Megaperls 1.15x magnifier, diopter correction

[pklein]

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Is anyone here using the Megaperls 1.15x magnifer with built-in adjustable diopter correction?

 

I'm seriously considering getting one. I'm at the age where my eyes are constantly changing, and having an adjustable diopter would be great--I could adjust it for my glasses, my contact lenses, and have some leeway between eye exams.

 

And the 1.15x would bring the M8 magnification to .78x. That's a little bit better than my film M cameras (.72x), which I find easier to focus than the M8.

 

I'd appreciate any feedback from people who have used this magnifier, especially glasses wearers.

 

Thanks,

--Peter

[archi4]

I'm very happy with it - does exactly what I hoped for. Adjusting is kind of fiddly because of the small size, but that small size also makes it a pleasure.

regards

maurice

[doubice]

Peter,

 

I have one and love it. Originally I started with the Hong Kong produced 1.25x one and did not like it - stuck out of the back of the camera and I could not see the 24mm frame at all, the 28mm frame with difficulty. I also found that the Hong Kong magnifier reduced the finder's contrast slightly (this is a subjective comment though - it only costs about US$60.00).

 

The 1.15x magnification of the Megapearls fills my needs ideally - no problem viewing the 28mm frame, the 24mm frame is still visible. I also like the diopter adjustment built into it - it is a little fiddly but can be locked in place by a small dab of clear coat paint.

 

It does not leave my M8.

 

Best,

 

Jan

[Gary Brook]

Peter,

 

I have the Megapearls 1.35x version with diopter adjustment, and while I find the magnification very useful for my 75 Summilux, I have found that there is too much play in the diopter threads for it to hold its setting accurately. It isn't that it unthreads or anything, it is just that any pressure along the diopter axis causes it to move back and forward enough to throw out the adjustment. The unit came with a thickish grease on the threads and this masked the effect somewhat, but when the grease spread on to the optics I had to clean the whole unit, and that was when the thread backlash became more apparent. Obviously it would be better if I could replace the grease with something similar to take up the extra clearance, but I have yet to search one out. In my view, it would be better if the threads were machined with less clearance to start with. Regards,

 

Gary.

[LichMD]

Quick question, as my eyes are also starting to change I want to experiment with the Megaperls. Where can they be ordered?

Thanks

[carstenw]

Megaperls Webshop - Films and more directly from Japan

[LichMD]

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Megaperls Webshop - Films and more directly from Japan

 

Thanks Carsten

[farnz]

I've been using the Megapearls for some time now but I recently noticed that my M8's focus patch wouldn't overlap perfectly at infinity with any of my lenses. "Oh no," I thought vaguely, "the VF alignment is out and it's an extended Solms 'holiday' for the M8."

 

But I removed the Megapearls yesterday to clean the optics and forgot to remount it and was amazed to find that the focus patch now aligned perfectly at infinity and the VF seemed clearer.

 

Remounting the Megapearls produced the same former misalignment so I've returned to using the HK 1.25 magnifier, which doesn't cause misalignment.

 

I don't know if I've just got a dodgy Megapearls magnifier but I, too, was irritated by having to continually readjust the diopter because of play in the thread. I'm fortunate thay my eyes don't need the diopter (yet) and although the additional magnification is useful with my 90 AA it's not a show stopper so the Megapearls is consigned to my gadget bag for the time being until I decide what to do with it.

 

Pete.

[highlander]

I have used a few of the non Leica products in the past and in the end have gone back to the Leica equipment, with suitable diopters used either in conjunction with contact lenses or without, they work just fine, even up to 135mm on the M8.

Yes they are expensive if bought new but patience will pay dividends, they can be found on Ebay and diopter lenses are available there to. I now have two sets one for my M8 and one for my M7 both with diopter lenses.

Yes I am a lazy sod!!!

Regards ... Jim.

[innerimager]

I'll register my vote for the Megaperls 1.35X diopter. One of the challenges for me coming from DSLRs is that I wear glasses, so either a magnifier only or diopter only attachment gets me too far from the finder. Having both diopter and magnifier in one allows me to go without glasses when focusing, very helpful. I have not encountered the drifting reported by others, I have been using 2 of these (on M8 and M7) for about 1 year. Also, the company is incredibly supportive and helpful. I ordered the wrong unit and they were most helpful, actually sending the correct one before receiving the original as I had a very important shoot and timing was important. best...Peter

[Shootist]

I used one of these magnifiers when I was doing camera/lens focus tests with Roger Dunham and I found it caused distortion and that you couldn't lock the diopter and or no click stops in it.

 

@innerimager

I don't understand. I use a Leica 1.25x and diopter and then diopter only when not using the magnifier and have no problem seeing the whole VF when I have just the diopter in place.

In fact I think the Megapearls unit is deeper then the Leica even when diopter is fixed to it.

[innerimager]

@innerimager

I don't understand. I use a Leica 1.25x and diopter and then diopter only when not using the magnifier and have no problem seeing the whole VF when I have just the diopter in place.

In fact I think the Megapearls unit is deeper then the Leica even when diopter is fixed to it.

 

I mean that if I have to wear glasses, than using a magnifier pushes me back so that seeing the wider framelines can be a problem. With the megaperl, I can take the glasses off and get magnification and the diopter let's me focus.

[Shootist]

@innerimager

I don't understand. I use a Leica 1.25x and diopter and then diopter only when not using the magnifier and have no problem seeing the whole VF when I have just the diopter in place.

In fact I think the Megapearls unit is deeper then the Leica even when diopter is fixed to it.

 

I mean that if I have to wear glasses, than using a magnifier pushes me back so that seeing the wider framelines can be a problem. With the megaperl, I can take the glasses off and get magnification and the diopter let's me focus.

 

 

You can screw a Leica diopter lens into the Leica magnifier which should be shorter overall then the MP one.

 

Actually I have found that "IF" you have a properly adjusted range/veiwfinder and you have the proper diopter, or good YOUNG eyesight, you really don't need the magnifier to get good focusing with any focal lenght Lens. I have one such M8, a M3 that is dead nuts and it seems that the M6 I just got the other day is right on the money to, altho the other M8 I have isn't even close to being on. The split/overlapping image just POPS when you have the proper focus.

 

I have also found, at least for me, that I need a stronger diopter on the magnifier then I use without it. I use a +1 without mag and a +1.5 with magnifier.

Works for me.

[pklein]

Thanks to everyone who commented. I'm getting a Megaperls 1.15x, so I'll see for myself soon. I'm really more interested in it for the adjustable diopter than for the magnification.

 

One problem with the Leica diopters is that you usually can't try them before you buy. We have two Leica dealers in here Seattle. Glazer's only has +2.0 diopters, which is more than I need. Kenmore has none. So I would have to buy a +0.5, see if it worked. If not, sell it and buy a +1.0, etc.

 

When my eyes stabliize again, a fixed Leica diopter might very well be better. But for now, it will be good to have something I can adjust regardless of what my eyes do and how my prescriptions change. Between distance, reading, computer work and Leica focusing at various distances, I have too many requirements! My glasses and contacts represent compromises, and with every eye appointment, things change. So having something adjustable for the Leica is good.

 

Ed (Shootist) makes a very good point. When a middle-aged person with creeping presbyopia uses a Leica 1.25x magnifier, it may require a different diopter correction than the viewfinder alone.

 

A couple of years ago, I could use the Leica magnifier or the plain viewfinder with no issues. On my previous pair of glasses/contacts, I found that I needed to use the reading portion of my bifocals (or my left (near) contact lens) with the magnifier, and I was fine with the plain viewfinder. Now, I'm just a shade fuzzy in dim light at about 6 feet and closer with the viewfinder alone, and *nothing* looks right with the magnifier.

 

--Peter

(the young man from the Age of Aquarius, which is longer ago than I care to admit. Apologies to Lars)

[DaveB]

I use the 1.35 one and only take it off when going to 35mm or less.

 

It's indispenible.

 

Megaperls Webshop - Films and more directly from Japan

[gesper]

I got the 1.30X version (MS-MAG x1.3N) which is much larger in diameter and made to fit Nikon SLR's with an adapter (also fits the RD-1). It is too large to screw directly into the M8 eyepiece; the outside diameter is roughly the same size as the eyepiece itself. However, I was able to fashion a way to attach it using fine wire, a piece of bicycle tire tube, and cable ties. While that means I have to leave it on all the time, that is fine with me. The large size gives me the entire viewing area, and the rubber of the tire tube keeps the diopter of moving.

 

Megaperls Webshop - Films and more directly from Japan

[jaapv]

Thanks to everyone who commented. I'm getting a Megaperls 1.15x, so I'll see for myself soon. I'm really more interested in it for the adjustable diopter than for the magnification.

 

One problem with the Leica diopters is that you usually can't try them before you buy. We have two Leica dealers in here Seattle. Glazer's only has +2.0 diopters, which is more than I need. Kenmore has none. So I would have to buy a +0.5, see if it worked. If not, sell it and buy a +1.0, etc.

 

You don't have to - If you visit an optician, you can hold his diopters between your eye and the VF and pick the one you need.

 

Ed (Shootist) makes a very good point. When a middle-aged person with creeping presbyopia uses a Leica 1.25x magnifier, it may require a different diopter correction than the viewfinder alone.

feet and closer with the viewfinder alone, and *nothing* looks right with the magnifier.

 

--Peter

(the young man from the Age of Aquarius, which is longer ago than I care to admit. Apologies to Lars)

 

Ed is indeed right. If for instance you need a + 0.5 for the naked viewfinder, the diopter may require a +1.0 Again, you can use the method described above.

[robert irvin]

Which would I want with a M6 .72 finder and a 35 or 50mm lens. Next question is how do you get them in the US?

 

Bob

[JSU]

With the .72 VF any magnification might be too much with a 35mm lens, you could easily use up to a 1.25x magnifier with a 50mm lens and still see outside the frame lines as you would effectively have a 0.90 VF which is slightly less than the M3.

 

The .72 VF with the MegaPerls 1.15X would yield an effective .83 magnification. I don't wear glasses and I can easily see the frame marks in the .85 VF of my M6 HiMag. So the 1.15X magnifier when used with the 35mm marks might not be a problem. I think it would depend on whether or not you wear glasses.

 

I believe the Leica VF and the Konica VF share the same VF accessory threads, there are no restrictions on importing the MegaPerls VF into the USA if purchased for the Konica. Likewise, if one needs a MegaPerls VF magnifier for the Epson such cannot be imported into the USA. But the Epson shares the same VF accessory threads as a Nikon (pre High Eyepoint) VF such as the Nikon FTn finders. MegaPerls magnifiers can be imported for Nikons.

 

I think this is where the wink, wink is appropriate.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[sblutter]

Thanks guys!

 

I had no idea this existed - am ordering the 1.15 right now, sounds useful for my bespeckled eyes. The 1.25 with glasses is a pain and rarely use it. I got a 0.85 - completely useless.

 

Wish they made a variable 1.0 version...