1.25x or 1.4x for 90mm?

E__WOK · 05-22-2012

I have a 0.72 M6 and am looking to get a 90mm Elmarit. Is it necessary to get a magnifier? If so, which power is recommended? Will I be able to see the metering arrows?

I know that only the rangefinder block will be magnified, not the full view.

f16sunshine · 05-22-2012

The full vf will be magnified as the magnifier is screw over the existing eyepeice . IMO a 1.25 will do just fine. The 1.4 was intended for with the .58 finder iirc.

elmer3.5 · 05-22-2012

Hi, i´ve used many times f2 tele lenses on my late m6 and never needed a magnifier....i do have one thou...a chinese 1.25 very good and not so expensive.
The problem of such a device is the fact it will poke into your eye, with it screwed in your eyepiece you won´t be able to held the camera to your forehead which is very useful with telelenses...(and always

)

Check the infinty setting and i´d recommend you not to worry about mags.

cheers!

Mackinaw · 05-22-2012

Not quite the same, but I frequently use a 1.4X magnifier when I use my 75mm Summilux. No doubt it helps with precise focusing, especially when shooting at F1.4. Helps with viewing and composing too, since the viewing image is enlarged.

Jim B.

ottluuk · 05-22-2012

Get the lens and give it a go without a magnifier. Chances are, you'll be all right as it is. I only have a 90/4, so I can't comment on accuracy for f/2.8 but I haven't had a problem either.

Matthew Runkel · 05-22-2012

I have the same experience as Mackinaw with the 75 lux / 1.4x combination, which gives me a very high hit rate even wide open and close up.

With the 90 Elmarit I doubt you would need any magnifier and I am sure you would be fine with the 1.25x in any case. I would suggest that you try the lens first with no magnifier and then decide based on your results whether you would benefit from a magnifier.

venchka · 05-22-2012

M5. Plenty good for 90/2.8, both the first and last versions. Works well with the Nikkor 85/2.0 also.

Wayne

Rob-F · 05-22-2012

I've been using my 90mm Elmarit on my M2 (0.72 finder) for over 50 years without a problem. I say try it without the magnifier and only buy the magnifier if you find you need it.

defektive · 05-22-2012

I used a 1.25x Match Technical magnifier with my Summicron 90mm on the M8 due to the very slim DOF when used wide open. I found the 1.25x was very suitable for that application and I could still see the 35mm frame lines through it when my Summarit was on the camera so I never took it off, probably wouldn't be able to do that with a 1.4x. I have recently (very reluctantly) sold the Summicron and am selling the mag so pm me if you're interested.

Sam

segedi · 05-22-2012

A 1.25x with the 90mm summicron, I think it helps a lot. Like it with the 50mm Summilux too.

E__WOK · 05-22-2012

Thanks for the info. I have the lens on the way to me.

RichardB · 05-23-2012

There is no need for any magnifier with a 90mm lens.
The focusing is THE same with ANY lens, its the shallow depth of field with a 90mm for portraits that can cause problems as you or the subject moves. You CANNOT do anything about that.-Dick

E__WOK · 05-23-2012

What was Leica's reason to make those magnifiers?

Wouldn't the magnifier make the focusing more precise. What may appear to be spot on at X range might be a tad off when the mag is attached?

RichardB · 05-24-2012

"What was Leica's reason to make those magnifiers"

Damn if I know!
The Germans do a lot of things because they can but not all are useful.
If you are photographing a static situation, then you might gain some increase in accuracy but I bet that if one ran a test over a number of applications, the results would be nill.
Photographing a fluid situation, the mags would get in the way. Use your 90mm for at least a year before finding solutions to problems that may not exist.-Dick

Mackinaw · 05-24-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by E__WOK

What was Leica's reason to make those magnifiers?

Wouldn't the magnifier make the focusing more precise. What may appear to be spot on at X range might be a tad off when the mag is attached?

Sure these magnifiers increase focusing accuracy. If you're using a telephoto or high-speed 50mm and shoot mostly wide-open, buying either of the 1.25 or 1.4 magnifier will be money well spent. My 1.4 magnifier is always on my MP whenever I use my Canon 50/0.95 or 75mm Summilix. No doubt my focusing is more accurate when I use this magnifier.

Jim B.

philipus · 05-24-2012

I have a M6TTL BP with 0.72 and a 90 Elmarit-M. There's no need for a magnifier at all imho. I realise we're all different etc but in my experience focusing accuracy does not increase meaningfully (to me) with a magnifier. At its shortest focusing distance (1m) the 90EM at f2.8 will have a DOF of approx. 1,8cm. Sure that's short but even for such a close-up portrait the 0,72x is sufficient to nail focus perfectly on, for instance, the glare in the subjects eyes. At 2m the DOF is, at f2.8, 7,66cm. At 2,5m it's 12cm.

I've used my old 1938 Hektor 13,5cm with this camera without any focusing problems whatsoever.

That said, it all depends on your own needs.

ChipMcD · 05-24-2012

I have used both the 1.25x and the 1.4 x magnifiers. For a 90mm, my preference is the more magnification, the better. However, the 1.4x is a bit much for use with a 50mm. The 1.25x works nicely with that lens though; thus, it is the more versatile of the two, unless you really need the greater magnification.

I don't know enough about the optics to know if focussing accuracy is better with a magnifier. I've read that the magnifier has the effect of increasing the viewfinder base distance, thereby increasing focusing accuracy. I know with my bad eyes, the magnification seems to help when using a small focussing point, like the glint in an eye.

The best suggestion above is to try the lens without the magnifier. If your results are what you want, that's money saved and one less fiddly bit to carry around.

Enjoy the new lens.

Matthew Runkel · 05-24-2012

A magnifier increases the effective rangefinder baseline. Effective baseline determines how accurately you can focus with a rangefinder.

Effective baseline equals the physical rangefinder baseline multiplied by the viewfinder magnification.

It is correct that a magnifier will not keep the subject from moving.

Gadge · 05-27-2012

Why all the talk about focusing improvements?
I never had a problem with that.

For me the benefit of a larger frame when using a magnifier is to enable me to see the picture I am taking better and also aid composition. Especially true when using a 135mm lens in the otherwise silly little frame window but helpful too with a 90 or even a 50mm.

Gadge

PS I have .70 VF on my M6-TTL which is perfect for a 35mm lens (imho).

E__WOK · 05-28-2012

I ended up getting the 1.4x for a good price and it definitely allows me to focus more accurately. Time will tell if the focusing accuracy is needed or required.