I also just posted this on the Hexar RF list but thought there might be a few folks who own both cameras on this list.

Hello folks-

I have a Leica M6TTL and Leica lenses. Today I went over to a local camera store to try out the Hexar RF because it has many features that I find desirable. I generally liked the camera very much. I tried my Tri-Elmar (newest version) lens on it and had no problems at all with the proper framelines popping up. Also, no trouble with rangefinder patch alignment.

I did notice one problem, however. I started feeling a bit queasy after shooting off a bunch of shots and at first could not understand why. Then when I looked carefully through the viewfinder I noticed that it is slightly, but definitely out of focus to my eye. I wear glasses and don't use diopters on my cameras. When I look though my M6 (and the M6 at the store) the entire area around the rangefinder patch is clear and in focus. When I look through the Hexar RF the viewfinder around the patch is definitely slightly out of focus, which is why I felt queasy after awhile. I am not talking about the differences in brightness or color of the viewfinders, but the difference in focus sharpness. I now wonder whether they just had a bad sample of the camera or whether the RF viewfinder is just focused differently. Unfortunately, there are no other stores in the area that carry the camera and this store only has one in stock, so I cannot compare it to other samples.

-- Steve Rosenblum (stevierose@yahoo.com), January 12, 2002

Answers

The Leica eyepiece accepts correction lenses screwed into it; the Hexar's eyepiece is completely exchanged for correction eyepieces. Since my Hexar and every one I've ever seen has been as sharp as the Leicas (brightness and distortion aside), so my only guess is that there may be a non-standard (correction) eyepiece on the body you handled...whether it was put there during or after production.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), January 12, 2002.

Steve: I would be interested to learn more of your detailed impressions of the Hexar RF. I currently use Nikon but have become frustrated with their commitment to modern electronics! Both Leica and Hexar seem to retain the best of the old whilst still providing outstanding quality. Question: How does the Hexar RF compare to the M6 TTL .58? Richard Williams

-- Richard Williams (rrw@caribsurf.com), January 12, 2002.

I've had the same experience. For 35mm I have the use of M4-P, Hexar RF and various Nikons. I wear glasses for failing near sight due to old(55) age. I can use M4-P without correction lenses, yet for Nikons I need +0.5 and Hexar +1.0 diopter correction.

-- sait (akkirman@clear.net.nz), January 12, 2002.

I have verified today that the "standard" diopter on the M6TTL is -.5 and the standard diopter on the Hexar RF is -1. Do you folks think that this .5 difference in diopter is enough to make the Hexar RF blurry to me but the M6 clear? As the Hexar diopters do not come in a -.5 the closest I could come would be a 0 diopter. I haven't been able to find anyone that stocks these. Does anyone know who does? B and H lists it as a special order item, which I think means that I can't return it if I order it. I would hate to order it if I don't know it is the right strength for me.

-- Steve Rosenblum (stevierose@yahoo.com), January 13, 2002.

I would recommend taking your camera to your optician and trying it with his test lenses for +0.5 and +1.0 diopters. As I posted earlier I needed +0.5 correction, but since it is not available I have settled for "0" (that is +1 diopter) viewfinder piece. For me it is very comfortable. Good luck.

-- sait (akkirman@clear.net.nz), January 13, 2002.

I have both the Hexar RF and the M-6 0.58. The Hexar is technically 0.6, making it theoretically a few microns larger. The Leica is hands down brighter and crisper. Nevertheless--

I've have to double check this, but I think the Hexar, while darker, has less (if any) white out.

The M-6 0.58 does not have a 135mm frame but the Hexar does. I've used a Canon 135/3.5 on the Hexar. But the old Leica google eyes 135/ 2.8, which brings up and magnifies the 90mm frame on a Hexar is great fun. Screw a Voigtlander round handle into the 135's tripod socket and you're really in business.

-- Alex Shishin (shishin@pp.iij4-u.or.jp), January 14, 2002.