take glasses when out for the day. The +1D on the M8 plus 1D in my right eye gives me the +2D that I need to use the rangefinder.

As I say a bit extreme - but not that expensive a solution - provided you can cope with Contacts.

[climber]

Thanks Shootist. My Leica magnifier must have defective threads. Perhaps Leica will replace.
Steve

[jevidon]

I also bought mine thru E-BAY from some outfit in Asia. It may have been HKI. I also bought the 1.5x magnifier.
Both are high quality and the diopter is a big help in focusing and framing. As I recall, I didn't spend more than about $60 for both pieces which come in a genuine imitation leather(?)
pouches.

[chrism]

I always use the Megaperls 1.35x variable diopter magnifier as I need the correction it provides. If I sit it on top of the Leica 1.25x magnifier I get a corrected view magnified 1.65x and this is just perfect for a Noctilux.

Chris

[chris_tribble]

I'm long sighted but don't like to use glasses when working with a camera. I use +3 on both my M8s and couldn't use the cameras without them. Best $73 you could spend (not tried the HK clone - could be OK...)

NB - they can come unscrewed and fall off - watchout - happened to me!

[arthurpreston]

I took the advice of an early responder, and went to Sammy's Camera, where they had two in stock, a -2 and a -3. I concluded that dioption is not my problem, becuase neither worked for me. They both made me realize just how good I could see, and that I just need to learn to keep working on getting my focus as precies as possible. I guess I had been spoiled by autofocus over the past few years.

[hammam]

I use +1, the (strongest I could find), but it only corrects farsightedness, not astygmatism. Since astygmatism is strong in my right eye, I still have to focus with the left eye for critical focus. But at least I can see see the little RF patch alright.

[Shootist]

Originally Posted by arthurpreston

I took the advice of an early responder, and went to Sammy's Camera, where they had two in stock, a -2 and a -3. I concluded that dioption is not my problem, becuase neither worked for me. They both made me realize just how good I could see, and that I just need to learn to keep working on getting my focus as precies as possible. I guess I had been spoiled by autofocus over the past few years.

-2 and -3 may be way to strong for you. The diopters are also made in -.5, -1 and -1.5.
I use a +1 but a +1.5 is to strong. A +2 is, for me, like looking through the bottom of a soda bottle.
I suggest you find another dealer that has a better selection or go to your optician with your camera and try other diopter lenses.