Bifocals and focusing

[skimmel]

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When you focus an M camera using the center patch, is your eye focusing at the same distance that you are viewing the scene, or does this require more close-up viewing? I believe it's the former, but can't be sure -- I am heading towards bifocals (or progressives) and am curious as to whether I would use the far distance or the near focusing part of the glasses? (I'm near sited).

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[carcam]

I shouldn't be replying since I can't remember exactly... but it's not at the far distance that you're looking at or the near distance of the RF. The exact distance eludes me but it's about 7 ft. I was also concerned. I had LASIK and need reading glasses for close up but I can focus clearly through the RF. I did get the 1.25x viewfinder magnifier which helps. The exact right answer is on this board if you can search and find it.

[skimmel]

Thanks. I found this thread:

 

http://www.leica-camera-user.com/digital-forum/13613-m8-bifocals.html?highlight=bifocals

 

There was never a "final answer" about the distance that they focus patch appears. But, it looks like a few people do well with their glasses, although some use the distance part and some use the intermediate part of their seamless glasses.

 

If anyone has more info on this I'd really appreciate it. Thanks.

[Guest Metroman]

Stephen - I cannot give you the definitive answer - it's out there some where! I wear bifocals and use the upper (distance) part of the lens. Which was OK but I got the 1.25x magnifier with a built in dioptic adjustment and it certainly helps. I can use the dioptic adjustment for use either with glasses or without.

 

There are a couple of current threads running on the magnifier here and another here.

[Shootist]

The whole viewfinder including the rangefinder patch is set at a distance of 2 meters, about 7 feet.

So place a object at 7 feet away from you and see what part of your glasses gives you the best focus of that object 7 feet away from you and use that when focusing the M.

 

You may also want to consider a Leica diopter lens and take your glasses of when using the camera. That is what I do.

[skimmel]

Stephen - I cannot give you the definitive answer - it's out there some where! I wear bifocals and use the upper (distance) part of the lens. Which was OK but I got the 1.25x magnifier with a built in dioptic adjustment and it certainly helps. I can use the dioptic adjustment for use either with glasses or without.

 

There are a couple of current threads running on the magnifier here and another here.

 

Thanks! I think I may go that route (1.25 magnifier) and bifocals. Probably won't get dioptic adjustment because I find taking my glasses on and off is awkward.

[skimmel]

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The whole viewfinder including the rangefinder patch is set at a distance of 2 meters, about 7 feet.

So place a object at 7 feet away from you and see what part of your glasses gives you the best focus of that object 7 feet away from you and use that when focusing the M.

 

 

Thanks! I'll try that.

[jfaier]

i believe the viewfinder is corrected to -.6 (for distance) (but a healthy eye can handle this slight correction. Older eyes, have less elasticity in the lense and so, if you are wearign reading glasses, you may benefit from a +0.5 diopter.

[Shootist]

i believe the viewfinder is corrected to -.6 (for distance) (but a healthy eye can handle this slight correction. Older eyes, have less elasticity in the lense and so, if you are wearign reading glasses, you may benefit from a +0.5 diopter.

 

Well it states in the documentation that the viewfinder is a -.5. Whether it is truely -.5 or -.6 doesn't really make to much of a difference.

I wear +1.5 reading glasses for normal close up viewing distances, 14"-16" out to about 2 feet. For closer work I switch to +1.75 or double up my glasses (Just call me 6 eyes). But for the proper correction for the M8, and all my M3's, I use a +1 Leica diopter. That is because the Leica viewfinder is set at a distance of 2 meters, about 7 feet, and at that distance, or farther, I normally don't wear any glasses. But with the Leica -.5 internal correction I found I needed something to make the viewfinder and rangefinder patch to be more in focus.

[jfaier]

yes exactly. i find the +.5 suits me better than the +1 but i think its the same idea. Maybe its the M7 that is -.6. But -.6 or -.5 is close enough for government work. :-)