p.2 #1 · Rangefinder M-Mount Shooters: How Do You Nail Focus With a Fast 75mm Lenses?
bwcolor wrote:
So many of you mention using corrective eyepieces. So, this means that you remove your glasses every time you use the camera, or does it mean that your eyeglass/contact lens prescription is wrong?
Over the years I’ve seen a number of posts mentioning how the poster’s ability to focus was negatively affected by their astigmatism. I never understood this. Your glasses, or contact lenses should correct your astigmatism. Problem solved. Of course eye relief isn’t the best with the M System viewfinders, so glasses negatively impact the ability to see the wider frame lines. My M6TTL (0.58) and Zeiss Ikon’s are a great solution here.. but of course digital offerings are more restrictive....Show more →
In my case, I wear glasses only for specific applications, such as nighttime driving because my vision when my pupils are 'stopped' down is generally good, near to far during the day/bright light. And most day-to-day tasks don't require 20/20 vision to do effectively. Because of this and because I'm not accustomed to wearing glasses, I prefer to work without them. As you mentioned, the (digital) M viewfinder's eye relief isn't very good. But the slight acutance/sharpness improvement the correction eyepiece provided, made a significant enough difference for me at discerning minute details within the RF patch when aligning it. Looking back, it kind of surprised me how much it improved my RF experience.
With respect to astigmatism issues, there are/were a couple opticians providing custom correction eyepieces for the M system. IIRC one is/was in South Africa and the other is/was in Japan.
p.2 #2 · Rangefinder M-Mount Shooters: How Do You Nail Focus With a Fast 75mm Lenses?
Yes, if your distance vision is poor you need glasses, contact lenses or a diopter lens. For most, the first two options provide a superior view of the rangefinder patch because astigmatism can be corrected, but glasses and wide angle lenses are not best friends. Also, for those that wear glasses and are older..ie presbyopes.. Single vision distance glasses/contacts will provide the best view through the viewfinder..eye relief issues remain for glasses. Bifocals with the bifocal line low provide better utility and equal vision in the distance. Tri-focal and progressive lenses have issues. As you press your lenses against the viewfinder, you tend to push your glasses up and include either the midrange of the trifocal, or distortion of the progressive. So, by the time you can afford a new M11.. many of us struggle a bit with the viewfinder.
p.2 #3 · Rangefinder M-Mount Shooters: How Do You Nail Focus With a Fast 75mm Lenses?
I really wish Leica would develop a more design friendly visoflex. Perhaps the new m11 will appeal to us with eye issues. Until then I'll continue to struggle with the viewfinder and just shoot that way.
p.2 #4 · Rangefinder M-Mount Shooters: How Do You Nail Focus With a Fast 75mm Lenses?
airfrogusmc wrote:
Gordon the only camera that I liked as much as my Ms was my 500C/Ms.
Wanted to add if you get good focusing a 500 C/M in dark rooms a Leica M rangefinder is a piece of cake.
I graduated to the 500 series after my first medium format camera, the Bronica ETRS. Shot wedding formals with it for years but we used 135 at the reception. I loved that camera. For now the 907x used at waist level and set to square scratches that itch. But if I were to get another film camera a 500 would be it for sure. I got a day as an assistant for a National Geographic piece on the millennium in 1996 changing backs in various cameras including 500’s because I was the only photographer in the area who could change up a film back… Good times. And as close as I’ll ever get to being a Nat Geo shooter.
My guess is about half the reasons for the *film revival* is about how tactile and simple the gear is. Also why X100’s and Q’s do so well. And I’m not sure why Fuji isn’t getting an XPro4 out by now. Actually I’d like to see Fuji make an XPro 4 that was heavier, made of denser materials and had better feeling controls. Maybe a PiP viewfinder for manual lenses. I actually want the *pro* in XPro. Add a grand to the price but make it feel like an old Fuji MF rangefinder. The GFX RF is close(ish) but not quite *premium* enough.
