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A Leica 21-24-28 OVF Diopter question


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I am wondering if anyone knows of any kind of diopter that can fit to the Leica 21-24-28 clip-on VF. I bought one used last year and as I favour WA lenses with the M cameras I find it a very useful accessory, or at least would do so much more if I could find a diopter for it.

The OVF works fine when using my glasses, ( +2.75 reading glasses ), but as I use my M's without wearing the glasses having to have the glasses available to use the OVF clearly is somewhat of a drag.

I can't find any mention of an available diopter in Leica's catalogues, even though the small eyepiece is in fact threaded.

So, has anyone else come up against this, any "cure"?

Edited by petermullett
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Hello Peter,

The viewfinder (mine 12014) 21-24-28 has the same thread as M body, so the same diopter can be used.

Ref from 14350 to 14359 to be tried on your VF before pourchase in your nearest Leica shop.

 

 

Ah...thanks for this, On reading your reply I checked my viewfinder and found the model number, mine is 12013......so perhaps 12014 has a different eyepiece than the 12013 because I cannot see where any diopter can be mounted on my model. I guess Leica updated that omission when they bought out the 12014.

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12013 black model for more info see Wiki here : https://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/12013

where we read this : ..." As an alternative, it is also possible to use M system correction lenses"...

 

12014 is silver

otherwise same VF.

 

again, thanks!

Your research on this is way better than my efforts!

I will send an email off to Leica / Wetzlar and see what they have to say.......Will let you know if I get anything useful back from them

a'bientot!

Peter

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again, thanks!

Your research on this is way better than my efforts!

I will send an email off to Leica / Wetzlar and see what they have to say.......Will let you know if I get anything useful back from them

a'bientot!

Peter

Is there a diopter already installed?
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It is barely visible and they have a tendency to bind quite badly on this viewfinder.

 

 

It has to be small then if it's inside the eyepiece, and if that's the case I can understand why it might be hard to switch out, ( if there are other diopter strengths available ), maybe this is a job for Leica service. I will wait until I hear back from Customer Service at Wetzlar.

Thanks for the responses...........

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12013 black model for more info see Wiki here : https://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/12013

where we read this : ..." As an alternative, it is also possible to use M system correction lenses"...

 

12014 is silver

otherwise same VF.

 

 

well I got this from Leica yesterday:

 

Dear Sir,

 

many thanks for your inquiry.

Unfortunately, there is no correction lens or dioptric attachment for this viewfinder , i regret.

 

Do not hesitate to contact me again if you have further questions.

 

 

 

Mit freundlichen Gruessen / kind regards

 

Peter Brieger

 

 

So that's a pity, but it seems that we cannot correct the viewfinder's diopter, at least not with anything from Leica........

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You can use a view finder correction lens on the Leica universal finder sometimes called the franken finder. I use this finder with a -2 diopter. Try to find your correction lens for it first. The correction lens can be a little difficult to find. It uses the old R camera diopter lens made of plastic. It works fine. Leica Germany sent me a diopter fee of charge some years back. Good luck.

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Very strange.

 

Maybe some change in the VF in it's production life.

 

Just try on mine a magnifier x1.25 (that means nothing in real use) I screw in the rear of 12014.

The thread on the 12014 VF is the same size as M (before M10) VF and the loupe thread inside as if it was M body VF.

 

Seen on line the threaded rear view of 12013:

 

Same as mine 12014 thread

 

 

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Very strange.

 

Maybe some change in the VF in it's production life.

 

Just try on mine a magnifier x1.25 (that means nothing in real use) I screw in the rear of 12014.

The thread on the 12014 VF is the same size as M (before M10) VF and the loupe thread inside as if it was M body VF.

 

Seen on line the threaded rear view of 12013:

 

Same as mine 12014 thread

 

 

attachicon.gif12013_rearview.jpg

 

 

Well you're right, there does seem to be a change between the two versions.....yours has the ability to take a diopter and my earlier one doesn't........Ah well, if I'd have known beforehand I'd have waited to find the 12014 with the diopter ring, fooled again!

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Is there a diopter already installed?

 

I think the same as Exodies.

As you had your VF second hand, maybe there is a diopter in from the former user.

Please check if you can unscrew (as gentle as you can of course).

 

 

Seen a review :

https://luminous-landscape.com/21-24-38vf/

 

Though Leica claims that  the viewfinder is suitable for wearers of eyeglass I find this to be marginal at best. Curiously though, I find that with this viewfinder I don’t need to wear my glasses at all. Since my prescription is+1.5this means that the viewfinder must have approximately this diopter setting so as to be able to give me a clear unaided view. I guess Leica assumes that all its customers are middle aged and nearsighted.

 

And I've seen images of 12013/14 from the web, all view from rear are threaded as mine.

Edited by a.noctilux
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Very strange.

 

Maybe some change in the VF in it's production life.

 

Just try on mine a magnifier x1.25 (that means nothing in real use) I screw in the rear of 12014.

The thread on the 12014 VF is the same size as M (before M10) VF and the loupe thread inside as if it was M body VF.

 

Seen on line the threaded rear view of 12013:

 

Same as mine 12014 thread

 

 

attachicon.gif12013_rearview.jpg

 

 

Again a.noctilux, thanks for going to so much trouble over this, really appreciated.

But yes, your photo' looks identical to my VF here, it's the same as I sent to Leica with the model number etc etc and then received the reply that I copied in my post a few back.

But then, out of the blue today I got this further message from Leica, here it is:

 

Dear Mr. Mullett,

 

because I have something confused ,my mistake.........

 

I assume that you use this viewfinder?

 

***( the photo' they sent is attached to this post )

 

This viewfinder has a thread for the M correction lenses.

A version without thread is not known to me or my colleagues.

 

since the correction lenses only have +2 or +3 gradings, you will need one

with + 3.0.

That would be the order number 14354 Correction lens + 3,0

 

 

 

Mit freundlichen Gruessen / kind regards 

 

Peter Brieger 

Leica Camera AG 

Customer Care 

 

 

So I'm going to try the diopter that they suggest and will see what happens............

Again thank you very much for your helpful thoughts on this mystery!

 

a'bientot

 

Peter

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Edited by petermullett
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did you perhaps attempt to use an M10 diopter? - that is larger than the original M diopters.

 

Anyway, when you screw the diopter in, put a smidgen of silicone grease on the threads. They have been known to weld the thread together.

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did you perhaps attempt to use an M10 diopter? - that is larger than the original M diopters.

 

Anyway, when you screw the diopter in, put a smidgen of silicone grease on the threads. They have been known to weld the thread together.

 

 

Thanks  jaapv, yes I knew the M10's eyepiece is larger, and unfortunately I don't have and didn't need any diopters for my other M's, ( 240/MM1/M7/M4P ), that I can try out but I will order one from Leica and see if it will indeed fit the VF and do the job for me........If not, it goes back and the VF will probably go up for sale.

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  • 2 months later...

Very strange.

 

Maybe some change in the VF in it's production life.

 

Just try on mine a magnifier x1.25 (that means nothing in real use) I screw in the rear of 12014.

The thread on the 12014 VF is the same size as M (before M10) VF and the loupe thread inside as if it was M body VF.

 

Seen on line the threaded rear view of 12013:

 

Same as mine 12014 thread

 

 

attachicon.gif12013_rearview.jpg

 

 

Well at long last I solved this, and yes a.noctilux you were absolutely correct, this finder does take diopters, the earlier sized ones for the M/M9/MM & 240's,  not the M10 size. I just wasn't looking closely enough, or more than likely it was the eyesight!

I've fitted a +2 diopter to this finder, and to the rest of my M's too including the M10. Spent a small fortune on kitting them all out but what a difference, I can actually see clearly through all the viewfinders!

Boggles the mind how I put up without them before............Thanks again!

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