Leica 1.4 magnifier

[Paul J]

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A note to any one who buys the magnifier, if you go walking with your camera I would strongly recommend you using the tiny safety chain that comes with it, connected from the magnifier to the strap lug. If you have the camera slung over your shoulder the action of movement as is hits your hip while walking unwinds the magnifier off and it will fall off. This happened to me last week and I had walked for 15 minutes before realising - Luckily I found it again!

[jcraf1]

I have the 1.4 and use it for 50 and above. It is really helpful with my 135. I wear reading glasses but not while photographing.

 

Just returned to this forum and to Leica after a few years in the photographic wilderness...I won't wander again, I promise, and I have now accepted that there 's no point in trying to resist.....

 

Anyhow, just got a nice M9P from Red Dot in London (good old Ivor sold me my first Leica lens many moons ago at Classic Camera). Amongst other lenses, I have acquired a lovely 75 'Lux and an (f1) Noctilux, and naturally want to use these wide open as and when. Like Bill above I wear glasses to read but not to shoot.

 

So my question is 1.25 or 1.4 ? All feedback gratefully received

[jaapv]

Imo? neither.

[jbl]

I have both the 1.25 and 1.4. I initially got the 1.25 and had so-so experiences with it. When I got the 135mm, I decided to add the 1.4 to the cost of the lens. I'm really glad I did. 50mm is by far my most used focal length and the 1.4 really helps with critical focus. I never needed it with film, but the margin of error, especially at f/2 and larger, on digital is much lower. I had kept the 1.4 on my MM and the 1.25 on the M9, but just this week I finally bit the bullet and got a second 1.4.

 

Also, I think the 1.4x design is far superior. I've lost two gaskets on my 1.25x, the 1.4 design just doesn't have the same problem.

 

-jbl