Using a magnifier on m9

[bonjac]

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I am new to this.  I acquired an older m9 and it came with two magnifiers, 1.25 and 1.35.  I have no idea how to use these.  Are they additive to the existing eyepiece or is the original removed and the magnifier substituted for it.

[M9reno]

Each is additive, as you say. You don’t touch the existing eyepiece.  There is lots of discussion on the results: you get higher magnification at the cost of lower contrast in the RF patch. From ownership of both magnifiers, I can confirm this. 

[ianman]

The magnifiers screw in to the eyepiece. I have never heard of or noticed a lower contrast. I've had a magnifier for years but do not use it that much, maybe that's why I've not seen the difference.

[jaapv]

Be like the rest of us: Use them for a while and then forget about them.

[otto.f]

49 minutes ago, jaapv said:

Be like the rest of us: Use them for a while and then forget about them.

If you own a Summicron 90 or a Summilux 75 you might need it though, or like it. Focuses faster

[jaapv]

Not in my hands. (AKA eyes)  

[M9reno]

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Some more discussion here:

 

 

[ianman]

2 hours ago, M9reno said:

Some more discussion here:

Thanks for the link. As we should expect though, there is no consensus.

I'll have another go with mine soon (just received some Ferrania P30 to try 🙂) as I'm intrigued by the mentioned decrease in contrast.

[M9reno]

Mind you, Ian, it’s not a kind of loss of contrast that renders it impossible, or even difficult, to use the magnifier. It’s the natural outcome of stacking more glass surfaces, however good the glass, over the viewfinder.  We are talking about a marginal decrease in contrast on the one hand, partly - or completely, or more than ? - compensated by greater magnification on the other.  It is a subjective call.

[AceVentura1986]

I used the 1.25 for a while and then gave up on it. I liked the Size of the image, especially using a 50mm lens. I found it was perfect for that focal length. My issues were these. First, I never got used to the extra protrusion into my eye. It wasn’t uncomfortable as much as I felt it was just odd. Also, the addition of extra glass brings with it extra trapped air which will warm and cool at different rates. This different temperature can cause fogging in the viewfinder. 

[Richardgb]

In my experience with the 1.4x magnifier on both the M9 and M240, I would put some of the 'low contrast' experiences down to keeping the outer glass surfaces clean. The viewfinder has 2 surfaces (front and back of the camera), the magnifier adds 2 more. (I'm not accusing anyone!).

I found a higher accuracy using the M240 with critical lenses like the 75mm Summicron, but that's probably inherent in the rangefinder design.