M-9/E to M-P

[teids]

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Hi,

 

A friend of mine recently landed me his M6 for a long term try. Apart from the viewfinder flaring it has been a real pleasure shooting film. I am 30 years old so I did not get much exposure to film.

 

Obviously digital has some advantages over analogue and analogue has some advantages over digital.

 

I am, currently, considering selling my M-E in order to buy the M-P.

 

Ïf I decide to go this route, I would be picking a .58 version as I am a glasses wearer.

With a .72 viewfinder, for me the situation is as follow:

28mm: I can not see the frame lines (I have an external vf)

35 mm: I have to move my eye around

50 mm: I do see outside the frame lines

 

I have red a few threads about .58 vs .72, some users are saying that with .58 viewfinders the focusing is less accurate.

I have asked the Leica technician at Leica Mayfair and he told me that there should not be any loss in focus accuracy with lenses below 75mm. Above 75mm a viewfinder magnifier would be recommended.

 

Did anyone actually using a .58 viewfinder has experienced any focussing issue?

 

On a side note, is there any side by side picture of the Black Paint vs Black Chrome paint ?

 

Thank you

 

Ted

[Pangur Ban]

Glad you're enjoying film so much: it can be addictive.

 

I used to have a 0.58 MP and never had any focus problems: the difference between the 0.58 and other magnifications is simply because it is a wider angle of view it is harder to detect when the rangefinder is aligned when using longer focal lengths, without additional magnification.

 

I think you can only get a 0.58 new under the a la carte scheme, but you'll find second-hand ones if you are patient.

 

I don't have a comparison photo, but think of black paint being a gloss-like finish, and black chrome as being matt. (I prefer silver chrome myself).

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[LYCAN]

I think you want to buy an MP, not an M-P

 

The focussing with a 0.58 finder is precise enough for nearly everything. I use three cameras with 0.58 finders (MP, M7 and M6TTL) and their big advantage over my other Ms is that I can see the 35mm framelines perfectly and even the 28mm framelines are not such a big problem although I wear glasses. With the 0.72 finders (for me) it's nearly impossible to see the the 28mm and hard to see the 35mm framelines.

[Keith (M)]

When I ordered my MP ALC, I specified the 0.58 VF because I wear spectacles and wanted the camera primarily for use with 28 & 35mm lenses (I already had a standard M7 for 50mm, 75mm & 90mm use). I have not been disappointed nor found any focusing issues

[Jeff S]

I think you want to buy an MP, not an M-P

 

Exactly….thanks to Leica's crazy naming scheme.

 

For the OP….the M-P is the M240-P, and its VF mag is .68x.

 

Jeff

[tookaphotoof]

Unless you are certain you won't miss a digital M, why not just find a used film M with a 0.58 vf?Although I usually like the results out of my MP more, I wouldn't want to be without my M240 for sure.

Also, I have an M6 which makes exactly the same photos as the MP but costs a hell of a lot less.

[teids]

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Glad you're enjoying film so much: it can be addictive.

 

I used to have a 0.58 MP and never had any focus problems: the difference between the 0.58 and other magnifications is simply because it is a wider angle of view it is harder to detect when the rangefinder is aligned when using longer focal lengths, without additional magnification.

 

I think you can only get a 0.58 new under the a la carte scheme, but you'll find second-hand ones if you are patient.

 

I don't have a comparison photo, but think of black paint being a gloss-like finish, and black chrome as being matt. (I prefer silver chrome myself).

 

Thank you very much for your reply and the helpful comment. Yes I would have to buy it a la carte or find a used one.

 

I think you want to buy an MP, not an M-P

 

The focussing with a 0.58 finder is precise enough for nearly everything. I use three cameras with 0.58 finders (MP, M7 and M6TTL) and their big advantage over my other Ms is that I can see the 35mm framelines perfectly and even the 28mm framelines are not such a big problem although I wear glasses. With the 0.72 finders (for me) it's nearly impossible to see the the 28mm and hard to see the 35mm framelines.

 

Heheheh Don t worry, in the shop i would not mistake one for the other.

 

Thank you very much

 

When I ordered my MP ALC, I specified the 0.58 VF because I wear spectacles and wanted the camera primarily for use with 28 & 35mm lenses (I already had a standard M7 for 50mm, 75mm & 90mm use). I have not been disappointed nor found any focusing issues

 

Thank you very much

 

Exactly….thanks to Leica's crazy naming scheme.

 

For the OP….the M-P is the M240-P, and its VF mag is .68x.

 

Jeff

 

Unless you are certain you won't miss a digital M, why not just find a used film M with a 0.58 vf?Although I usually like the results out of my MP more, I wouldn't want to be without my M240 for sure.

Also, I have an M6 which makes exactly the same photos as the MP but costs a hell of a lot less.

 

Well the M6 has an enjoying flaring issue which could be fixed (price?)

 

I can always buy a MP now that is likely to last forever and buy in a few years time a new digital camera (god knows what will be out there in a few years time)

 

You have to take into account a few things though:

Selling price of the M-E and its currency

In which currency will I buy my new camera + VAT back

[tookaphotoof]

I got a quote from Leica last year somewhere around 400 euro for an upgrade to the MP viewfinder. I must admit that one works better as it really never flares. Somehow I never managed to send it over.

About currencies, you must be more lucky then me at the moment. I so hate the euro...

[250swb]

I got a quote from Leica last year somewhere around 400 euro for an upgrade to the MP viewfinder. I must admit that one works better as it really never flares.

 

On the other hand it really makes you wonder how tens of thousands of photographers managed to use the M6 if focus patch flare was such a big problem?

 

I think the OP has read about flare, possibly even seen the focus patch flare, all without realising it is only a few people that can't get their head around the concept of shifting their eye or slightly shifting the camera. I mean, Leica photography is all about 'focus and compose' or all the photographs made would have the main subject dead centre in the frame. So as focus patch flare may only limit accurate focusing once in every few thousand shots (but far lower odds in my experience) moving the camera to focus or taking half a step to one side isn't going to affect the eventual photograph, it is no more inconvenient than the focus and compose routine that is used all the time.

 

Steve

[tookaphotoof]

I know it's not a big problem to some. That's why I wrote that it costs a lot less than an MP.

Apart from that, to me it is a problem and it happens more than often.

[lysistrata]

I once owned a 0.58 MP, but later switched to a 0.72 MP as I settle down with a cron 35mm + cron 75mm lens combo.

 

The focusing accuracy of a 0.58 finder is not a problem at all.

 

But nowadays you can only get new 0.58 MP via the a la carte program, which is way too expensive.

 

Or, you can patiently wait for a used 0.58 MP.

[DigitalHeMan]

Personally I don't have any issue with the viewfinder flare, but if you are patient you will also see one that has had the upgrade done already on the second hand market.

[jim0266]

I own a .58 MP. Focusing was never an issue. I also have an M6 in which I had the flare fix done many years ago by DAG (Don Goldberg). Before the fix the RF patch flared badly in certain conditions. After the fix it's as flare-proof as the MP.

 

I purchased the the MP because I wear glasses and shoot the 35 most of the time. Lovely machine.

[LarsAC]

I typically use lenses between 28 and 50 on an M. The .58 finder is perfect for that.

 

75 and 90 appears tedious to compose, but I haven't tried.

 

Lars

[teids]

I got a quote from Leica last year somewhere around 400 euro for an upgrade to the MP viewfinder. I must admit that one works better as it really never flares. Somehow I never managed to send it over.

About currencies, you must be more lucky then me at the moment. I so hate the euro...

 

Thank you

 

On the other hand it really makes you wonder how tens of thousands of photographers managed to use the M6 if focus patch flare was such a big problem?

 

I think the OP has read about flare, possibly even seen the focus patch flare, all without realising it is only a few people that can't get their head around the concept of shifting their eye or slightly shifting the camera. I mean, Leica photography is all about 'focus and compose' or all the photographs made would have the main subject dead centre in the frame. So as focus patch flare may only limit accurate focusing once in every few thousand shots (but far lower odds in my experience) moving the camera to focus or taking half a step to one side isn't going to affect the eventual photograph, it is no more inconvenient than the focus and compose routine that is used all the time.

 

Steve

 

Steve, as mentioned, the M6 I am currently using has been landed to me by a good friend. I did not read much about the M6. Maybe you did not experience the problem. I have used my friend s camera and the issue struck me.

Sometimes, Steve, taking a step back and recomposing is enough time for the scene that you wanted to capture to be gone...

I don t believe that focus patch issue is what leads us to focus and recompose.

Apart from that the M6 is a joy to use and having a flare free finder might indeed not be worth the premium of buying a brand new MP a la carte version.

 

I know it's not a big problem to some. That's why I wrote that it costs a lot less than an MP.

Apart from that, to me it is a problem and it happens more than often.

 

Agree

 

I once owned a 0.58 MP, but later switched to a 0.72 MP as I settle down with a cron 35mm + cron 75mm lens combo.

 

The focusing accuracy of a 0.58 finder is not a problem at all.

 

But nowadays you can only get new 0.58 MP via the a la carte program, which is way too expensive.

 

Or, you can patiently wait for a used 0.58 MP.

 

Thank you for the advice

 

Personally I don't have any issue with the viewfinder flare, but if you are patient you will also see one that has had the upgrade done already on the second hand market.

 

Thank you

 

I own a .58 MP. Focusing was never an issue. I also have an M6 in which I had the flare fix done many years ago by DAG (Don Goldberg). Before the fix the RF patch flared badly in certain conditions. After the fix it's as flare-proof as the MP.

 

I purchased the the MP because I wear glasses and shoot the 35 most of the time. Lovely machine.

 

Thank you Jim

 

I typically use lenses between 28 and 50 on an M. The .58 finder is perfect for that.

 

75 and 90 appears tedious to compose, but I haven't tried.

 

Lars

 

Thank you Lars

 

 

------------------------------

 

In the end I decided not to buy an MP a la carte.

 

I will follow some of the members advices and wait to find a used MP/M6/M7 with a .58 finder. The alc option is too expensive for a camera that will deliver the same IQ as other used film camera.

 

With regards to the need of having a digital body, I will wait and see.

 

In the meantime I am lucky that I can still used my friend's M6.

 

Once again thanks to the community for the usual kind help.

Edited April 4, 2015 by teids

[robert blu]

I have an M7 with 0.58 vf which is ok, I mainly us 35 or 50 mm lens with no problems.

I bought the 1,25 magnifier to use with my 75 (CV 2,5) but this is a lens I do not use so much therefore I don't feel able to make appropriate comments.

robert