Which viewfinder for 35mm 75mm lens combination? 0.72 or 0.85?

[thrid]

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I'd go for the .72

Way back when my M6ttl had the .85 viewfinder and eventually I had Sherry Krauter convert it to a .72.

I found it impossible to see the 35mm framelines, because they were past the edge of the viewfinder window mask. I would have to shift my eye around and could only really see one side at a time. Obviously this varies from person to person as our eyes are all a little different, but I have heard the same complaint from other shooters.

One solution is to get a .72 and then buy the x1.25 screw in viewfinder magnifier. I have this little gadget and it actually works like a charm for the 75/90/135

 

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[thrid]

9 hours ago, UliWer said:

You are right - in general.

Though during the "digital age" the calibration of the framelights changed a lot.

The original M8 had framelights matching a field of view at 0.7m - like the film M versions since the M2.

With the M 8.2 this was changed to 2m.

The M9 compromised on 1m (which I still think was the most sensible solution).

With the M10 they got back to 2m - though with a slightly larger "magnififaction" of 0.73 instead of 0.72 before. (I am not sure about the M Typ 240).

Actually the M2/M3/M4/M5/M4-2/early M4-P and the MP3 all have the 1 meter mask.

The M6/ M6ttl/M7/MP and all other new film bodies have the .7 meter mask. The exception appears to be the MP3, which seems to have a 1 meter mask. I actually compared a MP3 to my M2/M4 and the frame lines matched. That's a really nice camera by the way, but they have gone way up in price.

Personally I shoot M2/M4/M4-2/M7/M240/M10, so I have had plenty of opportunity to test these.

This has been my pet peeve for about 25 years and I have had more than one debate about this with a Leica rep over the years. Don Goldberg probably dreaded my emails when I had this harebrained idea to cram a M2/M4 mask into an M6/M7 rangefinder. (the meter indicator LED were the big problem...). I think in the end he recommended swapping the M6/M7 unit the new MP rangefinder with a MP3 framemask, but the price was prohibitive.

As a result I never shoot a 50mm on the new .7 bodies, because the framing accuracy is off by a significant margin.

I'm really glad they went back to the 1 meter mask on the digital bodies and 2m works even better in many cases...

 

 

Edited November 1, 2022 by thrid

[Michael Geschlecht]

On 10/31/2022 at 12:12 AM, St Pete Leica said:

Help,

I have the Leica MP and the Summicron 50mm f2 lens.  When mounted, the viewfinder lever sits at 12 o clock "naturally".

You can push the lever towards the lens or away from the lens to see the "other" lens frame lines, should you want to change lens for the shot.

Here is the problem:

I put the 35mm Summicrom f2 lens on and now the frameline lever goes to the 1 o clock position "naturally". So its showing me frame lines of 35mm and 135mm, then I push the viewfinder lever towards the lens to say 11 o clock, and it shows me framelines of 28mm and 90mm.  I can not get it to show me framelines for 50mm 75mm.

Again with the 50mm lens, I can get three sets of framelines, but with the 35mm lens, I can only get two sets of framelines.

Any thoughts why?  Im stumped.

Hello St Pete Leica,

Welcome to the Forum.

When you put the 35mm lens on the camera & you move the frame line lever to somewhere around the 12 o'clock position: When going back & forth SLOWLY from the 1 o'clock position to the 11 o'clock position: Do you see the 50mm & 75mm frame lines appear & then disappear? Even for a short time?

By the way, Does the 35mm lens "click" into place the same way that the 50mm lens does? Also, is the center line for the depth of field indicator on the lens, near the camera body, up at the top when both the 50mm lens & the 35mm lens are mounted?

Best Regards,

Michael

Edited November 1, 2022 by Michael Geschlecht

[a.noctilux]

I adopt same as @thrid solution after having two x0.85 M for many years, still have one M6 HM (less use now).

0.72 is fine for me and with M-A no other choice.

My first M4 is also 0.72 maybe I see the world this way "through M VF".

When I use mag. x1.25 for longer focal length for some time, I wish having 0.85 VF but in real use, the 0.72 + 1.25 x is fine.

[Ouroboros]

MP .72 with a 1.4x Leica vf magnifier when I'm using the two 50mm lenses (zm c-sonnar f1.5 and Voigtlander Heliar Classic f1.5) that I tend to use only at maximum aperture, I also use it as a matter of course with my 75mm & 90mm apo-summicrons.   

It works very well but slightly reduces vf brightness.

[Huss]

1 hour ago, Ouroboros said:

MP .72 with a 1.4x Leica vf magnifier when I'm using the two 50mm lenses (zm c-sonnar f1.5 and Voigtlander Heliar Classic f1.5) that I tend to use only at maximum aperture, I also use it as a matter of course with my 75mm & 90mm apo-summicrons.   

It works very well but slightly reduces vf brightness.

It does work well but I find it is a real eye poker if you're not careful!

[St Pete Leica]

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16 hours ago, Michael Geschlecht said:

Hello St Pete Leica,

Welcome to the Forum.

When you put the 35mm lens on the camera & you move the frame line lever to somewhere around the 12 o'clock position: When going back & forth SLOWLY from the 1 o'clock position to the 11 o'clock position: Do you see the 50mm & 75mm frame lines appear & then disappear? Even for a short time?

By the way, Does the 35mm lens "click" into place the same way that the 50mm lens does? Also, is the center line for the depth of field indicator on the lens, near the camera body, up at the top when both the 50mm lens & the 35mm lens are mounted?

Best Regards,

Michael

Thank you Michael for your tips.

Yes, it seems unlike the 50mm lens where you press the preview frame line lever left or right from the 12 o clock position to preview the other lens frame lines, when one uses the 35mm, you can only go one direction from its naturally set 1 o clock position, towards the lens. 

I was pushing it towards the lens until it stopped and did not realize if you push it "a little" towards the lens, the 50mm and 75mm frame lines appear. Who would have thunk?

I did not read that procedure in the owners manual or overlooked it if it were there, but things are now fine, thank you.

[edstock]

I know that this is a very late response to the question. I like 35 f2 asp and 75 f1.4 combination. For me they both work fine with a .72 magnification. Even wearing glasses I did not have any problem. Since my cataract surgery several years ago I don't need glasses for distance viewing. It is a pleasure to be able to put my eye up next to the VF.