Issues with reading the viewfinder

[Pelesit]

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Hi all,

 

my father in law is getting older and starts having problems focusing his M240 due to deteriorating eyesight. He is looking for ways to make up for it and asked for help. I can think of three alternatives

1. Visoflex EVF2
2. 1.25/1.4x magnifier ring
3. changing the viewfinder to 0.85?

What do you think is the best option? Is the last one even an alternative? 

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[a.noctilux]

#3 not possible x0.85 VF with M240.

a - I would try first in a Leica Store the diopter correction ( in 0.5δ increment from -3δ to +3δ ).

b - Maybe with EVF2, the possibility to fine-tune the "eye correction" also to try out in a Leica Dealer.

c - Empty ring (not easy to obtain) to be equipped by your optician/optometrist

[Jeff S]

A magnifier will magnify problems and possibly reduce contrast.  My 1.25x magnifier has stayed in a drawer for years after needless purchase. Better to ensure vision is first optimally corrected for any astigmatism and for distance, recognizing that the focus patch is set at a virtual distance of 2m.  

Even with glasses, aging eyes can sometimes benefit from additional diopter correction.  I wear glasses to correct for astigmatism and distance, but also use a +.5 diopter for optimal viewing (the M VF has a minus .5 correction built in).  If not near a dealer that stocks them, local opticians often carry free trial diopters for testing, as  I did to find an ideal solution.

For me, an M is best used as an RF camera, at least with lenses from 28-90mm.  If I couldn’t use RF focusing, I’d choose a different camera system.  But that’s me; others have a different approach.

Jeff

Edited October 21, 2019 by Jeff S

[pico]

In my experience Leica's diopters darken the viewfinder just enough to make them ineffective when you need a bright image the most. An EVF is a good idea.

Edited October 21, 2019 by pico

[Pelesit]

Thanks!

 

i think his eyesight is not the issue as he recently got new prescription glasses. A diopter might help at the margin, but I don’t expect much from it as he was always wearing glasses and his prescription is stable. The issue seems to be more due to the focus patch overall being too small which doesn’t make it easier. That’s why I thought that a magnifier might help

[a.noctilux]

With EVF2, no more focus patch but possibility to see the center portion x10 to help focussing, but no more 'M experience'.

I used the x1.25 and x1.4 magnifier for some lenses, Noctilux or Summilux 75mm, but the 'focus accuracy' is not very good if wide open.

As said, the patch is optically at 2meter, if the prescription or accommodation is not perfect at 2m, that may be corrected by a well choosen diopter.

[ECohen]

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23 hours ago, Pelesit said:

Hi all,

 

my father in law is getting older and starts having problems focusing his M240 due to deteriorating eyesight. He is looking for ways to make up for it and asked for help. I can think of three alternatives

1. Visoflex EVF2
2. 1.25/1.4x magnifier ring
3. changing the viewfinder to 0.85?

What do you think is the best option? Is the last one even an alternative? 

 

I had trouble focusing the 240 at first .... A +4 diopter did the trick.

 

If your Father in Laws eyesight is not what it used to be, why not consider trading in the 240 kit for a CL kit.

Less weight and easier to focus. I'm sure the APC sensor difference/quality won't matter.

 

Seems like a win win on all fronts?

 

In full disclosure ...I don't own the CL as yet, but I'm close.

 

I did take the 240 on a nice long hike today.

Not working professionally and getting a bit older I'm betting the CL will fill all my needs....these days.

I wished I had a zoom. I shot with the 50 most of the time and a 28 occasionally.....could have used the 90 but I didn't feel like changing the lens.

 

Frankly auto focus would have made the walk/shoot  more enjoyable and more productive.

 

I know ..... it doesn't answer your original question.

 

[Jeff S]

3 hours ago, Pelesit said:

Thanks!

 

i think his eyesight is not the issue as he recently got new prescription glasses. A diopter might help at the margin, but I don’t expect much from it as he was always wearing glasses and his prescription is stable. The issue seems to be more due to the focus patch overall being too small which doesn’t make it easier. That’s why I thought that a magnifier might help

His prescription may not have been optimized for 2m (the focus patch distance), while his younger eyes may have more easily accommodated any discrepancy.  The +.5 diopter helped my aging eyes more than imagined.  Always better to try than assume.  A magnifier will work best after all else is optimized, although loss of contrast is possible.

Another, albeit more expensive, option is to try the M10, since the VF has higher magnification, a larger opening and better eye relief for eyeglass users.

Jeff

Edited October 21, 2019 by Jeff S

[Stealth3kpl]

The problem might not be that he needs a more accurate spectacle prescription or viewfinder diopter correction, it might be that he has cataract or a retinal dysfunction. It might be that the evf is the best route to pursue or an autofocus camera.

Pete

[ECohen]

IMO the lag time with the EVF on the 240 takes the spontaneity out of shooting...... great for macro.

 

[too old to care]

On 10/21/2019 at 5:51 PM, ECohen said:

IMO the lag time with the EVF on the 240 takes the spontaneity out of shooting...... great for macro.

 

I agree.  When I am in a hurry I zone focus.  I've been doing that for years with my Rollie 35, I find it easier than focusing in low light.  I do like the electronic viewfinder with the macro lens though, much better than looking at the display.  

[leicameech]

On 10/20/2019 at 2:39 PM, Pelesit said:

Hi all,

 

my father in law is getting older and starts having problems focusing his M240 due to deteriorating eyesight. He is looking for ways to make up for it and asked for help. I can think of three alternatives

1. Visoflex EVF2
2. 1.25/1.4x magnifier ring
3. changing the viewfinder to 0.85?

What do you think is the best option? Is the last one even an alternative? 

Not to be cheeky, but perhaps a fourth option would be to get an SL.. amazing viewfinder blows the EVF2 (and newer Visoflex for M10/TL/T cameras, for that matter) out of the water, while giving all the advantages of using the EVF2. Can use M lenses with the adapter and not have a camera that's *that* much bigger than the 240 (more like 240 with a handgrip, size/weight-wise) plus the ability to shoot at 6400 ISO + with less noise than the M240. Rumors of new SL are driving the price of the original down, and he could probably sell his M240 for ~2500-3000 while picking an SL up for not much more used. 

Otherwise, +1 to EVF2. Probably the most effective option, with some degree of diopter adjustment built in. 

[rsolomon]

BTW which lenses he he using ? certainly some are easier , quicker , faster to focus 

[sblutter]

I've had the same problem for years.  One technique that works for me is looking for something to easily focus on in the same movement arc then recomposing. 

Another is to focus the best I can then snap quite a few while very slightly leaning in & out - and picking the best later on a large screen.  No shame in that, and at least one of a group of 50mm f:1.4's will be bang on

I've collected a quite a bag of diopters over my 50yrs shooting M's.  My hit rate went up not using them, which caused me to devise the above.

FYI, I shoot with my glasses on

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