35mm & 50mm Shooters - Do you like 0.58 magnification ?

[a.noctilux]

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I've seen somewhere a calculate assuming the RF accuracy for 0.58 M.

If I remember, in the calculation, RF accuracy is enough for film use VF 0.58 with 50 Summilux lens wide open.

I can confirm only when I use Hexar RF ( x0.6 VF) , same RF base 69.25mm as Leica M, with Summilux 50mm and "fast/grainy" film (😉 400 ISO ).

 

[Jeff S]

3 hours ago, Kriehuber said:

Maybe it should be also mentioned, that you could always add a x1.25 or x1.4 magnifier wich gives you a 0.725 or 0.812 magnification when attaching them to a 0.58 finder. (I think there are also some magnifiers made by other manufacturers that have different magnifications / where you can adjust the magnification ) 
 

I only have experience with the x1.4, but can not remember the last time I used it. As mentioned above,  I don’t really use longer lenses then 28mm. 
Nevertheless, especially the x1.4 ( or one of the adjustable ones  ) can offer the ( in my opinion ) perfect finder combination in one camera when paired with the 0.58 finder.

The downside is that magnifiers tend to reduce viewing contrast, and add complexity for eyeglass wearers, especially if like me, one additionally uses a diopter.  Always best to try,  as personal viewing comfort and preferences can vary, despite the math.

Jeff

[a.noctilux]

I was big fan of magnifiers when I used M8 years ago.

I don't use mag. on film M, at same time as M8, I used 0.85 film MP 🙂.

My wife still use x1.25 with her M8,  even with 35mm lens.

I know why these came with the string to hold the mag., the protruding at rear of M's VF can catch in cloths or evrything that is in it's way.

The x1.4 is the worse in this  aspect of protruding/catching.

[plaidshirts]

Fellow glasses wearer here. I got an M6 ttl 0.58 so I could use 35mm lenses comfortably without rolling my eyes around. Having done this for a while, I can’t see myself using any other magnification. 
For 50mm and longer, I have a 0.85 M6 ttl which gives me a similar look as a 0.58 with 35mm. For those times I want a 90mm lens I put a 1.25x on the 0.85 and the vf stays the same. 

[Dennis]

3 hours ago, plaidshirts said:

Fellow glasses wearer here. I got an M6 ttl 0.58 so I could use 35mm lenses comfortably without rolling my eyes around. Having done this for a while, I can’t see myself using any other magnification. 
For 50mm and longer, I have a 0.85 M6 ttl which gives me a similar look as a 0.58 with 35mm. For those times I want a 90mm lens I put a 1.25x on the 0.85 and the vf stays the same. 

It looks like the ideal plan to almost have the same view. What a shame there are not other VF magnification for digital bodies.

I should switch to film M cameras 

[grahamc]

Thanks for all the input here .   I can really see good reasons for both magnifications choices

I was deciding between 0.58 and 0.72 for a new camera purchase.    I've decided to go with 0.72 again ...  I think overall for my own shooting style and focal length preferences I think it's more important to have a larger 50mm frame-line than it is to have a) viewable 28 lines & b) more visible 35 lines (I don't find the 0.72 35mm lines perfect, but also not bad at all).

I also think I need all the help I can get with focussing so I'll stick with the higher magnification, regardless of what I'm shooting .

The 0.58 with a x1.25 magnifier or similar was tempting also, thanks. 

By the way there is a lovely looking 0.58 black paint MP A La Carte for sale at Leica Store Manchester UK, I am sure I may regret not taking it but maybe someone on the forum will.   

Next time I shoot 28mm I will no doubt be jealous 😜 

Edited March 4, 2022 by grahamc

[smkoush]

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I really really really like 0.58 with 35mm and 50mm lenses. I used 0.72 (on an MP) for a little more than 10 years, then ordered an a la cart MP with the 0.58 viewfinder, and I never looked back. It is gorgeous, brighter and very easy to use. Regarding focusing, personally I don't find it any more difficult than 0.72. I use it extensively with an f/1 Noctilux with no problem.

Now I'm also using an M10, and the difference between the two viewfinders (0.58 vs 0.73) is very obvious and would take 0.58 any day if it was ever possible for the M10 (alas it's not). 

[didier]

On 3/3/2022 at 12:30 AM, grahamc said:

Hi Everyone 

I'm a glasses wearer (although to make things complicated I don't always wear eye glasses to shoot) and predominantly use 35mm (majority of my shooting ) & 50mm.  

Even without eye glasses I can find 35mm framelines a little tricky (having to look around for them to 'complete' them), so I have a hunch that 0.58 magnification might be nice for me for 35mm.  But the trade off is that 50mm will be smaller .  

How do you guys find 0.58 for these 2 focal lengths please ?

I'm an occasional 28mm user, probably not often enough at this point to factor it in to the decision although can't see 28's on 0.72

Thanks ! 

 

I bought a .58 M6 TTL back in my film days to go with my .72 M6 TTL. At that time I was wearing glasses.

I mainly shot 50 (60%), 28 (20%) and 90 (20%) at that time. I quickly sold the .58 as I preferred the accuracy of the .72 over the comfort of more precise framing I got with the .58 (since with glasses it can be challenging to see completely the 28 frames when you wear glasses).

I must say my preferred VF is M3 (.91) !

 

Didier

 

 

[grahamc]

I hope I made the right decision  

This is for a camera that matches nicely a 50mm lens that I own, so I think it’s the right way to go (0.72).  I think I’ll definitely try 0.58 at some point 

 

[Mute-on]

4 hours ago, grahamc said:

I hope I made the right decision  

This is for a camera that matches nicely a 50mm lens that I own, so I think it’s the right way to go (0.72).  I think I’ll definitely try 0.58 at some point 

 

Yes, I think you did. If it’s primarily for a 50, then certainly 0.72, if not 0.85. However if primarily for 28 and 35, 0.58 without a doubt. 

[grahamc]

40 minutes ago, Mute-on said:

Yes, I think you did. If it’s primarily for a 50, then certainly 0.72, if not 0.85. However if primarily for 28 and 35, 0.58 without a doubt. 

Thanks. Yes I agree on this occasion I think it was the right call

[Dennis]

Has anyone experience/knowledge about this?

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Maybe, It could give better eye relief and comfort. Or convert a 0.72x in a 0.85x 🙂 Never saw one, so I'm not sure if it will 'eat' part of the OVF.

If not, better comfort even w/ 35mm lenses. If yes, ideal for use a 50mm.
Comments?

 

 

[Jeff S]

8 hours ago, Dennis said:

Has anyone experience/knowledge about this?

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Maybe, It could give better eye relief and comfort. Or convert a 0.72x in a 0.85x 🙂 Never saw one, so I'm not sure if it will 'eat' part of the OVF.

If not, better comfort even w/ 35mm lenses. If yes, ideal for use a 50mm.
Comments?

 

 

There is no magnification; just designed to block stray light (which was never a problem for me). As an eyeglass wearer (along with a +.5 diopter), I also wouldn’t want anything that keeps my eye even farther from the VF. But we’re all different; only way to really know is try it.

Jeff

[lct]

37 minutes ago, Jeff S said:

(along with a +.5 diopter)

May i ask if you've got such a diopter from Leica? 

[Jeff S]

5 minutes ago, lct said:

May i ask if you've got such a diopter from Leica? 

Yes, the one designed for the larger diameter M10, I think from B&H.

Jeff

[Raskolnikov]

On 3/4/2022 at 11:24 PM, grahamc said:

I hope I made the right decision  

This is for a camera that matches nicely a 50mm lens that I own, so I think it’s the right way to go (0.72).  I think I’ll definitely try 0.58 at some point 

 

You might want to consider a 35mm lens with goggles. This will turn your 0.72 body into a 0.58, with the 35mm only. Best of both worlds, in my opinion. I wear glasses too and am very happy with my recently purchased goggled Summaron. 

[grahamc]

2 hours ago, Raskolnikov said:

You might want to consider a 35mm lens with goggles. This will turn your 0.72 body into a 0.58, with the 35mm only. Best of both worlds, in my opinion. I wear glasses too and am very happy with my recently purchased goggled Summaron. 

Thanks that’s a good idea and would be fun to try   

[OSEGAL]

I love my Hexar rf with the 0.61 mag . the drawback is I have difficulties focusing with 50 fast lenses- 1.4 , 1.5. The accuracy is not optimum. 

[grahamc]

My minolta CLE is 0.58 and I really like it.  It wasn’t front of mind because it’s been away for a few weeks.

It’s not really a perfectly valid comparison to M also because the CLE rangefinder patch seems tiny after using my M’s (0.72 and 0.85). I imagine that M 0.58 patches are smaller than other magnification viewfinders but probably not as small as the CLE , perhaps 🤔 

I use mostly the 40mm rokkor on the CLE and it’s great.  I do remember that the 90 frames are small and not really practical at all.   But great for 28 / 40 and currently my only 28mm is from the CLE set so for now I’ll just take my CLE when shooting 28 I think.  Or use full viewfinder on my 0.72 Leica’s as that probably equates to 28 “frame lines”. 

Edited March 8, 2022 by grahamc

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Hallo,

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