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Diopter adjustment in old Leicas


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Thanks, Ron,

 

Looking at that diagram and the other illustrations on Rick's site, it's clear that the adjustable-dioptre eyepiece occupies about a third of the thickness of the body and the beam-splitter not much more than half the thickness.

 

Leica's decision to include framelines and perspective correction meant providing a wider angle of view (for the finder as a whole so the 50mm frames could move in it), and also a much more complex optical path. On the M3, they used a small beam-splitter but had to place it at the rear of the finder, close to the (fixed-dioptre) eyepiece, in order to make room for the frame masks. On the M2 and subsequent RF Ms, the design involves a very large beam-splitter. Either way, there simply isn't room for a necessarily bulky variable-dioptre eyepiece.

 

As a matter of interest, what's the eye relief like on the Zorki 3? Is it easy to see the whole 50mm frame when wearing glasses?

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Guest Ron (Netherlands)
As a matter of interest, what's the eye relief like on the Zorki 3? Is it easy to see the whole 50mm frame when wearing glasses?

 

John, none of the (many different types of) Zorki's have build-in framelines. If you would like to compare the range/viewfinder of a Zorki 3 with that of a Leica M, you could instead of buying a Zorki 3 - which are collectors items - acquire a cheap Zorki 4 or 4K which has the same combined view/rangefinder as the Zorki 3. The 4K are offered for about USD 20 - 40.

 

cheers

Ron (sent from Boston airport waiting to get a flight back to Holland)

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Guest Ron (Netherlands)
As a matter of interest, what's the eye relief like on the Zorki 3? Is it easy to see the whole 50mm frame when wearing glasses?

 

John, none of the (many different types of) Zorki's have build-in framelines. If you would like to compare the range/viewfinder of a Zorki 3 with that of a Leica M, you could instead of buying a Zorki 3 - which are collectors items - acquire a cheap Zorki 4 or 4K which has the same combined view/rangefinder as the Zorki 3. The 4K are offered for about USD 20 - 40.

 

cheers

Ron (sent from Boston airport waiting to get a flight back to Holland)

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