Inexpensive 90mm finder

[cmedin]

Well, I just picked up a III from one of our members, and he included a 90/4 Elmar that Youxin worked his magic on and has now problaimed healthy. I will need a finder. I'm guessing I could get away with an 85mm as well, so what should I be looking for that's nice and cheap? 🙂 One of the russian turret finders?

 

[rbiemer]

I use and like the Russian turret finder; it is both nice and cheap. I like that the ares outside of the lens view is not completely blacked out but you can see outside the frame. There are FSU finders specifically for 85mm, I've not owned one but they seem to have an OK reputation.
I have also used a Canon 85mm finder that was pretty good but not likely to be cheap--the last one I noticed on ebay was about $65.
And you could consider one of the generic "tele-wide" finders; those have two frame lines I never was sure what the exact FOV was for those but I used one for my 90/4 Elmar(until I upgraded to the FSU finder and, now, the Bessa R) with OK results. No parallax correction though, just marks on the frame lines for close up. Typically very little money, I think I might've paid $10 for the one I had.
I'm sure there are other choices than just the ones I mention but these are what I've used.
Good hunting!

 

[peterm1]

I have a bit of a fixation with finders and have bought several over the years. The little Canon cylindrical shaped finder is small, convenient and usually not too expensive on eBay - although I probably would not call them cheap exactly. I find them to work OK although the view through them is a little poky and constrained but still reasonably clear. I have also found the Leica multifinder (VIOOH) to be quite good and often relatively inexpensive to buy (for Leica gear.) The only problem is that for the longer lenses they do not magnify the image, but rather two right angled corners move together or apart to reduce or enlarge the area viewed. For longer lenses this makes for a pretty small image as the frames sort of reduce the size of the image to the relevant size for the lens in use - unlike most turret finders which act like telescopes and enlarge the image. This is a little odd although it works quite well in practice. Then there are many 3rd party bright-line type finders that can be picked up cheaply. Most of these do not have parallax adjustment - just two sets of markings (standard lens and tele-lens) on the viewing glass so it take a bit of guessing to use. The best finders in my opinion (but quite expensive) are the turret finders. If you get one in good condition, the best of these produce an enlarged and bright image for 90mm and 135mm lenses that give a really good view. Keep hunting. You will find that something will turn up. Speaking personally I mainly use the Canon cylindrical finder on my 111a when using my 90mm Elmar because it is small in size and in this respect matches the camera and lens, both of which are also small.

BTW if you do buy a Leica VIOOH I suggest that you make sure it has the correct short tele setting - some had a 73mm setting instead of 90mm.

 

[KenD]

I find the view through my FSU turret finders fine. The cross hairs are handy. You only need the one finder for 28/35/50/85-90/135. The only problem I find is that the ocular is quite a bit above the camera body, so the "hold" feels a touch ackward. All in all I am quite happy with them.

 

[ErnestoJL]

Some time ago I found a Foca (french made) finder covering the usual lenghts from 28 to 135 mm. It´s well made, very small in comparison to their Zeiss, Leitz and Russian counterparts, but is straight, not as the Zeiss/Russian turret finders which are designed to sit over the camera lens axis.
It´s only vertically parallax corrected but I found the horiz. error no to be worried about.

Good hunt!!
Ernesto

 

[dlove5]

I can also vouch for the Canon 85mm viewfinder. I like the fact that it doesn't stick way up above the camera. I was lucky - a good friend gave it to me along with the lens and case that went with it.

 

[Limpovitj]

BTW if you do buy a Leica VIOOH I suggest that you make sure it has the correct short tele setting - some had a 73mm setting instead of 90mm.

To the best of my knowledge, all VIOOHs have a 90mm setting. They do vary in having a 73 or 85mm setting, though (for the 73/1.9 Hektor and the 85/1.5 Summarex).

 

[xayraa33]

the FSU Rostok 85mm finders are good and cheap.

 

[photobizzz]

I purchaed a ROSOL which has 50/90/135 framelines but is a sports finder and is a little big, but not heavy at all. I also am waiting for a finder that is similar to the VIOOH or VIDOM but is different in shape. If you look on *bay for a Nippon varifocal finder or sometimes there are other brands like TEWE, mine is T.O.C. which is a german brand that is no longer made. It was $135 but covers the range from 28-135. I linked a couple of the words to *bay auctions so you could see the style, although the auctions are overpriced.