Light Lens Lab 1.4x Viewfinder

[le photo]

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Does anyone has any experience with the Light Lens Lab 1.4x Viewfinder on an M11?

I shoot 28, 35 and 50, mostly street, and portraits every now and then.

I was wondering how useful it would be for those lenses and styles of photography.

I was debating whether I should get the LLL Viewfinder or the Visoflex 2. But I've read so many mixed opinions on the latter, and its size is just too bulky, that I am discarding that option.

 

[RobW0]

I personally would not see the LLL viewfinder being very useful at those focal lengths. Where it can be useful is in the 75, 90 and 135 range. 

[J S H]

Those two choices are like night and day...they really aren't even comparable. I have both - the LLL 1.4x is only usable from 75 up, in my opinion and it's debatable whether it even helps. The optics are fine, but it just doesn't improve the overall clarity and accuracy markedly.

On the other hand, the EVF is almost indispensable once you realize how much it improves framing and focus accuracy. I have good eyesight, but leave the EVF on my camera almost all of the time. There are times when the rangefinder is the preferable focusing method, but I still use the EVF for framing and exposure. 

[adan]

As other have said - indirectly - ANY eyepiece magnifier "crops" the view through the viewfinder, as it magnifies the center of the image for higher focus precision.. The 28-35 framelines will not even be visible with one installed.

It will more or less turn a modern Leica .72/.73x viewfinder into an original M3 finder (50/90/135 frames will be the only ones visible in the view, but they will be larger).

Edited December 18, 2024 by adan

[sarkleshark]

I find this viewfinder magnifier a game-changer for me.  I can now keep both left and right eye open and when the rangefinder patch lines up the patch pops into focus( sharp patch) for me making focus for me much easier and more comfortable.  That is the best way I can explain it-possibly I am left eye dominate.  Downsides: I wear glasses and you do lose a very small amount of field of view.  It also sticks out so if you do use the electronic viewfinder together you might hit your nose with it while looking through the electronic viewfinder.

[ChrisS]

I have various M bodies ranging from an M2, a pair of M4's, an M6 to an M10 and a stable of lenses that include various fast Voigtlanders including a 28mm f2 Ultron, 35mm and 50mm f1.2 pre-asph Noktons, as well as a 50mm f1.2 Hexar M mount, 50mm and 75mm f1.4 v.1 Summiluxes, and a very vintage 90mm f2 Summicron. With any of these lenses I will use a Leica viewfinder magnifier or an after market magnifier as I try for as precise focusing as possible, rather than precise framing, which is only approximate with a rangefinder viewfinder anyways...I used to use shoe-mounted external viewfinders for the various focal lengths, but nowadays I don't even bother.

[Derbyshire Man]

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I have lenses from 21mm to 90mm although I’m a fan of 35mm if pushed. I bought the visoflex2 for very low light situations. When it’s really dark I can’t see enough contrast via RF to identify if eyelashes are in focus. Since I bought it however I haven’t needed it in that situation!

 

I’ve got a 35mm pre-asph modified for close focus, obviously from 70cm-1m is not reliable in the range finder so I’ve tried the visoflex2 with that, to be honest, I’m just as good at guessing (and leaning forward 10-15cm) as I am with the visoflex so I don’t bother there either.
 

When it comes to the 21mm I also tried it but found that using the whole viewfinder and just assuming I’ll get that and a bit more is fine as long as I accept I may need to crop slightly afterwards, so no use there either. 

 

The only remaining use case I have is on the M11D where framing is critical or parallax will be problematic but that’s such a rare situation. 
 

in summary it depends on how you like your photography, if you’re a strictly in-camera architectural wide angle photographer it may be useful, my photography is more about feel, I’m quite happy to crop and post process as I am natively a trad monochrome photographer at heart so these things for me are simply unnecessary complications. Although I keep the visoflex just in case, as if there’s one thing more annoying than buying something you don’t use it’s buying it twice…

[Photoworks]

LLL x1.4 is ok.
you can use it with 50mm lenses and UP

cons:
it keeps spinning, some gaffer tape helps

if you use a diopter on your camera you have to take it off to attach LLL, the on-and-off game gets old quickly!

[3D-Kraft.com]

Any sources for the LLL x1.4 in Europe?

[aficionados]

LLL is just a magnifier, nothing else. You can't compare it with electronically powered viewfinder.

That being said, I wouldn't use either of them anyway.

If I feel cocky, I use my M's in broad daylight and mess around.

If I feel moody, I use my Q3/43 in the night.

 

[3D-Kraft.com]

vor 43 Minuten schrieb aficionados:

LLL is just a magnifier, nothing else.

It's a little more, as it also has a diopter correction (in contrast to the 1.4x magnifier from Leica).

[jgeenen]

vor 1 Stunde schrieb 3D-Kraft.com:

Any sources for the LLL x1.4 in Europe?

I bought mine via LLL web site. It was shipped from Canada within a few days  (less than a full week) via UPS. Additional tax/customs was 11 Euro (don’t ask me why) which I had to pay upon delivery. Wasn’t able to find an European store, that is the main reason why I am hesitant to buy a lens from them

[le photo]

Thank you all for your input.

Well yes, it looks like the LLL Viewfinder is not very useful for wide or standard lenses. I found this very helpful video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6KFBnwY_4M showing the differences in the frame lines with different magnifiers. Looks like 75mm< will benefit from it though.

And at the same time, your comments made me rethink the EVF... I miss my 40mm frame lines, and I haven´t been out at night yet with my camera but maybe it could help in those night shots as well. It's an expensive add-on for such specific purposes. Bite the bullet?

 

 

[charlesphoto99]

Magnifiers are a pain the ass if one is changing lenses between long and wide. It all gets very fiddly fast. EVF is a solution, but unfortunately I find they almost make me want to have a seizure (picked up an SL3 on display the other day and had to set it down almost immediately). Of course everyone is different (spinning lights do a similar thing to me) and EVF's wouldn't be so popular if they were seizure inducing in everyone! I would try in person first or order with easy return. 

[Knightspirit]

I find the magnifier useful for the longer lenses. The spinning diopter correction is a pain though - so tape it to your preference and then you can just screw it on and go, which makes it much more convenient to actually use. These are so small (and CHEAP) compared to the Visoflex, it's a no brainer to have one in the bag.

Also take note - calibrating your rangefinder to perfection both horizontally and vertically will do more for your focus hits than using the magnifier! It's not hard to do.

[Crem]

13 hours ago, le photo said:

Does anyone has any experience with the Light Lens Lab 1.4x Viewfinder on an M11?

I shoot 28, 35 and 50, mostly street, and portraits every now and then.

I was wondering how useful it would be for those lenses and styles of photography.

I was debating whether I should get the LLL Viewfinder or the Visoflex 2. But I've read so many mixed opinions on the latter, and its size is just too bulky, that I am discarding that option.

 

 

I have the LLL magnifier and overall think it works well at 75mm and beyond. For 28mm & 35mm I don't find it useful. At 50mm it starts to work, but the frame lines are too close to the edges for my liking. I bought it to use with 90mm, but I've found I can't even remember the last time I used my 90 so the magnifier and 90 are likely getting sold in the new year. For me the 28, 35, 50 is all I need with a M. The diopter on the magnifier is a nice feature and made me realize how bad my vision is without glasses. I agree with @Knightspirit that you want to figure out the correct position for your eye and then tape it down. Otherwise you will end up having to adjust it every time you put it on the camera.

I found the Visoflex 2 work well for getting down low since the viewfinder is on a hinge. For me that is the best feature if you need it (I don't). The problem with the Visoflex 2 is that there is no way I'd leave it on the camera full time and the rear screen is good enough. So the Visoflex 2 sits in its case and I can't even remember when I last used it. I much prefer the EVF in the SL2-S for those times I want a EVF. This is another item I'll be selling in the new year due to lack of use.

[bubbachua]

16 hours ago, le photo said:

Does anyone has any experience with the Light Lens Lab 1.4x Viewfinder on an M11?

I shoot 28, 35 and 50, mostly street, and portraits every now and then.

I was wondering how useful it would be for those lenses and styles of photography.

I was debating whether I should get the LLL Viewfinder or the Visoflex 2. But I've read so many mixed opinions on the latter, and its size is just too bulky, that I am discarding that option.

 

 

I have it, excellent for 50mm and beyond

35mm you struggle to see all the frame lines

28mm and wider is too wide for its usage imo

i wear contact lenses so I would turn the magnifier abit to get a sharp image and the 50mm frame lines would always be well within the viewfinder limits  and a very clear enlarged patch 

Edited December 18, 2024 by bubbachua