For those with M cameras where they have a choice of VF magnification, what did you pick ?

[colonel]

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I have created a quick poll:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SR9XS66

I am curious. The reason is that I have always bought 0.72

Recently I purchase a M6 TTL with 0.58 and found it a bit of a revelation for my favourite FLs, 35mm 69% of the time, 50mm 20% of the time, 28mm 10% of the time and 90mm 1% of the time.

Note that I don't wear glasses, but using 35mm most of the time, I found it slightly more enjoyable to use. 28mm is certainly much better.

What do you think ?

Edited May 23, 2024 by colonel

[Anbaric]

I don't think that many people have the 0.58, or have even tried one.  I don't think it was available for the M6 Classic or earlier cameras, and was only a standard production option for the M6-TTL, M7 and MP, made in relatively small numbers before becoming a la carte only, and finally a post-production mod you had to pay extra for. I like 0.72 for 35mm and wouldn't want anything less for 50mm (or longer lenses), but I can certainly see how 0.58 would help with 28mm (where it's hard to see the whole frame with a 0.72) or when wearing glasses with a 35mm.

[lct]

I'm a 50mm guy so my preferred magnification are 1:1 with the R-D1, then 0.91x with the M3, then 0.85x with the M6J but i find 0.73x a good compromise on the M11.

[Mute-on]

I bought a 0.58 MP in around 2004 in anticipation of acquiring a 28mm Leica lens at a later date. I finally did just that in around 2016.

Like @colonel I found the 0.58 excellent for 28mm and a revelation for 35mm, not least because there is no 135 frameline to accompany the 35.

Now that I wear glasses for long sightedness, a 28mm is only comfortably useable with the 0.58 viewfinder. I find 35mm the widest that can be used comfortably on a 0.72. Very glad I acquired the 0.58 MP when I had the opportunity. 

[TomB_tx]

When I bought my first M (1968) the options in new Ms were M3 & M4. As a full-time glasses wearer I picked the M4 (.72) and never regretted it. Likewise no options when I bought my M6 in 1985 - but I would have picked .72 anyway. I eventually got a couple M3s - and still didn't care for the .91 finder. In more recent years I've bought used models where there was a choice, and stayed with .72 finders, as I seldom use wider than 35mm. Now my post-cataract eyes no longer need glasses, so I appreciate that I can see a 28 frame well with .72 - so still no reason to change.

[colonel]

2 hours ago, Anbaric said:

I don't think that many people have the 0.58, or have even tried one.

 

So, for M6TTL (the first camera that provided a non-custom choice) :

1. 0.58: that is 2000 cameras out of 51,173 (4%)
2. 0.85: that is 651 cameras out of 51,173 (1%)

You are not wrong!

On the other hand, the rarity is quite nice to have!

 

2466101	2470100	Leica M6 TTL (black+chrom-10 434)	19 Jun 1998*	4000
2470301	2475300	Leica M6 TTL (black)	1998	5000
2477301	2482300	Leica M6 TTL	1999	5000
2495151**	2499999	Leica M6 TTL (black+chrom)	1999	4850
2500000	2500000	Leica M6 TTL	1999	1
2500044	2500044	Leica M6 TTL Hanns-Peter Cohn's camera	1999	1
2500001	2502000	Leica M6 TTL (black)	1999	1999
2547001	2552000	Leica M6 TTL (chrom-10 474)	1999	5000
2554501	2554650	Leica M6 TTL 0.85	2000	150
2555001	2555200	Leica M6 TTL	1999	200
2555201	2555300	Leica M6 TTL	2000	100
2591501	2596500	Leica M6 TTL (chrom+black)	2000	5000
2681201	2681400	Leica M6 TTL	2000	200
2681401	2683400	Leica M6 TTL 0.58 (black)	2000	2000
2688001	2688500	Leica M6 TTL 0.85	2000	500
2688501	2688500	Leica M6 TTL 0.85	2000	1?
2720401	2725400	Leica M6 TTL	2000	5000
2731401	2736400	Leica M6 TTL (chrom)	2001	5000
2752401	2752422	Leica M6 TTL	2001	22
2753001	2753100	Leica M6 TTL 0.72 Hansa	2001	100
2753951	2755000	Leica M6 TTL 0.72 Titan	2001	1050
2755001	2760000	Leica M6 TTL	2001	5000
001	999	Leica M6 TTL (black-last/999)	2002	999
Total	assigned	serial numbers	1998-2002	51,173**

 

Edited May 23, 2024 by colonel

[michael_b]

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M6TTL with 0,58 VF and MP improvements

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[colonel]

19 minutes ago, michael_b said:

M6TTL with 0,58 VF and MP improvements

is there anyway to tell, by looking at the front of the VF, if you have MP improvements or not ?

[michael_b]

The only thing which is visible from the outside, is the multicoating layer on the front glass. If you turn the camera you can see reflections in different colors (same as when looking on the front of a lens). 

[250swb]

I wear glasses so thought it would be a good idea to get .58 on my M6 TTL and it was my shortest acquaintance with a new camera ever. I'm not one to say 'my 28mm Summicron is glued to the front of my camera' so while I liked that frameline view it wasn't a priority given there were four other frame lines I'd also use, and with all those focal lengths it was like looking down the wrong end of a telescope. And using it alongside other M's with .72 viewfinders was a distraction. If you can live with having a specialist wide angle Leica the .58 view is fine, but I think you give up less by using the .72 finder and struggling a bit with the 28mm frame.

Edited May 24, 2024 by 250swb

[stray cat]

I have 3 M6TTL's, one in each viewfinder flavour. I use all about equally. The 28mm stays on the 0.58 finder model mostly, although I've used 35mm, 50mm and 90mm on it without a problem. I take the 0.72 VF model usually if I just want to carry one camera plus an assortment of lenses. The 0.85 version I use more and more with the 50mm, but I also like it for 35mm and 90mm and of course it's the best choice for 135mm.

They are all lovely to use and it's so nice to have the choice, as some are obviously better suited to certain lenses.

BTW even though the survey indicates you are able to select different VF models if you have more than one, I wasn't able to do that so I didn't complete the survey.

Edited May 24, 2024 by stray cat

[Viewfinder_vandals]

How accurate is the .58 viewfinder With a 28mm Open Aperture like 1.4?? Anyone Tried That? 

[colonel]

4 hours ago, Viewfinder_vandals said:

How accurate is the .58 viewfinder With a 28mm Open Aperture like 1.4?? Anyone Tried That? 

I haven’t but I can see the issue. The 0.58 is super accurate with a 50mm f1.5