Why the .58 finder is Leica's best.

Huss · Dec 12, 2020

Recently been using an MP with a .58 finder. I also have the .72 and .91 in other cameras.

The .58 is the only one that you can easily see the 28mm frame lines without contorting your eye. It of course, has an excellent view of the 35mm frame lines, and if you are wearing glasses, even better as you can still see it clearly.

But what about 50mm or longer? Well... first thing to understand is that the only difference is magnification of the VF. There is no physical difference in the actual rangefinder base length on an MP or M7 etc between the .58, .72 or .85.
So if you add a magnifier to the .58 - I'm using the Leica 1.4 - your magnification becomes .81 - and focusing longer lenses is super easy.

The .58's exposure readout does not interfere with the 50mm frame lines, so with the 1.4 magnifier you get to see the 50mm frame lines at .81 magnification with no interference!

It makes the MP's vf as pleasant to use as that on the MA. And now you know.

etn · Dec 13, 2020

Please don't fuel our GAS

Joking aside, I never considered it from this point of view (I use a 50mm most of the time, and don't even own a 28mm.) Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

BSP · Dec 15, 2020

And if you wear eyeglasses then the .72 works best with 50mm

NB23 · Dec 15, 2020

I totally dislike what they did with the MP 0.72’s broken bottom line. It always pushes me to raise the camera more. And I am extremely finnicky on composition.

So this is why I got myself Three 0.58 Leicas. Problem solved.

mshchem · Dec 15, 2020

.85x for me. Lowly M6ttl. I managed to buy a 50mm Summicron, but I can come close to paying a year of property taxes for what Leica wants for the 35mm. Settled for a Cosina made Zeiss 35 2.8 that is about the size of a fat golf ball, lovely little guy.
I have a Mamiya 6 MF, it's got a 0.58X finder, the 50mm. And 75mm work great. I have the 150mm tele, brilliant lens, but not much to frame with tiny little box in the middle.

Lachlan Young · Dec 15, 2020

I've always wondered why Leica have never done a 'modern M2' with just 28, 35, 50 framelines. Then again, I sometimes wonder about the idea of an M1 with an RF and 35mm framelines only...

NB23 · Dec 15, 2020

Lachlan Young said:
I've always wondered why Leica have never done a 'modern M2' with just 28, 35, 50 framelines. Then again, I sometimes wonder about the idea of an M1 with an RF and 35mm framelines only...

A la carte.

logan2z · Dec 15, 2020

NB23 said:
A la carte.

Unfortunately that program no longer exists.

NB23 · Dec 15, 2020

logan2z said:
Unfortunately that program no longer exists.

It did for quite a long time... but then again, nothing beats the framelines of any M2 all the way to the M4-P (which has the best framelines of any Leica, IMO).

Lachlan Young · Dec 15, 2020

NB23 said:
It did for quite a long time... but then again, nothing beats the framelines of any M2 all the way to the M4-P (which has the best framelines of any Leica, IMO).

I have considered getting an M4-P and having the 75/90/135 framelines suppressed - and a whole lot of other customisations. But an 8x10 enlarger is a much higher financial priority currently.

beemermark · Dec 15, 2020

I had bought a brand new 0.72x M7 around 2007 and loved it. A little later I came across a nice 0.58x M7 at a price I could not pass up. After a couple of years I decided I didn't need (or could afford) two M7 bodies so I kept the 0.72 simply because I bought it new and knew it's history. I have always deeply regretted selling the 0.58x. I shoot nothing longer than the 50mm lens and the 0.58x VF is perfect. Unfortunately all M cameras with a 0.58x Vf go for very,very high prices today. Anyone that uses one realizes how good the 0.58x funder is.

Why the .58 finder is Leica's best.

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