leica M viewfinder difference

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leica viewfinder have 3 choice : 0.58x / 0.72x / 0.85x

can you help me understand the difference?

is there any effect for using different lens ( wide or tele )

i know that it's gonna be the same with 35mm or 50mm lens.

M9 have 0.68x viewfinder, are the frame line of M9 gonna be the same with 0.58x or 0.85x?

thanks.

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Leica Viewfinder & Rangefinders

[adan]

1. A HIGHER magnification makes it easier to see if the rangefinder images are exactly aligned - making for more precise focusing. (.85x)

 

2. A LOWER magnification shows more scenery within the finder, making it a better choice if one primarily uses wide-angle lenses (.58x) especially 28mm.

 

3. The .72x finder is the compromise solution - allows use of a 28 (just barely), more precise than a .58x finder for focusing, not as precise as a .85x finder for focusing.

 

4. The .68x finder in the M8/M9 is equivalent to the .72x - just very slightly wider to compensate for the extra thickness of the digital bodies (which adds some "tunnel vision" to the viewfinder). I.E. the thick bodies make the view less wide - the .04x magnification reduction restores the effective wideness of the view.

 

The ONLY finder available for the M9 is .68x - so there is no "choice" involved

 

For film cameras (A La Carte) choose .72x for the greatest flexibility, .58x if you work primarily with wide lenses, and .85x if you don't need 28 framing and DO expect to use the fast teles a lot (90 f/2, 75 f/1.4, 135).

[budrichard]

For a film M, if you use anything wider than a 28mm lens, the finder magnification does not matter. An external finder must be used for any lens wider than 28mm and it works exactly the same on any M.

Therefore the 0.58 finder supplies no additional advantage for these wide angle's as the 0.58 finder is not used for composition.-Dick