Does anyone use viewfinder magnifiers?

[third3rdwheel]

Talking about the "add on" type.

I hear these are great for the longer lenses, but are they also helpful when used with 50mm lenses? I am asking because some 50mm lenses are not easy to focus accurately.

 

[ZoomP]

Talking about the "add on" type.

I hear these are great for the longer lenses, but are they also helpful when used with 50mm lenses? I am asking because some 50mm lenses are not easy to focus accurately.

Bro, I just started using the Tim Issac (Thumbs-up)'s 1.25x magnifier from Chiif. It's 0.85 vf on the M8 which is almost 1-to-1 for 50mm. The max you can see is the 50mm line. Anything wider, you've to adjust your eye if u wear glasses.

Can't tell that it's dimmer with the magnifier on. The price is abt 1/2 of a Leica magnifier. The cup is huge though but you'll get used to the look. Supposed to help u focus better as it covers up any stray lights from coming into your eye focus.

Dovevader uses a leica one on his MP.

 

[third3rdwheel]

Bro, I just started using the Tim Issac (Thumbs-up)'s 1.25x magnifier from Chiif. It's 0.85 vf on the M8 which is almost 1-to-1 for 50mm. The max you can see is the 50mm line. Anything wider, you've to adjust your eye if u wear glasses.

Can't tell that it's dimmer with the magnifier on. The price is abt 1/2 of a Leica magnifier. The cup is huge though but you'll get used to the look. Supposed to help u focus better as it covers up any stray lights from coming into your eye focus.

Dovevader uses a leica one on his MP.

Thanks bro, useful info. I heard about the limit on focusing lines for lenses below 50mm. Yes, I hear that the Leica magnifier costs a few hundred dollars. :sweat:

You used it on a 90mm or 135mm?

 

[dankwan]

Thanks bro, useful info. I heard about the limit on focusing lines for lenses below 50mm. Yes, I hear that the Leica magnifier costs a few hundred dollars. :sweat:

You used it on a 90mm or 135mm?

Got a 1.25x leica vf magnifier that I use on my Ms. Best for 50 and above and low light. With it on hardly see the 50 framelines with glasses on. Helps wonderfully with focus accuracy though. As usual leica excellent quality at least to me, worth the extra coin

 

[gommy]

One is permanently attached to my M8. I started with the 1.25x, then the 1.4x.
I use it all the time on my M8 with all my lenses including 21mm now. But I don't do wide angle wider than 28mm much. 90% 50mm; 4% 28mm, 3% 35mm, 3% others. With the 1.4x on M8 with glasses on, I can see the full 50mm frameline. Just need to shift your eyes quickly to glance around to check for the wider angle- will get use to it. But, I'm also not too fussy about framing. And with digital you can see straight away if framing turns out ok.
Leica's has the chain that allow you to attached it to your camera, which is useful if you you need to remove it temporarily & just let it hang freely otherwise need to find a place to put it away. In the begining, when I had to remove them for wider angle lenses, I thot the chain was wonderful. But now, I'm alright even with the wide angles!

 

[benny]

I also use magnifiers when needed. Currently using 1.25X, 1.33X and 1.4X. Handy when you have very fast or long lens.

Cheers,

 

[cichlid]

My colleague use it on his M8...

 

[third3rdwheel]

Thanks to all for the "instant gratification" to my very layman information request. Wonderful resource experts on this RF site.

 

[gommy]

One more plus point for Leica's. It has a soft rim, so won't scratch your glasses.:thumbsup:
Agree with Sir dankwan-"worth the extra coins"

 

[dankwan]

One more plus point for Leica's. It has a soft rim, so won't scratch your glasses.:thumbsup:
Agree with Sir dankwan-"worth the extra coins"

at your service, milord gommy....

 

[DoveVadar]

Leica ones are great. No loss of light at all. I tried the HK one and realized it lose 1/2 stop of light after comparing everything, Leica is still the best. Hence I got mine and had it stuck on my mp ever since.

focusing, when it reaches 1.4 and below, one requires pin-point accuracy. of course I believe many can do it here, the question here is: speed. dont you think you can focus faster when you can focus better?

Anyway, the rubber ring yes.. it is supposed to protect your specs but it will also tend to grip on anything causing it to fall off (in my case, the interior of my bag) so frustrated, I pull it out and kept it in its case.

 

[KWYLEE]

I bought the Match Technical 1.25x magnifier from chiif a few days ago to use with a 90mm. It works very well. It's less discreet & less pretty than the leica with it's large slr-like eyecup, but the eyecup is quite effective in shielding stray light. Compared it with the original leica one earlier today & felt both performed equally, with slight bit more clarity with the match technical 'cause of the eyecup. But due to it's size & look, I would put it on only for critical focusing with 90mm.

 

[ZoomP]

Thanks bro, useful info. I heard about the limit on focusing lines for lenses below 50mm. Yes, I hear that the Leica magnifier costs a few hundred dollars. :sweat:

You used it on a 90mm or 135mm?

Bro, Leica is about $500 and currently no stock. Match Techincal (Tim Issac) @Chiif only $220. Half the price. Of course, Leica one prettier cos' it's just an extended VF on your Leica and retains the same look. For Match Techinical, you can actually remove the rubber cup but there's no rubber ring on the magnifier so it might scratch for those with glasses.

I had to let go my Luigi case cos' the cup gets in the way. Currently using the A&A M9 ltd ed black case with the straps. Find that I like the A&A one but better but it has less leather covering compared to Luigi, so may face problem scratching the back next time. Getting a thumbsup from Chi Fei today too since I lost the grip with the Luigi.

It's a different look but one that you can get used to. Well, it's CNY and my M8 deserves a new clothing (new case) and new jewellery (magnifier). Hahaa!!

Btw, I have it permanently on my M8 now. Using 50s mostly but the Nikkor 85mm focuses better too on my M8. 90mm is the furtherest I will go on a M8.

I tried the magnifier on my 0.72 M6 but I am unable to see the 50s frameline clearly due to my glasses.

Just to give you an idea how it looks on the M8. From Match Technical website.

 

[ZoomP]

I also use magnifiers when needed. Currently using 1.25X, 1.33X and 1.4X. Handy when you have very fast or long lens.

Cheers,

Bro, u using megaperls right?

 

[lokewl]

My Match Technical Eyecup/magnifier is attached on my M8 all the time as I now shoot mainly with my 50mm and 75mm lens.

On my M6, I am using the Leica 1.4x magnifier but I don't use it as much.

 

[Hacker]

Started with the Leica 1.25x and then the 1.4x. Perfect with the VF magnification of the M9. Can use long lenses.

We just need an M9 with the 0.58 VF......

 

[benny]

Anyway, the rubber ring yes.. it is supposed to protect your specs but it will also tend to grip on anything causing it to fall off (in my case, the interior of my bag) so frustrated, I pull it out and kept it in its case.

Yes. I have the same irritating problem. The rubber ring keeps falling off. I'm tempted to just glue it on but never got around to do it.

Bro, u using megaperls right?

Yes. 1.33X is megapeals, normally on my Zeiss Ikon, Epson R-D1 or Voigtlander. The Leica 1.25X and the Leica 1.4X for the M bodies of course. Knowing you, I'm sure it won't be long before you upgrade to the 'real' thing. :bsmilie: If you like, I can bring both for you to try.

Cheers,

 

[ZoomP]

Yes. I have the same irritating problem. The rubber ring keeps falling off. I'm tempted to just glue it on but never got around to do it.



Yes. 1.33X is megapeals, normally on my Zeiss Ikon, Epson R-D1 or Voigtlander. The Leica 1.25X and the Leica 1.4X for the M bodies of course. Knowing you, I'm sure it won't be long before you upgrade to the 'real' thing. :bsmilie: If you like, I can bring both for you to try.

Cheers,

Haha.. bro, u know me well. Actually the Match Technical magnifier is pretty good. As you may know, he got his design sorted out after consulting with the folks at RFF. This is an example of a guy making a business out of his passion. Pretty cool.

I wouldn't mind trying out your Leica versions and would love to make comparison.

 

[Yoricko]

I've got a 1.25x magnifier from a HK store on eBay, pretty good for my 50mm.

Some slight tunnel vision from the magnification, makes the 0.72x more life sized so you can open both eyes to shoot with little compositional error.

But for a 28/35mm, you can't see the framelines easily without glasses, don't even think of using them with glasses.

 

[Royale With Cheese]

I've been wanting to get one magnifier for my Hexar RF but the cost is really quite a fair bit.

I require a adapter from 'Japan Exposures' to mount a magnifier onto the VF. Adapter+magnifier = no $$

Poor man la :cry: