🔴 LEICA M Users | Nail Your Focus EVERY TIME! (Light Lens Lab 1.4x Diopter Magnifier Viewfinder)

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

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[@sylviahoke7513]

Matt !! I just got one and put it on my M9 and what a game changer.! It fits perfectly and the clarity is absolutley amazing.! Thank you for your never ending support. So appreciate you.!

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Great stuff! I'm lost without mine. See tonight's video where I shoot fast lenses. It's must have for me!

[@tarasb7425]

I've got the LLL 1.4x as well. Optical quality is top notch. Can confirm that the diopter tends to rotate if the camera is on a neck/shoulder strap. I've changed the carrying style to grip + wrist strap to mitigate that. Still wish there was a way to lock it without resorting to glue or tape. Not sure whether it is my eyesight or an optical limitation, but I need to adjust the diopter slightly (< 10 degrees) depending on the focus distance. The difference is subtle though. Usually set it somewhere in-between. Not mentioned in the video: using 1.4x on a .72 viewfinder body makes the resulting magnification almost exactly 1x! Perfect for shooting with both eyes open. Anyway, it is a great accessory for those that need critical focus or use longer lenses. Really helps with a 90mm for both focus and framing.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks! Yes great point on nearly 1:1 and yes I will use a wrist strap. Others said try Loctite purple. (See other comments).

[@gumdocga]

I purchased the LLL 1.4 for my new M11, and it is a great value compared with the Leica offerings. I have experienced the diopter rotating slightly and I saw one possible solution is to apply the smallest bit of purple or blue Locktite (reversible). Worst case is you won’t be able to adjust your diopter, but in the event your eyesight changes, it won’t break the bank. Thanks Matt. You are helping us so much.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks and great tip on the locktite solution! I'll try to remember to mention that tip in a future M10 video. I have quite a few M videos to come that will relate to your nice M11 too. Coming soon!

[@jlwilliams]

A drop of alcohol will take that Loc-Tite off...

[@gurugamer8632]

I love seeing more Leica M content on this channel 🎉🎉🎉

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks lots to come

[@tonyrosetr8953]

Thank you for you for discovering of the BEST 1.4x Magnifier ever offered for M to M11 cameras.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks Tony! I was happy to do so. Late to the party as usual!

[@tatihou]

Thanks for the review. Had already ordered a LLL 1.4x magnifier the other day, which is still in the mail. Am looking forward to use it on my M2. Good to hear it works well for you.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thank you and great to hear you have already discovered them. Yes, I'm a big fan!

[@marc6652]

Always so useful videos and caring advises Matt. Not here to preen, but to help. Thanks a lot.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks Marc!

[@sunny16portraits]

Crazy value for money if you think about it! Had it for a year or two, mostly just for 90mm on M3. Now using glasses with my cameras as well as vision went ahead and did a poopie this year... Well now I'm back to thinking maybe getting the Leica magnifier (if it can even be found lol), so I don't have to fiddle with the diopter. We'll see, just realized I didn't even try it with the M4 before sending it in for service d'oh... I'd probably still only use it for 90mm as with glasses on the 50mm framelines in a 0.72x M camera are already almost on the edge. Also one advantage of the official Leica one is that it comes with a nice little attachment rope for your camera :). Although, maybe since getting older, I will just get myself a nice cord to secure my glasses on around my neck, and take them off when shooting so I can keep using the LLL magnifier 😂

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Haha thanks Thomas! Yes the Leica one comes with a cord but you pay over $500 for that extra privilege. Jokes aside, the Leica ones have served me well but i'm excited to have a diopter built in so I can actually see!

[@RinzaiRoshi]

These seem to be incredibly popular since finding one was not easy. I ordered mine from a camera shop in Japan. I was really excited to try it out on my M-A. Unfortunately, all i can see with this installed is the focus patch. I was not mentally prepared for the idea of sacrificing near complete visibility of the frame lines for the focus aide. I'm not really sure the trade-off is at all worth it.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

They are for use with 50mm and longer (if you don’t wear glasses). You need your eye close to it for 50mm framing. I use it for my 50s

[@zoltankaparthy9095]

Following earlier advice you posted I got the LLL adapter. The only complaint I have with it is that sometimes the rubber eyepiece will pull off when putting the camera in a camera bag or taking it out. Otherwise it is vry good.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks Sandy, sorry to hear. That's what happened with my Leica SL rubber eyepiece eventually.

[@GastonShutters]

I need this. But just checked and they are sold out. Thanks for the heads up and great video.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Oh no, they had some when I was making the video. Hopefully they’ll restock soon.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

..they are still showing in stock for me, maybe it depends on where you’re ordering from (I’m looking on the main LLL website linked below the video). They do have an extra 15% off deal currently so people are probably jumping at the chance!

[@Odins.Valhall]

Hello Matt✌ I bought the Magnifier 1.4 on Ebay here in Germany for relatively cheap money😁 in new condition with OVP and the corresponding storage. Even though I've been wearing glasses for 50 years. But even for the dioptre compensation, which is very expensive. Top video, thanks for showing and have a few quiet days for you and your famely👌

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thank you! Yes my 1.4x mags have served me well so for too. Great!

[@ofeykalakar1]

The iiif and iiig have a diopter / magnifier lever built in on the left side by the rewind knob.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Yes so sorry I know this, I have them! Sorry my little brain fails me at times!

[@carlosmcse]

This is perfect for portrait and model work like you do. Nice one. I bought Found, not Lost by Elliott Erwitt. You’d be surprised how many of those photos aren’t in focus. But they’re beautiful. Some shooting work requires critical focus, but for other type of shooting it’s not really important. People who transition to Leica have a hard time accepting that.

[@Mamo878]

“Sharpness is a bourgeois concept” ― Henri Cartier-Bresson

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks Carlos! Great point, yes especially for street photos but even for some portraits. Peter Coulson who I'm now friends with prefers his portraits slightly out of focus.

[@jlwilliams]

That LLL magnifier/diopter looks like a slam-dunk. Seeing as how you have good relations with the LLL folks, perhaps you could suggest they make a flip-up version like the ones Nikon used to offer...? This way you could flip up the magnifier when using wider lenses and down when using 50mm or longer. Odd fact: When I first got my Epson R-D1 camera, I ordered a combination 1.5x/diopter eyepiece made by a Japanese boutique lens maker whose name now escapes me. It helped a lot with wide-aperture 50mm lenses on the R-D1, which had a beautiful 1x viewfinder but a short-base rangefinder. There was one quirk about obtaining this accessory: at that time Leica was asserting that they held a patent on the idea of an eyepiece magnifier for rangefinder cameras... so if you wanted to order the Japanese magnifier, you had to pretend you would be using it on a Nikon FM2 camera, which had the same size eyepiece threads. Possibly Leica has backed down on the patent thing now (many thought their patent claim was dubious since there were many prior examples of eyepiece magnifiers) or possibly they just haven't heard about the LLL product, in which case maybe let's not tell them!

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks James, full of excellent information as always! Yes I'm not sure about the patent thing. I'm sure MatchTech? also made a finder some years ago as a Leica alternative.

[@jlwilliams]

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I checked, and that Match Technical magnifier is still made... it comes in several strengths, some with built-in diopter, and since the Leica Store Miami sells them via its website, I guess we can assume Leica has gotten over the patent thing!

[@laurawilliams2034]

Nice review! Can you advise on how to nail focus on the eye with the M11 and APO 35mm Summicron M when on the street and you want to take the occasional street portrait.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks! Yes a diopter if you don't have 20:20 vision and or EVF to aid sight and focusing. For 35mm just stop down and zone focus for street at f8. Can't miss.

[@richardsimms251]

Always a great learning video. Thank you RS. Canada

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks Richard!

[@Mrtragg]

The Leica IIIG has a built in dioptre that corrects eye sight defects between plus two and minus four

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Ah yes, I'm so dumb, I have these cameras!! Yes Leica iii camera DO have built in diopters, M cameras don't. Sorry for that mistake.

[@quattro30]

The LLL model drove me crazy as it is so easy to change the diopter so when I wore the camera around my neck it changed it when I brought my camera to my eye. I ended up gluing it to my settings. Problem fixed for now

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks, yes I did read something similar in a forum. I can tape mine if it becomes a frustration. I'm glad you fixed yours.

[@ericbornstein816]

Hi Matt, thank you for the videos they are very good. I have a +5 so i need to wear glasses but struggle with my 50mm summilux. Would you say the Leica Magnifer makes it easier to see the ovf frame lines better than the LLL diopter/magnifier?

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Hi Eric thanks, no, the view with the Leica and LLL magnifiers are similar. One of my Patreons/ friends uses the LLL version and he wears glasses.

[@Gravitys-NOT-a-force]

Thank you very much for this video. How bad is your vision, 20/400? My vision is that bad. I would hate to order this device and then find that it isn't strong enough - and half to send it back.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks. You just need to know your prescription. In the uk it’s often -3 to +3. I’m -1.5 the last time I checked. If you are -4/+4 or worse you’ll still need to wear glasses but the 1.4x magnification will help a lot.

[@michaelcase8574]

Slick accessories! Nice to have aftermarket choices. Of course, anything with Leica is three times the price...but it always has been.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks Michael, yes I was really happy to find this! (The Leica diopter/ mag prices has put me off getting the M10 for a while so LLL came to my rescue!

[@terencemorrissey4413]

If we only use one lens on the Leica M, example 35mm or 50mm, should we have the rangefinder calibrated for the specific lens? I guess send it to Leica for calibration?

[@webersteve1547]

Normally yes, but check first if it really needed

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

It depends. First check if you are missing focus (if you are) because of your eyesight or you camera lens combo. If the latter then yes that is a good way to hit focus. You need the camera and lens combo well calibrated. (I'll bring this up in a future video as M users do suffer much more than SL users).

[@ianroe1076]

I'm a big fan of 40mm lenses. You said that 35mm framelines aren't quite in view when using the 1.4x Light Lens Lab magnifier; would you say the entire 1.4x zoomed in view is more or less about what you would want to preview 40mm on the Typ 240? With those lenses it's not like the framelines are terribly helpful anyways.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Great minds think alike! I had exactly the same idea today when picking lenses for my M10 for a trip. The LLL view is pretty tight to the 50mm lines looking head on but if your eye is close you can see past the lines. I plan to use it to guesstimate 40mm too and I'll likely mention it in a future video.

[@ianroe1076]

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom In general I'd be very interested in seeing how you use unusual focal lengths on M without live view

[@lensman5762]

I think I have an old Leica 1.2X magnifier that I bought nearly 20 years ago. I use it with my 75mm F2. These new lot are quite pricey though. The Leica one costs as much as a used MFT camera body.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Yes prices have gone up a lot in the last 10yrs. I certainly didn't pay the current Leica prices for mine. Yes they are great for the 75mm lenses.

[@quirinwick9522]

Very good idea Matt! Thanks a lot! I will give it a try!!

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks! No problem at all! I love mine

[@RS-Amsterdam]

Great video Matt IMO an underated subjest, glad you brought it up. Since your mentioned your eye sigth before I wonder have you ever thought of a laser treatment for your eyes. Would be so comfortable for shooting rangefinders. Anyways thanks for sharing 🎉

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks Rob! Yes I did think of laser surgery in my 20s but I kind of forgot about it. My eyesight isn't terrible in daylight but is much worse now at night. I will start with wearing glasses when needed and perhaps look at laser surgery after that if it gets frustrating.

[@yuvalha2954]

Never understood the diopter thing on cameras.. I wear glasses -3 both eyes.. if I will take off my glasses and set the diopter on the camera to -3 I will be able to see the word clearly only through the viewfinder.. if I’m on a photo shoot or on the street I look at the scene and than take a shot and than again.. maybe you can explain how to work it out..

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

People have different prescriptions, some like me don’t wear glasses walking around or taking photos so the diopter makes the world clear. Others put glasses on their head when they take photos, some wear glasses while taking photos, in which case set the diopter to zero But benefit from the ease of focus with the 1.4 magnification in the VF

[@lugentaubner6853]

Very interesting, thanks! To me, magnifiers and rangefinder cameras don’t go together. Composing without the magnifier, then taking down the camera to mount the magnifier, then shoot - kind of defeats the purpose of a rangefinder (agility); again, to me. Part of the reason why I consider f2 the ideal max aperture for a rangefinder lens (even for portraits). The diopter tho …

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks Lugen! Yes for 35mm and wider I won't use and for stopped down 50mm shots I won't use. For fast 50s and longer lenses I will just leave it on the camera as I always do with my M240 / M4-P etc. (Leica M3 doesn't need one!) ..and agree f2 is a great target max aperture for RF cameras for ease of use. I'll likely mention something similar in one of the videos to come.

[@yongpo241]

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaComwhat’s your eye power?

[@danny_r27]

Quick question, do you know which way to turn the rangefinder Allen screw to adjust for the rangefinder slightly back focusing? Like do I turn it clockwise or counterclockwise to fix back focusing? Recently discovered that my regular M10 is slightly back focusing, I tried the same lens on my M10 Monochrom and it was accurate wide open so it confirmed to me that my regular M10 is slightly back focusing. Even mounted both on a tripod to confirm it.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

I don’t, it’s easy, try turning slightly, check and repeat. Only move the tiniest amount and keep repeating back and forth til spot on.

[@danny_r27]

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaComok I’ll try that, I’m just so nervous since I’ve never done it 😂

[@michaelhalim1166]

Hello Matt. do you think 35mm lens need this magnifier?

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

No, 1) you don't need for accuracy unless f1.2 up close, 2) the diopter will block your view of the 35mm frame lines.

[@PaulTimlett]

Really useful video Matt. So useful I bought the LLL Viewfinder. I used it for the first time yesterday. I'm short sighted and wear glasses or contact lenses. If I'm wearing glasses I take them off when looking through the viewfinder (M10). I've just got used to things being a bit blurred but I can see well enough to line up the focus patch. I rarely miss focus even with a 90mm lens. Yesterday, after adjusting the diopter on the LLL viewfinder so I could see clearly without my glasses, I took some shots with my 90mm lens. When I dowloaded them they were all out of focus even though the focus patch was lined up. In every case I had front focused. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong! Any thoughts?

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Hi Paul, strange, it might be your calibration or lens. Try a lens you know is accurate and check with live view verses finder.

[@PaulTimlett]

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Thanks Matt. I did some tests earlier and was starting to think it was the RF calibration as the problem was replicated on two different lenses. I’ll try comparing with Live View as you suggest.

[@TorstenSrebot]

Thx for this Video. I just bought it. Any infos about shipment time?

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

No problem, I normally get stuff from them pretty quick (within a week perhaps depending on your location but just a guess)

[@TorstenSrebot]

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom maybe it takes a little bit longer to Germany. But I'm really happy about your content (overall)

[@dnguyen536]

Hi Matt Osborne, been follow you a long time. Thank you for all the knowledge and sharing. Look like light lens lab only have the viewfinder magnifier for the 1.4x and the package also include the adapter. Is the adapter can also be used to attach leica viewfinder magnifier such as the 1.25x, sir?

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Hi no it is one unit (adapter + diopter). I suggested they make a 1.25x version too.

[@dnguyen536]

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom They should, I dont know why leica charge an arm and a leg for the just an adapter and 1.25x mag. I tried both 1.25x and 1.4x and think 1.25x would be great for just walk around w 28, 35, or even 50. Maybe 1.4 only if u want that critical focus.

[@philmtx3fr]

Hi Matt I hope you got a small commission on this item as it seems to have been a success and is currently sold out :. True also that the price was very reasonable and the one from Leica purely insane … thx anyway for your research on it :).

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Oh no, sorry they have sold out. Write to them, I'm sure they'll have more soon! I do love a great device at a fair price!

[@philmtx3fr]

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom already done :)

[@martinsmyth5580]

I wish i could buy this its always sold out on the website

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Hopefully back in stock soon, I’ll ask them

[@houseofob3479]

Another great find an excellent video. Thank you so much.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks!

[@houseofob3479]

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom , you are welcome. I am subscribed & loving your channel‼️ Thank you.

[@stillben]

Thanks newer knew about this

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks, yes I can't live without them!

[@MakersTeleMark]

My M3 is missing the focus peaking. What should I do now?

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Haha, buy an M10 like me I guess (but you'll need the Visoflex for FP!) ..the beauty of the M3 is it's good out the box!.. not extras needed!

[@MakersTeleMark]

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom You describe me so well.

[@grant7739]

Great find!! 🙌

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Yes! Thanks

[@mynewcolour]

Leica charging $110 for a shim is kinda offensive.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Yes, I’d really struggle to pay that. (It would be the last resort if I couldn’t see to focus.. like Hasselblad Acute Matte D screens which are way over priced too).

[@SachaSommer]

I purchased the light lens magnifier but unfortunately I never received the item. Very disappointing

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Hi Sacha, just contact them. They have always been very helpful to me.

[@SachaSommer]

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I did contact them, but they did not respond ☹️

[@SachaSommer]

Just to let you know the parcel did arrive!

[@yongpo241]

Can this be used on 35mm

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

No better with 50mm and longer or you can't see edges of frame

[@yongpo241]

@ so if I’m short sighted -1.25 I could just get -1 / 1.5 from Leica lens correction right?

[@davidpeterkin1237]

Thanks Matt...their website is currently offering 15% off, if anyone is interested

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks David! Great stuff.

[@carlosoruna7174]

Geez folks , keep a clean viewfinder, and remember there is twice the depth of field behind than in front of the focusing point..

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks great reminder!

[@jacovanlith5082]

I have to sell my Hassselblad 500 C/M. to become rich enough to buy a Leica diopter plus magnifier. I might better mount a spare Sonnar to the viewfinder of my Leica M3.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Ha yes Jaco, I couldn't spend $750 on the Leica setup (or the Leica EVF II). Thankfully we don't need to.

[@bennyb865]

Love your content but this feels like another light lens lab ad together with your discount code. Wish you'd call that out.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks Benny, sorry it came across like that. I was just happy to discover this diopter option now I have the M10 as I was never going to pay $750 for the Leica option. Yes there is a 5% off discount code, sorry I forget to explicitly say that in the video. (Their site has 15% off currently, one viewer spotted so that helps). ..and yes fair point on LLL, I am mentioning them a lot recently. I use the Elcan and 35/2 quite a bit and I see the 35mm becoming my main M10 lens. I go through phases of trying different stuff, in the past it was a lot of Voigtlander (which I still use too), next it might be Thypoch!

[@hansalbers9894]

😊

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks!

[@Mamo878]

All I see is a big fat fingerprint smack dab in the middle of that LLL 1.4 magnifier/diopter. ;-)

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Ha sorry! I kept trying to clean the camera LCDs!

[@Zetaphotography]

I thought LLL was no good that’s why you sold yours and lots of people unloaded there’s to the market. I see them for $450-475

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

No, I sold my LLL SPII as I had other lenses that could give a similar(ish) look. I have collected a lot of 50s over the years. I love their Elcan and their 35/2 lens. Both get used a great deal. See my top 10 video!

[@joshlikestosmile]

Please please invest in your audio

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks Josh, can you see if you prefer the latest videos? Last one is a Blue Yeti podcast mic (really close to face), the one before when you see me talking to camera is WirelessGoII