Hi All,

Is the magniflier worth getting. It is very expensive for its function. I wear spectacles, is that going to be a problem, will I still be able to see a clear 50mm frame line with my 0.72x.

Thanks in advance for sharing your experience.

-- Jeff Yiu (jeffyiu@quamnet.com), March 26, 2002

Answers

I think that it works very well on the .72x finder, and is worth he money if you use the Noctilux or 90mm summicron. From personal experience I would not recommend to use it on higher magnification finders. I have the M6J finder (on an M3) and the brightlines are very significantly dimmed. I do not know if this is the case with all high magnification finders.

-- enrique munoz (dem331@yahoo.com), March 26, 2002.

It works beautifully with my 0.85 M6 with 75mm Summilux and I regret why didn't I get it earlier.

-- Joe Lee (joelee@1388.com), March 26, 2002.

I can easily see the 50mm framelines with the magnifier on the .85. The framelines are noticeably dimmed in dim light (such as nighttime, with only one table lamp on); enough that you need to pay some attention to where the framelines are.

The main benefits are with telephotos, really. It improves your framing and focusing noticeably.

With a 50mm it will improve the accuracy of your focusing, assuming you have some difficulty already or difficulty in seeing people's expressions etc clearly. Otherwise, I'd be indifferent.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), March 26, 2002.

I wear glasses. I use the 1.25 on a .85 and from 50mm thur 135mm it is GREAT; however, I found that I needed to add the dioptor correction lens to it to keep it crisp. I do not need the correction on any other M used without the 1.25. I wish Leica had made this years ago.

Happy snaps,

Steven

-- Steven Alexander (alexpix@worldnet.att.net), March 26, 2002.

I own the 0.72, and I wear glasses. My glasses are the ultra-thin type and I chose small, flexible frames so that I can squash them as close to my eye as possible. I am a right-eyed viewer (so my nose doesn't keep me away from the camera)I can just get in the entire 35mm frame on an 0.72 (without the 1.25x). With the 1.25x I can't see the 35mm frame at all and the 50mm frame requires that I turn my face up, down and sideways to see. I can't get it all in one glance. My 2nd body has the 1.25x (unclipped the chain)and I use it only with the 90 or 135.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), March 26, 2002.

I'd love a 1.25x for my 0.58 to use with my 90 Elmarit. Alas, none of B&H, Tamarkin, Chatteton, and Delta Int. has the blasted widgits. It's laughable, Leica announced the product months (a year)? ago. Why announce a product that isn't being distributed to the dealers!!!! Makes no sense at all?!?!

-- Dan Brown (brpatent@swbell.net), March 26, 2002.

FWIW, I have one of these goodies that I rearely use. I bought it from Germany when it first came out, and as a result paid a lot for it -- a tad over $275 with shipping and duty when it was all done. IF anybody is interested, I would consider selling it for the outrageous price of $250 plus shipping to recover my costs on it. Let me know off-line if you are interested. It is in Like New condition with box, case, silly little leash and all paperwork. I am leaving for a trip on Friday and will not be back untill April 8th, but could ship it before Friday.

Cheers,

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), March 26, 2002.

Does the thickness of the magnifier diminsh the eyepoint of the viewfinder? As an eyeglass wearer, I am concerned that the magnifier will put my eye at a distance even farther from the viewfinder than it already is and, as such, make viewing the peripheral frames lines even more difficult. Is this a valid concern? Thanks, Jack

-- Jack Belen (jbelen@aol.com), March 26, 2002.

Jack You will loose the wider frames from my experience as a spectacle wearer with the magnifier. So on a .58 body you loose the 28mm, and 35mm frame, and on the .72 the 28, 35 and 50mm frames. Like they say in Yorkshire, 'you don't get owt fer nowt', meaning, there is a compromise you have to make.

-- Steve Barnett (barnet@globalnet.co.uk), March 26, 2002.

Hey everyone, try a guy named Anthony Rose. His ebay name =MELEICA.

He gave me a great deal on my gear and has possibly the best prices around.

I got my 1.25X from him, so he may have some.

-- Kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), March 26, 2002.

Jack. I think that figure you asked for is higher than dealers ask for when the 1.25X is in stock. No discount?

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), March 26, 2002.

I got mine for a price of US$170. Not suer if that price still stands

-- Kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), March 26, 2002.

Eliot: As I mentioned, I am just selling it for what I paid. I realize it is more than they now sell for. But for anything less, I'll just keep it for when I want to use it, which isn't very often. I simply offered it up for anybody that had to have one now, becuase to my knowledge there are currently out of stock.

Cheers,

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), March 26, 2002.

Hi,

I got my magnifier but don't use it as much as I thought I would. It's really a quality piece and in no way diminishes the viewfinder clarity. I got mine very easily in Montreal, Canada; my local retailer actually had one in stock.

If interested, I would be willing to sell mine ($160 USD). Please contact off list.

Cheers.

-- mario dilembo (mario.dilembo@videotron.ca), March 26, 2002.

I got mine from Anthony Lee in Hong Kong on eBay. Bid $199 and got it.

On my .58 body as someone said the 28 and 35 framelines are gone (with glasses) and the 50 requires me to move my eye around. It would be great with a 90 and a 75.

It does move the eye farther away, add the glasses I wear and it isn't as useful as I'd hoped. I can shoot w/o glasses if I want so I have that option.

I have an M4 body also but haven't tried it on that yet. View is not dimmed with the 1.25x but it does add some problems for glasses wearers I think, depends on teh glasses I guess.

-- Neil swanson (neilsphoto@yahoo.com), March 26, 2002.

Well, I don't wear glasses and have the 0.72 body. With the magnifier in place I still have the 35mm lines, at least left and top, which I find enough to frame with.

Cheers, Duncan

-- Duncan (pilot@aviationmission.com), March 30, 2002.