Julian Thompson Posted July 24, 2010 Share #1 Posted July 24, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Having just begun shooting with an 0.85 finder in my film camera I have decided that I much prefer it to the lower magnification in my M9. I have tried a magnifier on the M9 but the effect isn't the same, with contrast dropping off noticeably. Therefore, I would like to ask if anyone here has sent their M9 to have the .85 finder in ? Or even if it could be achieved ? And maybe what the cost was ? TIA! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 24, 2010 Posted July 24, 2010 Hi Julian Thompson, Take a look here 0.85 M9 ?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted July 24, 2010 Share #2 Posted July 24, 2010 I doubt that it is possible at all, Leica most probably won't do it. I would ask DAG if he sees a possibility. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chistoso Posted July 24, 2010 Share #3 Posted July 24, 2010 Did you try the Match Technical E-Clypse MAG 0.85x? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
01af Posted July 24, 2010 Share #4 Posted July 24, 2010 Did you try the Match Technical E-Clypse MAG 0.85×? You're kidding, right? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian Thompson Posted July 24, 2010 Author Share #5 Posted July 24, 2010 No, the Leica one was the one I tried. It's okay but not as nice as my M7 0.85 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
horosu Posted July 24, 2010 Share #6 Posted July 24, 2010 No, the Leica one was the one I tried. It's okay but not as nice as my M7 0.85 I think you are talking about different things Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian Thompson Posted July 24, 2010 Author Share #7 Posted July 24, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Indeed - I want to get my M9 viewfinder swapped out to the M7 0.85 magnification one, but I think our friend here is suggesting that I magnify the M9's standard viewfinder to achieve a similar effect. Sadly, with the Leica magnifier I have tried the effect is not the same - the M7 naitive 0.85 finder is much higher contrast and easier to focus than the M9 viewfinder with a magnifier, although the ultimate magnification factor of both setups is very similar. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
perb Posted July 24, 2010 Share #8 Posted July 24, 2010 I'm sure Leica could do it if they wanted, just like they do with the M7. I'm only guessing, but I think the magnification is controlled by the eyepiece lens, so you need to replace this. However, to match the smaller field of view you also need a new set of framelines. My memory is weak, but I think in the LuLa video interview Stefan Daniel hinted at the possibility of M9 a la carte in the future. It is only a matter of Leica deciding to offer it. For the moment, though, I guess they just want to deliver as many M9 as they can, so we must wait for demand to relax first. Regards Per Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted July 24, 2010 Share #9 Posted July 24, 2010 Stretching the memory here, but doesn't the thickness of the body also have an influence in what can be done in this regard? Regards, Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
perb Posted July 24, 2010 Share #10 Posted July 24, 2010 Yes, I think adan has explained this several times. We are looking through a tube, so there is a limit to the angle of view, even before you put optics in. The thicker body means a longer tube and therefore smaller angle of view, so if you wanted a x0.58 finder you might find the the outer part of the field black. The x0.85 option on the other hand should be fine. Regards Per Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted July 24, 2010 Share #11 Posted July 24, 2010 Pity that Leica doesn't make a 1:1 rangefinder. Hard to return to film when my Epsons fall apart. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted July 24, 2010 Share #12 Posted July 24, 2010 Adding a .85x magnifier would not do what you want. It reduces the magnification without adding more image and visible frame-lines around the edges. A .85x eyepiece magnifier on an M9 would give you an effective magnification of just .578x. I find the Leica 1.25x magnifier useful for critical focus with fast and longer lenses however the 28 frame-lines are only visible by peering around the edges and not all at once. The 35 frame-lines are almost as difficult for me. The effective magnification is exactly .85x. Substituting the Leica 1.4x magnifier, I find the 50 frame -lines to be just acceptable with the corners actually needing peering into individually. For a 75, 90 or 135 it assists considerably when focus is critical but is not suitable for full time general use. The effective magnification becomes .95x. Just don't look through an M3 and compare the view As others mentioned there is a penalty to pay that you lose some contrast and clarity using an additional eyepiece. Another factor is that eye relief is less also. They can be just fitted when desired of course wihich is the design (whether that is really convenient or not). 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted July 25, 2010 Share #13 Posted July 25, 2010 ...I want to get my M9 viewfinder swapped out to the M7 0.85 magnification one, but I think our friend here is suggesting that I magnify the M9's standard viewfinder to achieve a similar effect. Sadly, with the Leica magnifier I have tried the effect is not the same - the M7 naitive 0.85 finder is much higher contrast and easier to focus than the M9 viewfinder with a magnifier... Yes that's what i found with 0.72x and 0.85x film Ms as well. I did not try the 1.4x magnifier but in day to day use the 1.25x is somewhat a pita. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eduardodfj Posted July 25, 2010 Share #14 Posted July 25, 2010 I'm sure it has been talked about plenty of times, but here we go: The sensor of the M9 has to be at exactly the same position as film was in the film Leicas in order to be able to use the same lenses. At the back of the sensor, you put the LCD screen. That, and nothing else, determines the body thickness. Ergo... It is not possible for Leica to design a thinner digital M. We are certainly looking through a tube, but a thicker body doesn't mean a longer tube since the distance that determines the length of the 'tube' is sensor to lens mount, and that is fixed since 1954 and can't possibly change. The viewfinder magnification is a totally different thing, and a 0.58x finder is in my opinion entirely possible. Since the 0.68x finder has framelines for 28mm lenses, a 0.58x finder should go all the way to cover the framelines of around 23mm, quite inside the current range of Leica lenses. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted July 25, 2010 Share #15 Posted July 25, 2010 Eduardo this has been discussed a lot here before. You may hear all about it if some people respond here. This part is pretty well accepted (although some would like to see technical advancements to make the LCD and sensor assemblies thinner). ................................ The sensor of the M9 has to be at exactly the same position as film was in the film Leicas in order to be able to use the same lenses. At the back of the sensor, you put the LCD screen. That, and nothing else, determines the body thickness. Ergo... It is not possible for Leica to design a thinner digital M. ................................................. This part is not quite right and that is the part where you may get some other responses. The fixed eyepiece that is part of the viewfinder assembly is at the end of a longer tube. It is not level with the sensor. It is level with the rear of the (thicker) camera housing. The viewfinder assembly basically is the same as in the M6/7/8 but the magnification of the fixed (internal) eyepiece is reduced to allow for eye relief and frame-line visibility with the smaller image from the longer tube. ....................................................... We are certainly looking through a tube, but a thicker body doesn't mean a longer tube since the distance that determines the length of the 'tube' is sensor to lens mount, and that is fixed since 1954 and can't possibly change. ................................................................ Yes it would be possible but it would mean the camera was not as good with standard or longer lenses (Frame lines and rangefinder image too small). The current .68x is the compromise that Leica Camera chose. ..................... The viewfinder magnification is a totally different thing, and a 0.58x finder is in my opinion entirely possible. Since the 0.68x finder has framelines for 28mm lenses, a 0.58x finder should go all the way to cover the framelines of around 23mm, quite inside the current range of Leica lenses. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mc_k Posted July 25, 2010 Share #16 Posted July 25, 2010 Having just begun shooting with an 0.85 finder in my film camera I have decided that I much prefer it to the lower magnification in my M9. I have tried a magnifier on the M9 but the effect isn't the same, with contrast dropping off noticeably. ... What exactly are you shooting and what is the lighting? Are you focusing by contrast or by split image? Just curious. I don't think the fall-off from the 1.25X is too bad under most conditions. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mc_k Posted July 25, 2010 Share #17 Posted July 25, 2010 Has anyone tried to check the effectiveness of magnifiers in an objective way? Does anyone use more than 1.4X additional magnification? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard_man Posted July 25, 2010 Share #18 Posted July 25, 2010 Eduardo this has been discussed a lot here before. You may hear all about it if some people respond here. This part is pretty well accepted (although some would like to see technical advancements to make the LCD and sensor assemblies thinner). ................................ The sensor of the M9 has to be at exactly the same position as film was in the film Leicas in order to be able to use the same lenses. At the back of the sensor, you put the LCD screen. That, and nothing else, determines the body thickness. Ergo... It is not possible for Leica to design a thinner digital M. They can also solve this by moving the sensor forward and use a protruding lens mount ala SLR. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 25, 2010 Share #19 Posted July 25, 2010 Which is exactly what they did on the M8 and M9 - by 2 mm. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 25, 2010 Share #20 Posted July 25, 2010 Has anyone tried to check the effectiveness of magnifiers in an objective way? Does anyone use more than 1.4X additional magnification? All magnifiers I have reside in a box in my cupboard. They don't help me at all, just the opposite in fact. I realize that is not objective, but I do believe it depends on your eyes and your technique whether they are effective or not. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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