Viewfinder -0.5 diopter

[t024484]

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The viewfnder of the M8 is for whatever strange reason -0.5 diopter.

Since my left eye has exactly zero deviation, this -0.5 makes the image unsharp and difficult to focus especially when using my 75mm tele.

I have the extra 1.25 magnifier ( which costs more than 200,- Euro, wow !! ), but this magnifier does not make things better.

I could buy a correction lens from Leica with +0.5 to compensate for the -0.5, but then I cannot use the 1.25 magnifier anymore as I am told.

A solution would be to wear spectacles with +0.5, but this is a bit silly.

Anybody else having this problem ?

[Englander]

Hans,

You CAN screw the diopters into the back of the Leica 1.25. I am using it that way.

 

Joe

[Shootist]

Yes the 1.25x magnifier has threads to accept a diopter lens.

Although I have the 1.25x I very rarely ever use it. I do use a +1 diopter always, either screwed in to the normal eye piece or into the magnifier.

[stunsworth]

Hans, after using an M2/3/6 for several years when my eyesight was better I'd say that the problem lies at your end with your eyes. I can't believe that Leica have got this wrong for 50+ years without anyone noticing. If I were you I'd have my eyes tested :-)

[t024484]

Hans, after using an M2/3/6 for several years when my eyesight was better I'd say that the problem lies at your end with your eyes. I can't believe that Leica have got this wrong for 50+ years without anyone noticing. If I were you I'd have my eyes tested :-)

 

I had my left eye tested, and it had a deviation of 0.00

I was also surprised for that at my age.

My optician did not have +0.5 in stock, but he lent me a +0.25.

This already is a noticable step in the right direction, so I think +0.5 is about right for me.

So for me, Leica did it wrong.

 

It would have been even better to have an adjustable eyepiece like my Canon 1D has.

This would be my suggestion for improvement for the sucessor of the M8.

[Englander]

Steve,

I do not have the tech data for the M2/3/6 at my finger tips, but a quick look on the tech specs on Leica site confirms what Hans has experienced. Both the M7 and the M8 are -.5 diopter finders.

 

Viewfinder

Viewfinder principleLarge light bright line frame viewfinder/rangefinder with automatic parallax compensation.

Viewfinder lens optimal visibility of all bright line frames whatever the lighting situation. EyepieceCoordinated to

-0.5 dpt. Correction lenses available from –3 to +3 dpt

 

Joe

[stunsworth]

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Joe, I thought that was to make the frame lines etc. in the viewfinder to appear as if they were .7m away - I may have got this distance slightly wrong. My understanding is that they have used -.5 since the M3 in the 1950s, though I'm prepared to be corrected on this.

[Englander]

Steve,

I don't know why they do it and I don't know how long they have done it, but for my eyes, adding a +.5 makes everything MUCH clearer including the focusing patch. When I use the 1.25, I add the +.5 to it also and it is clearer, too. The choice of -.5 must have some strategy behind it and it must work for most people; but for some of us, it makes things worse and we are glad that a solution is provided to clear things up.

 

I honestly did not notice the problem with the M3, 4 or 6. But, ah, I was so much younger then....

 

Joe