Leica VF Magnifiers

[arindam ghosh]

Hello everyone.

I wanted to know if anyone has used one of those 1.2x or 1.4x Leica VF magnifiers with glasses and if they are really worth it? I sometimes feel the urge to buy one when focusing at f-stops less than 2. So, I need to know opinions before spending money.

Regards.

Arindam Ghosh

[Omeo]

Hi Arindam,

I've used a 1.4x Leica VF magnifier with glasses, so I can share my experience. Personally, I found it helpful for precise focusing, especially with lenses at wide apertures (like f/1.4 or f/2). The magnifier made it easier to distinguish fine details in the viewfinder, which is critical when working with shallow depth of field.

That said, it's worth considering a couple of things:

Comfort with Glasses: Depending on your prescription, the magnifier may push your eye farther from the viewfinder, which could make it harder to see the full frame. I adjusted to this, but it's something to keep in mind.
Magnification Preference: The 1.4x works great for precision but narrows the view even more than the 1.2x. If you shoot fast-moving subjects or need to frame quickly, the 1.2x might strike a better balance.
If you regularly shoot at wide apertures and value manual focus accuracy, I'd say it's a worthwhile investment. If possible, try one out before buying to see if it suits your needs.

Hope this helps!
Cheers.

[arindam ghosh]

Thank you very much for sharing your view, Omeo. Unfortunately, I do not have physical access to the VF magnifiers at present. The funny thing is brand new magnifiers cost more than a used (like new) Leica EVF2 (I use a M240). The EVF2 is also very tempting, but using it, I feel, tends to rob the compact form factor of the Leica. Also, from what I've read on the internet, the construction is a bit flimsy.

Regards.


Arindam Ghosh