Walterrxeyepice on M9

[erlingmm]

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I'm eager to see how you make out in the cold erlingmm. Personally, it hasn't really been cold enough around here, but I'm leaving for Europe tomorrow and I understand snow is on the menu for Monday... I'll report back as well.

 

The Walter RX Eyepiece review.

 

Will try the coming weekend, expecting -10C

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[swamiji]

Well, Mine arrived, I am putting it through it's paces now. So far I am pretty impressed. It does fog, under certain circumstances, but not more than the Leica Viewfinder Magnifier. I have found that if I hold the camera up to my eye, it's starts to fog, after 20 or 30 seconds. I will report fully after I have completed my testing.

[Leica8888]

For those of you who have ordered the eyepiece, what prescription did you use? Normally I receive a prescription from my optometrist that corrects my vision at a distance of 20 feet--i.e., 20-20 vision. I was advised by a friend that the Leica M9 viewfinder focuses at around 2 meters, and that the prescription I should send is, thus, for my eyesight at the same distance. Any thoughts?

[swamiji]

I gave the same prescription as for my normal/reading glasses.

[gpwhite]

I have done the same... sending Jean-Louis my standard Rx for my shooting eye (left). I find that the acuity of my vision drops off at about 1.2m (or nearly four feet), which I think is typical for those of us needing distance correction.

 

My Walterrxeyepiece is on its way, so I hope to make some comment in a week or two. One of my favorite lenses is the 135 APO Telyt, which should offer a challenge for my focusing with the new eyepiece.

 

Peter

[Double Negative]

I normally only need glasses for reading (thus close distance) so I just sent Jean-Louis the prescription for my right (shooting) eye. It doesn't need to be 100% dead-on even.

 

While I could get away with magnification or diopter adjustment - it's the astigmatism correction that really sets the Walter RX Eyepiece apart and what made all the difference for me.

 

I'll be out in the cold again today so I'll make a point of noting any fogging. I totally spaced it when I was out earlier this week... But don't recall too much issue with fogging. Though I did have my camera around my neck it was inside my coat (keeping it fairly warm as it was quite chilly out).

[swamiji]

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I was so impressed, that I decided to do a review:

 

 

When I was 40 I developed cataracts. During the time that the cataracts developed, I gave up photography. After the surgeries, and all the various treatments were complete, my vision started to settle down, and I started to shoot again. At this point I felt my vision was pretty good, and since I had always enjoyed rangefinders, I bought my first Leica. I have used the Leica Correction Lens and the Leica Viewfinder Magnifier, with minimal success. Basically, I simply wore my Glasses. The problems with glasses with rangefinder cameras are well known to all who wear glasses. You have a choice of seeing the frame-lines or see in focus, especially for lenses 35mm or wider. But even then, there is a sense of distance from the entire viewfinder experience.

 

My vision is not bad, I can pass the drivers test and read a menu without glasses. But to focus accurately requires glasses. My right lens on my glasses is severely scratched from my M9. I have tried to train myself to focus without glasses, but the photo's always came out soft. Even with glasses, if I focus with the wrong part of my lens, the image was out of focus (progressive lenses). So it was always a struggle with accurate focus. This is the "Lot" of poor vision with a rangefinder camera... So I thought...

 

Over the last month or so I have been hearing about a new eyepiece, called WalterRX, which correct not just for the diopter, but for astigmatism. So after emailing a copy of my prescription for my shooting eye, I ordered one. Apparently production and sales are quite separated. Walter is the inventor and the optician in the background, and Jean-Louis Beek is the person is the person in charge of sales. Jean-Louis is wonderful to work with, and most accommodating to most any reasonable request. Jean-Louis Beek also runs another web business called Cameratique Vintage collectible rare classic antique cameras while the WalterRX can be found at Walter RX Leica M rangefinder astigmatism rotating eyepiece | Leica M9 M9-P astigmatism rotating eyepiece diopter correction lens, fits rangefinder M8 digital M7 M6 M5 M4 M3 M2 leitz analog cameras.

 

So after a several weeks, I received the eyepiece. There are two reasons it took so long. The first is that it takes time to create the custom lens, and the second is the business is out of South Africa, and I live in Central China. Installation is simple, after cleaning your viewfinder window, you slip the eyepiece over it. Tighten the screw slightly just so it grasps the rim of the viewfinder window without putting pressure on it, and your done.

 

Using the eyepiece is also simple, just shoot. One caveat, don't expect to have accurate vision while standing on your head while shooting. The special part of this eyepiece is the ability to keep the eyepiece tilted vertically no matter what position the camera is in. So as long as you stay vertical, your vision will be corrected accurately. The build quality is excellent, the bearings are smooth, and it rotates effortlessly.

 

So the first day, I went out to my usual haunts shot the events that were my usual, except no glasses. This day I had my Summilux 75mm, and Summilux 35mm. I was shooting mostly portraits and street. The lens I started with was the 75mm, and I notices two things, first I could see the focus patch more clearly, and it took less time to find the sweet spot. The photos were sharp, better than I had seen with the 75mm Lux. I had always accepted it as a soft lens, but now I found out it was me.... Argh. The 35mm frame lines were well within the viewfinder window, and performed as always. The Summilux 35mm is a pretty accommodating lens.

 

The second day, I took out my f/1 Noctilux and my 135mm Tele-Elmar. Both of these lenses can be focusing nightmares, in there own way. Again without glasses, to the usual haunts, and again the fine detail of the focusing patch were made clear. I was able to see with greater accuracy than even when I was wearing glasses. I think this due to the narrow focus patch of the progressive lenses.

 

The third day, I took my Macro-Elmar 90mm with adapter to the park to shoot some flowers, primarily to see how the eyepiece would work with the goggles on the adapter. I found the vision clear, and focusing accurate. Each one of these test was done over several hours of shooting, not just a few minutes. I found my keeper rate greatly improved.

 

The experience of using the WalterRX eyepiece, is much like using the Leica viewfinder magnifier, except there is no reduction in the viewing of the frame-lines, and of course no magnification. There is a very slight reduction in brightness, but is offset by the increased sharpness. Like using the Leica viewfinder magnifier, under certain circumstances there is a slight tendency to fog, but simply wiping off the eyepiece with a lens cloth, and your off and running.

 

This eyepiece is expensive, but for glasses wearer, it's a godsend. To help offset the cost, it's designed so if your vision changes, it can be updated by your optician.

[algrove]

Thanks for taking the time to make your post.

 

So Swamiji, if I had only taken a micro-fiber cleaning cloth while out in the cold, it seems the fogging issue would have disappeared. Good to know.

[swamiji]

Yes, it's been cold here, and fogging has been pretty consistent. It seems to happen more when I am waiting, holding the camera to my eye for an extended period, just waiting for an event to happen. I just wipe the eyepiece, and wait some more...

[Double Negative]

Try as I might, it just hasn't been cold enough here in Germany (10C) and I've been keeping my camera (around my neck) tucked into my coat between shots... No fogging yet.

 

Try an old SCUBA diving/snorkeling trick - wet your finger (on your tongue) and wipe the eyepiece once or twice (and dry it with a T-shirt or something, yuck). The saliva tends to inhibit fogging. For the squeamish, you can get anti-fogging treatments for eyeglasses which should also work...

[algrove]

I am in colder than at home weather in Paris. Last night I took a few outdoor shots. I had no fogging this time, but between shots I kept the camera around my neck and under my ski parka at all times except when framing, shooting or focusing. So far I have not found it necessary to use scuba diving techniques for anti-fogging.

 

This contrasts to the first time I used my Walter Eye piece in about 40 degree weather and it fogged, but I did not keep it in my jacket between shots, then.

[swamiji]

Their might some point to that, when it was fogging, I left the camera out on a table between shots. The humidity was fairly high, and it was about 8 degrees.

[algrove]

It is brutally cold to me here today-well under 10- and no fogging issues by using under the ski parka technique.

[businessasusual]

I am in colder than at home weather in Paris. Last night I took a few outdoor shots. I had no fogging this time, but between shots I kept the camera around my neck and under my ski parka at all times except when framing, shooting or focusing. So far I have not found it necessary to use scuba diving techniques for anti-fogging.

 

This contrasts to the first time I used my Walter Eye piece in about 40 degree weather and it fogged, but I did not keep it in my jacket between shots, then.

 

 

I cut a thin slither of potato and run that inside my swimming goggles - then rinse them and no fog, absolutely none. (I do this before every swim) This may work here too! (been following this thread because I too have problems with eyesight). Thanks for review, comforting when parting with this money after buying magnifier, correction lens and the magnifier from Japan.

[gpwhite]

Today, my Walterrxeyepiece arrived in Northern California. Installation took four, maybe five seconds. I wanted to post a couple of quick first impressions from using my eyepiece on my M9. It will take some time shooting with different lenses to develop a detailed report.

 

I have been using Leica magnifiers and diopters for a long time in order to achieve proper focusing... my approach, most of the time, is to shoot at 1/2 to 2 stops from maximum aperture. All of those layers of magnifiers and diopters screwed into the viewfinder reduced its brightness and "openness" quite a bit. When I read about the functionality of the Walterrxeyepiece, I thought "Oh, finally!"

 

The new rxeyepiece certainly satisfies my principal goal. The viewfinder is equally bright with and without the rxeyepiece, so I am getting correction for my vision problem without any noticeable cost to the brilliance of the M viewfinder. The 28 framelines, which are only marginally visible to me when foveating the focus patch, are slightly obscured by the rxeyepiece... but this is hardly a problem. In terms of brightness and coverage, therefore, I find the the rxeyepiece to be far superior to the Leica diopters. Also, my first reaction is that it is much easier to see the focus patch "pop," as it should.

 

I do not have enough of a sample to comment much on whether the rxeyepiece also improves focus assistance over the Leica diopters. After just a few shots using the rxeyepiece and my 50 SX ASPH in lowish light (maybe EV12 or 13 and no magnifier), it is obvious that the rxeyepiece works as well as the diopters. After I shoot a bit with my 135 Telyt and 85 ZM Sonnar, I will have information about using the rxeyepiece (and no magnifier) with lenses that are more challenging for me to focus precisely.

 

Peter

[Double Negative]

^ Spot-on, Peter - from the "pop" of the focus patch to the minimally impacted brightness and FoV.

 

Since diopter correction lenses (and obviously magnifiers) only really magnify - they do nothing for astigmatism (which was more of a concern for me than magnification). All they do is magnify the blur.

 

I have absolutely no problems focusing f/1.1, f/1.4 or longer (e.g. 90-135mm) lenses. I was kind of lucky before and did fairly well with them, but now - no question, dead-on every time.

 

Now that I've had the eyepiece for a while and schlepped the camera all over the place with it fitted, the edges are starting to brass.

[erlingmm]

Sorry for being late to report back, too busy Left camera in car today in -5C, took it inside to +23, no fog problem, have not tested the other way around.

[erlingmm]

Out in -7 for 3 hours today, no fog problems, but the air is dry in Norwegian mountains.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[algrove]

Was out in Paris last night and it fogged again for the first time, but not had any problems with fogging for over one week. After it fogged I held the camera away from my face for like 10 seconds until fogging went away and all OK.

 

I must have must also say that I have now noticed that I leave much oil on the Walter eye piece, like is common on the screen due to nose oils. After wiping it away with a micro fiber cloth, my vision (and therefore rapidity of focusing for me) improved a lot. Just mentioned this as it might be something for other Walter eye piece users to be aware of during shooting. When I really get into it, often I am not thinking of anything else other than what I am shooting.

[Double Negative]

It's worth pointing out that the eyepiece comes with a microfiber cloth for cleaning, but of course you can always use a t-shirt, too...