I am just about to invest in the M6 system and need help to decide which M6 (read viewfinder magnification) to purchase. My first lens will be the summilux 35 mm f/1.4 asph and the next will be 28 mm f/2, 50 mm f/1.4 and 90 mm f/2. I want a second body some time, and I will probaply get the 0.85 version (that I feel is the best with the 50mm and 90 mm). For now my choise is between the 0.58 and the 0.72 viewfinder versions. I really like the extra space outside the 28 mm and 35 mm framelines that the 0.58 provides, but I am worried that it does not focus accuratly enough (especially when the lenses are used wide open). An article at Erwin Puts website:

http://www.imx.nl/photosite/leica/technics/rfaccuracy.html

suggests that the 0.58 version will focus accuratly with at least a 50 mm f/1.0. What is your opinion? Is the 0.58 good enough or am I better of with a 0.72 M6?

-- Jonas Vilslev (jonasvilslev@groenjord.dk), August 13, 2001

Answers

If you are going to start with the 35 'lux and the 28 'cron, I'd whloeheartedly recommend the .58 body. I don't wear glasses, and I find the 28 frame limiting in the .72 body, and the 35 frame limiting in the .85 body. I also find that the 35 and 50 work very well on either the .58 or the .72 body. (I will regulary use my 35 'lux, 50 'lux and 90 SAA and/or 90TE on my .72 body; and my 21, 24, Tri- elmar, 35 'lux, 50 'lux and occasionally the 90TE on my .58 body without problems.) Another plus of the .58 body is that the outer edge of the frame is just a tad larger than the view of the 24 when positioned normally, and about equal to the 21 if you cram your eye right up against the finder -- a nice feature if you plan to ever use either of those focal lengths. And, yes, the auxillary finders are more convenient if you're going to be shooting more than one or two frames with these super-wides. (An interesting aside on the 24 BL finder: its bright-line obviously outlines the 24 frame, but the outer edge equals the 21 view almost perfectly! Nifty!)

I have sucessfully used my 90SAA at f2 with the .58 body and noticed no deleterious effects. On the other hand, I could never quite seem to get my Noctilux to focus exactly where I wanted at close ranges (1 - 1.5 M) at f 1.0 even with my .72 body -- eg; I would focus on an eye, and the bridge of the nose would be in focus, eyes very slightly soft. Only a few centimeters off, but none-the-less off. But, I'm not sure a .85x body would have helped me much here anyway as there is just no DOF at all at f1.0 and 1.5M... Alternatively, I have not noticed this problem when using my 50 'lux at f1.4.

Hope this helps,

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), August 13, 2001.

I've responded to this before. IMO the proliferation of different finder magnifications is a great way for Leica to sell more cameras. If they could have made a variable-magnification finder, or a removable, body-mounted flip-up "goggle" to convert an 0.58 to 0.85 (or the reverse) then I might think they were really consumer- oriented. I have the 0.6 finder in the Hexar RF, because that's the only way it is made. All my M's are 0.72 and that's the way they'll stay. I wear glasses, I can just barely use the 35mm frames, I would always prefer the accessory 28 finder because it "looks" like the view through a 28. For me, carrying an 0.58 and an 0.85 is a nightmare waiting to happen. I would at the very least need to carry separate 35 and 135 viewfinders in case one camera broke. Unless they were two different colors, how would I know which one to mount which lens on in the heat of action? Anyone who asks me gets the same answer: I'd buy 2 0.72s.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), August 13, 2001.

Carrying two cameras with different finder magnification seems like a good idea in principle. But in practice, you would always have to have film in both of them every time you go out: possibly identical films for both, or faster film for the longer lenses, to allow higher shutter speeds. Otherwise, if you go out with, say the .85 only, you don't get to use your 28mm without an auxiliary finder. If you go out with only the 0.58, you may not feel confident in focusing the 90. This is based on personal experience. I used to carry an M2 and M3. Now, it's the M2 and an M6, both with .72 finders. Live and learn, I guess. Probably the finder should be chosen to be optimum for the favorite and most-used lenses. In my case, 28, 35, and 50. The 90 2.8 is in the bag to be used p.r.n.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), August 13, 2001.

Re Jay and Bob's comments: Precisely the reason I don't have the .85... The .58 and .72 are close enough they can be interchanged. Jay, for some reason the .6 finder on my Hexar looks like it is a lot wider than the .58 on my my M - probably due to the tiny rf patch in the Hexar. But really, not a big deal at all to switch between the .72 and .58. As a matter of fact, when I get rid of my Hexar (hate it! :-)) ) my big dilemma will be which M I replace it with - a .58 or a .72!

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), August 14, 2001.

PS Anybody want a Hexar in good shape???

:-)))

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), August 14, 2001.

I have the 0.72 but have just bought a 0.85 TTL to assist me with my focusing - and I have to say it's a lot easier (failing eyesight!) But if you don't need that extra magnification, the 0.72 is fine. Incidentally, why get a 35 'lux, 28mm AND a 50mm - range is pretty close? Have you considered buying the 21mm asph (with its own viewfinder so the choice of magnification is moot), 35 Summicrom asph. (cheaper if you are not desperate for that extra speed which is not used that often) and 75mm. As a standard lens my suggestion is to go for either the 35 or the 50 and spend your money on another lens which will give you a more varied perspective. Have fun shooting!

-- David (yeo_d@hotmail.com), August 14, 2001.

David, I like that it is possible to use the 28 mm without an extra finder. I also like the look this lens gives an image. If I would get anything wider it would propably be the 24´ not a 21´(to wide). Also I think the 75´ is to big, and don´t have quite the same reach as the 90´.

Is there a big difference between the 90 mm framelines on the 0.72 and 0.85? If not I will propably get the 0.72 and then wait and see if I would like the 0.58. This way I can use both cameras with lenses 28-90 mm. The primary reason for wanting the 0.85 at some point was purely for portraiture with the 90´.

-- Jonas Vilslev (jonasvilslev@groenjord.dk), August 14, 2001.

Jonas:

Click Here for representaions of the different viewfinder lines. As you can see, the difference in the 90 lines between the .72 and .85 finder is not very great.

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), August 14, 2001.