Astigmatism/Walter Leica Elite Eyepiece

[RMF]

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Been shooting Leica M’s for over 30 years now and always made do with a -1 diopter to help with focusing; after losing countless Leica diopters (they seem to unscrew themselves on my cameras) and then having to buy new replacement ones at $200 a piece 🙂 I decided to contact Walter Leica and order one of his Elite Diopters which would not only correct for my vision, but also correct for my slight astigmatism in my right eye. Received it today and I have to say that his Elite Eyepiece works as advertised. With it on I can focus quicker and definitely much more precisely; the astigmatism correction being probably the biggest contributor to my speedy preciseness now.

• Mine was made to fit a M10/M11 eyepiece.
• It screws in just like a Leica diopter and it has two dots on the eyepiece that you keep aligned to the axis of your eyes so that the axis is correct for the astigmatism.
• fits way more securely (screws in tighter) than the Leica diopter. I can’t see these unscrewing themselves.
• had to forward my eye prescription to him, and he had the eyepiece custom made and in my hands from South Africa to the US in about two weeks.
• it extends out from the M eyepiece but I haven’t noticed any decrease of view in the viewfinder, I can still see the 28mm frame lines as easily (or as difficult) as before.
• the axis dots on the eyepiece swivel a little too easy;  since I never shoot vertically…I used some camera tape to lock the axis horizontally.
• Not inexpensive but worth it if focus is important to you and you have an astigmatism : costs a little less that double the price of two Leica diopters.
• it works so well..l now need to order another one for my backup body.
• this is not a sales pitch for Walter Leica (I have no connection to him other than a satisfied user) just putting this out there I case this helps those with less than perfect eyes.

 

[Jeff S]

No thanks, my glasses correct for astigmatism (and distance), and I don’t want to take them on and off every time I look through the VF.  And having to tape the eyepiece in place, or restricting portrait vs landscape mode, would be a deal breaker in any case.

I also started using a +.5 diopter about 5 years ago due to aging eyes, but have never  lost one. Just a matter of tightening well and checking before a daily outing, just as I check basic camera settings.

Jeff

[Photoworks]

I should look into it.

I lost a few too, but now I use Loctite Threadlocker 222MS, 10mL Bottle, Purple

It helps from coming off.

[RMF]

Forgot one additional thing above, I’m assuming since the M has a -5 built-in to the viewfinder that this Walter Leica eyepiece compensates for that too (that’s why you need to send in your #script with the order). Anyways, it’s super sharp for me now with it on and it’s really interesting post fact to now compare  1)without a diopter, 2) with a -1 Leica OEM Diopter, 3) with the Walter corrected.  I had thought of asking my optician create a custom diopter but it seemed like a lot of trouble (and probably more $$) vs just ordering it from someone who designed and builds them specifically for an M.

@Jeff S totally get that, it would be annoying to take glasses on/off when using.. I’m fortunate to not need glasses for normal activity, but I wanted the image in the viewfinder to be spot on, so when a pic is out of focus….I can only blame the user (or the lens) 😀

 

 

 

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Edited November 19, 2022 by RMF

[Jeff S]

6 minutes ago, RMF said:

Forgot one additional thing above, I’m assuming since the M has a -5 correction built-in to the viewfinder that this Walter Leica eyepiece compensates for that too (that’s why you need to send in your #script with the order). Anyways, it’s super sharp for me now with it on and it’s really interesting post fact to compare  1)without a diopter, 2) with a -1 Leica OEM Diopter, 3) with the Walter corrected.  I had thought of asking my optician create a custom diopter but it seemed like a lot of trouble (and probably more $$) vs just ordering it from someone who design and builds them specifically for an M.

The -.5 diopter is built-in for a reason; hence the 2m virtual distance to the focus patch. It’s not meant to be ‘corrected’.

If you need your VF corrected for astigmatism, then you have astigmatism even when you’re not photographing.  Glasses that correct for this condition will improve your overall vision, including when you’re out looking for photos.

Btw, I also wear prescription sunglasses in daylight (because of light sensitivity), but my eye doc told me it’s a key reason why I’m the only one in my family who hasn’t required cataract surgery by my age (72). So I am happy to wear glasses and not have a large eyepiece on the VF.

Jeff

[jaapv]

8 minutes ago, Jeff S said:

The -.5 diopter is built-in for a reason; hence the 2m virtual distance to the focus patch. It’s not meant to be ‘corrected’.

Thank you for debunking an Internet myth.

[jakontil]

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I use walter contrast lenses, on my m10r and M6, i once ordered an elite with my prescription, that didn’t work out well, so back with contrast lenses and my eyeglasses