M8 and 1.25 Magnifier

gurtch · 10-17-2006

I don't plan on using lenses longer than 50mm on the M8, but may later add a 75mm. May not need one for portraits though, since the 50mm will be like a 66mm lens. Has anyone tried the 1.25 magnifier on the M8? What frame lines can you see with it attached? I don't really like trying to compose pictures in the very small corners of bright lines, so I was wondering if I could leave the magnifier off when say using 24mm or 28mm, and on when using 35mm and 50mm. If I add a 75mm lens, I can see where the mag would be a big benefit.
Thanks
Dave G

Bob Parsons · 10-17-2006

See post #125 by Sean Reid in this thread:

http://www.leica-camera-user.com/dig...removed-7.html

Bob.

anselwannab · 10-17-2006

The magnifier won't work since it doesn't have the right lens formualtion or coatings to make it work with digital cameras. You'll have to wait for the digital verison, which will be twice as expensive.

Does the 1.25 become a 1.6625 (1.25 x 1.33) multiplier?

Sorry, I couldn't help but be a wise guy.

Mark

Gabriel M.A. · 10-17-2006

You know, I tried the 90mm Summicron on the M8, and it was like trying to frame a 135mm lens, maybe a little better.

But I agree, the 1.25x magnifier should make it much much better; the viewfinder of the M8 will become a 0.85 viewfinder. Just like an M2, I believe.

gurtch · 10-17-2006

Hi Gabrielma: the first M camera I ever had was an M2, and I loved the 35mm & 50mm frame lines. I rarely used the 90mm lens and frames. Yes if the 1.25 would allow seeing the 35mm and 50mm frames, on the M8, that would be great.
Thanks
Dave

jaapv · 10-17-2006

I tried it out. 35 mm framelines were easily visible without glasses, maybe just visible with, 135 3.4 apo focussed perfectly with the magnifier on. At a guess I would estimate I would misfocus about 20% of my shots on the 135 without a magnifier.

nsng · 10-17-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by gurtch

I don't plan on using lenses longer than 50mm on the M8, but may later add a 75mm. May not need one for portraits though, since the 50mm will be like a 66mm lens. Has anyone tried the 1.25 magnifier on the M8? What frame lines can you see with it attached? I don't really like trying to compose pictures in the very small corners of bright lines, so I was wondering if I could leave the magnifier off when say using 24mm or 28mm, and on when using 35mm and 50mm. If I add a 75mm lens, I can see where the mag would be a big benefit.
Thanks
Dave G

Hi,

During the launch of the M8 here in Singapore, I tried the 1.25x magnifier in conjunction with my Noctilux. Personally, I feel this is the only way to see and focus accurately with this lens on the M8, especially at f1.0. With the 1.25x, vf becomes 0.85x, close to my M3 at 0.91x. I do not have a 75mm., but have the 90mm. instead. Based on what I have seen, the 1.25x magnifier is a must for the 90mm. In fact, I use this magnifier with my M6 with a 0.72x vf. You will need to remove the magnifier when using 24mm or 28mm.

N.S.

Roger Willco · 10-17-2006

Why is it more difficult to focus a 50mm Noctilux than a 50mm Summicron? Is it just because the DOF is so much narrower at f/1.0 vs f/2.0?

Rog

Will the 1.25 magnifer need 6-bit coding?

harmsr · 10-17-2006

Here was my response from the same thread on the leica camera forum.

I remember Sean being correct. I wear glasses. I can see the 28 lines fine without the magnifier. If you mount the magnifier I can not.

I plan to use my 28 & 35 without the magnifier and will use my magnifier with my 50 & 75 lenses.

Ray

dmihajlo · 10-18-2006

I tried the M8 with the 1.25x magnifier at Photokina. The 35mm are perfectly visible, and the thumbnail-sized 90mm framelines become somewhat more useful.

What I would like to see is a flip-away 1.5x magnifier, which would bring the viewfinder magnification to 1:1 and would still leave the 50, 75 and 90mm visible.

Flip it upwards when not needed, flip it down when using the 75mm for potraits, shoot with both eyes open (like on the RD1)

Who else would be interesteed in this?

Regards

Dragan

jaapv · 10-18-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roger Willco

Why is it more difficult to focus a 50mm Noctilux than a 50mm Summicron? Is it just because the DOF is so much narrower at f/1.0 vs f/2.0?

Rog

Will the 1.25 magnifer need 6-bit coding?

It is not more difficult; it is just that your errors show up that more easily...

MarcoS · 10-18-2006

Dragan, that would be great !

I'd love to have a flip 1.5x magnifier for 1:1 vision.
More so a flip 2x magnifier to be used with 50mm, 75mm, 90mm and maybe also 135mm.
I'd loose the time/exposure indication in the viewfinder, but I'd gain higher focus and framing accuracy, which I prefer.

It wouldn't be so difficult to make and I could easily pay more than the Leica 1.25x for such a great accessory.

lxlim · 10-18-2006

Yes Dragan. I would like such an accessory for the M8, if I buy the M8 that is.

boilerdoc2 · 10-18-2006

Dragan: A flip up magnifier would be absolutely awesome as an accessory. More magnification the better! Megaperls, are you listening?
Steve

dmihajlo · 10-18-2006

Well.

We could hand in a petition at Solms, so they will hopefully react and show the prototype mounted on the M10 they're announcing at the 2014 Photokina...

Or chain us against Leica's front door an not leave before we get it...

I have discussed this with some Leica people at their Photokina booth, they didn't see the benefit of a 1:1 magnification when using a 75mm lens, "because then you can't see the 28mm framelines (no joke) etc. etc. and why one would want to flip away this thing [...]" etc. etc.

I have discussed this with a specialized optical shop here in Switzerland, they don't see much difficulty in producing such thing (even at a reasonable price), except that you get all the patent bashing from the Leica side as soon as you start selling it...

So, what do we do? Find an NGO with the appropriate funds that pay for development and production, and then give it away for free?

In case some Solms people are reading this:

I would order two of these things right away and would pay in advance if you promise to have it ready before the M9 is out...

In case Megaperl is listening:

Tell me where I can type in my credit card number

...

Phil_Hawkes · 10-18-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarcoS

Dragan, that would be great !

I'd love to have a flip 1.5x magnifier for 1:1 vision.
More so a flip 2x magnifier to be used with 50mm, 75mm, 90mm and maybe also 135mm.
I'd loose the time/exposure indication in the viewfinder, but I'd gain higher focus and framing accuracy, which I prefer.

It wouldn't be so difficult to make and I could easily pay more than the Leica 1.25x for such a great accessory.

A question for those who tried the 1.25x maginifier: Can the time/exposure indication in the M8 viewfinder be seen easily with the 1.25x magnifier?
Phil

harmsr · 10-18-2006

Phil,

Yes, it can.

Ray