Re: [Leica] Glasses and viewfinder (was: Question: wich M6TTL to choose?)

[Dennis Painter <dpainter@bigfoot.com>]

Hi Rick,

I'll try this on the weekend. I gave it a quick go when I got home from
work but would like to set up a better target and put the camera on a
tripod.  

The quick go seems to bear out that there is some differenc at the
extreme edges of the RF rectangle. If so I wonder if this is new between
the M6 finder and the M2 finder. (I distinguish them as they are
optically different, M6 'classic' and M2) Maybe the RF rectangle should
be a square :) 

I have a M2 and M6HM (non TTL) so I can't cover all the possibilites. I
think it would be interesting what others find.

Dennis



Rick Dykstra wrote:
> 
> Hi Dennis (and Jean-Claude - hope your getting some useful views here).
> 
> The difference between my 0.72 (non TTL M6) and 0.85 (TTL M6)
> viewfinders is in the tendency to flare once the eye is off centre. Note
> that both are beautifully clear and accurate when the eye is centered.
> 
> If the eye is off centre with the 0.72, the rangefinder patch flares out
> very noticeably.  So I get centered and focus away.  I don't have a
> problem with this.
> 
> My 0.85 doesn't flare so noticeably when my eye is off centre, its just
> less clear.  Therefore I find I am less aware that my eye is off centre.
>  And when I was first using this body, I misfocussed from time to time.
> 
> Dennis, perhaps you could try the procedure below with your 0.85 and
> tell me what you see.  I've just done it, and the misfocussing happens.
> It's predictable and repeatable.  Yes, it results from not using the
> viewfinder skillfully, which means it's a trap for the unwary.
> 
> Find a poster or something with a fine horizontal black line. Leave the
> lens off and stand about 1.5 meters back; the rangefinder should be
> sitting at about that range.  Hold the camera vertically, shutter up,
> and look through the viewfinder but with your eye way too high, so much
> so that the rangefinder patch is almost at the top of the viewable area.
> 
> If I do this and then progressively centre the eye I am aware of the
> point where the secondary  rangefinder image becomes visible, as well as
> the primary. The secondary is feint, certainly not as sharp as when the
> eye is properly centered, but it's there.  By moving back and forth
> slightly (or by focussing if a lens is attached) it's possible to align
> the primary image and the feint secondary.   If I then centre my eye,
> the lines are no longer overlapping.  I need to move back (or focus the
> lens closer) to achieve proper focus.  Also, by moving my eye up and
> down slightly I can see the primary and secondary images moving apart
> and back together again.  Not ideal really.
> 
> I found this little trap when the first few batches of portraits taken
> with my nice new 0.85 TTL were too often focussed behind the eyes.  I
> had been used to using my 0.72 where the viewfinder would flare if I was
> off centre. The lack of flare when off centre with the 0.85 caused me to
> fire away happily, not realising that I wasn't properly centered and
> focussed.  I think the problem arose because of the slightly different
> hand hold, face positioning and eye angle that resulted from using the
> 0.85 with a diopter, instead of the 0.72 with spectacles pressed up
> against the viewfinder.  All amidst the hurly burly of busy sportsground
> photography.  In the end, a learning experience.
> 
> As I said before, I like using both bodies, I just have to be a bit more
> careful with the 0.85.  It's a thoroughbred while the 0.72 is a good ol'
> fat 'n' happy farmhorse.  :)
> 
> Regards
> 
> Rick Dykstra