HK SUPPLIES 1.25x MAGNIFIER AND DIOPTER LENSES

The Leica 1.25x magnifier is $299-$319 these days - choke! However, there are some third party magnifier alternatives for considerably less. I ordered the HK Supplies version available on Ebay for $47 plus shipping from Hong Kong. For the record, I have no affiliation with HK Supplies nor do I receive a any compensation from HK Supplies. Another option is the Megaperl versions with the built-in diopter adjustment mentioned earlier in the review. I chose the HK Supplies version because it is available in silver, thus matching the chrome body. The -2 diopter adjustment was also ordered ($30 plus shipping) which is a relative bargain compared to the Leica versions for $72.95 or more depending on where your shop.

My three lenses are the Zeiss 50mm F2 ZM, the Leica 35mm F2 Summicron ASPH and the Leica 50mm F2 Summicron (current version). With the 1.25x magnifier all the frame lines are still visible. I am selling the Zeiss 50mm F2 ZM and the 35mm F2 Summicron ASPH. I am keeping the 50mm Summicron because I like its chrome aesthetics better. Optically I think the Zeiss ZM is sharper and delivers a more powerful image. I already have a Zeiss 50mm F2 Makro-Planar ZF, so I really do not want yet another Zeiss 50mm lens. But I digress... I would still like more magnification with the 50mm lenses. The 1.25x helps, but it does not fill the viewfinder. I think Leica’s new 1.40x magnifier would be ideal, but it costs over $300 USD! For now, the HK Supply version is just fine.

The diopter adjustment lens seems okay, but the viewfinder is not as sharp as hoped. The M8 is already -.5 and the -2 lens results in a total adjustment of -2.5. This is probably too much adjustment. Scenes look sharp, but I still squint my eye to force a crisp view. Also, seeing fine details like small print (if shooting product) is not as clear as I expected. I may try a -1 lens or -1.5. Leica makes a -1.5 correction lens, so I may have to spend the extra cash. The first three images to the right are the HK Supply magnifier and diopter lens. The 1.25x’s finish is slightly darker, but it looks nice and for $47. Overall rating - a BIG THUMBS UP!

FOTODIOX SOFT SHUTTER BUTTON

The next bit of bling was a $20 button that screws into the shutter release. Some people like flat buttons, others like concave, or convex, or small, or large, or whatever...  I went with cheap and available - don’t read too much into that. This too was purchased off of Ebay for about $16 including shipping (“Fotodiox_Gear”). The basic idea behind the “soft button release” is to increase the shutter button’s surface area, thus making it is easier to find and press. Yep, works fine. The only surprise was how high the button sits. It is very easy to inadvertently press the shutter button while placing the M8 in the camera bag. When stored in the bag, make sure  nothing is pushing or pressing on the button while the camera is being stored.

The button itself is made okay - not bad, no great. It cost $12 and that is about what it is worth. The button has “Leica” engraved on the top and filled with gold paint. They could skip that little touch. Nothing on the M8 is gold, so the gold print looks out of place on the M8. Not a big deal and I could easily wipe some black paint into the engraving. In use the button works as advertised. In fact it makes my shutter button a bit of a hair trigger. When finished reviewing images I often half-press the shutter button to shut off the LCD. Now there is a 50 / 50 chance that I will press just hard enough to trigger the shutter.

TOM ABRAHAM’S SOFT RELEASE BUTTONS

Eventually I picked a couple soft release buttons made by Rapidwinder. These were clearly nicer buttons and pretty cheap too; I bought mine from PopFlash Photo for ~$20 plus shipping. I also inherited a second one when purchased a used M8. Rapidwinder has a variety of shapes, sizes and colors, so they probably have something for just about everybody’s taste. Again, my issue with these buttons is how it is easy to accidently trigger the shutter. Just in regular handling it is very simple to accidently bump the shutter and take a nice picture of the lens cap. Also, I do not like the M8 profile with the button attached - it sit too high and looks like an accident waiting to happen. Just my $.02 of course.

LEICA M8 GRIP

After investigating the Luigi Half Cases (which look gorgeous) I asked several people what they recommended to improve the M8’s handling. Everybody suggested the M8 Grip. Figure 5 shows the Leica M8 with the M8 Grip attached. The grip works well for me because I like to clutch a camera in my right hand - meaning the hand wraps around camera and grips it like a fist.