Leica M8 and CV 12 mm - Which viewfinder and filter

[secon]

I am about to buy a CV 12 mm this week and I just wanted to hear which viewfinder and filters are you using with this combo. Should I give up the 12 mm viewfinder of Cv and get the 15 mm finder of CV to frame correctly. On this forum someone told that the 12 mm finder of CV is very accurate for framing. I am looking forward to hear your experiences.

Serkan

 

[DC1030]

viewfinder for 15 mm - i don't use a filter because you need a special filter holder and then no longer can put the sunshade on.

 

[Bill Blackwell]

12 x 1.33 = 15.96

A 15mm finder would be close enough.

 

[DaveB]

The 15mm CV is just about perfect.

As a practical matter, I usually don't even mount the viewfinder. I guestimate roughly where the four corners should be, shoot, chimp and reshoot as necessary.

I don't like mounting and dismounting the viewfinder whenever I take the camera out of the Pelican case.

Even when I use the viewfinder I find reviewing wide angle shots on the LCD necessary to make sure my horizontals and verticals are OK. The viewfinder is good, but the distortion introduced by the viewfinder doesn't quite match that of the 12mm lens.

 

[Philippe D.]

Same as the dudes above, 15mm Voigt.
No filter, use CornerFix if needed.

 

[chocy]

PM sent on 15mm viewfinder

 

[secon]

Thank you all for your help. So, the 15 mm CV finder seems to be the way to go. I've just missed the days with my Canon 5D and wide angle lenses that I took some landscapes and panoramas. I have only 28 Zeiss as the widest lens on my Leica set up. SO, landscapes will be my primary goal with this 12 mm lens. So I hope 15 mm viewfinder, at least, gives a very accurate framing opportunity form close range to infinity.

Serkan

 

[Cindy Flood]

The 12mm lens is a blast on the M8. Forget the filter and use the 15mm finder as everyone has stated. It makes the M8 a fun P&S, too.

 

[HenningW]

I use the Milich filter adapter and Cornerfix, and either the 15mm CV finder or the WATE finder. The WATE finder is nice because it has a bubble level, and the 16mm frame lines are very accurate but it's a lump and makes no sense unless you have the WATE as well. The 15CV finder isn't quite as accurate, and without frame lines you have to make sure your eye is in the correct location if you want accuracy but it's the logical choice otherwise. Another possibility is the Zeiss finder for the 16mm Hologon. They're not too expensive and they also come with a bubble level. I got one years ago as an alternate for another lens. The only problem is that it shows less than the 12mm lens covers on the M8, whereas the 15CV is more accurate once you know where to place your eye.

Before I had the Milich adapter I used the CV 77mm filter adapter, but it's huge and a pain; also you have to put something back of the cutout or you'll get reflections through the back.

If you don't have or want to use Cornerfix leave the filter off; IR contamination will be a problem that you will have to deal with (to whatever extent in post production), but will never give the quality of filter use with Cornerfix.

I got the lens right after it became available, and have been delighted with it on film and digital.

Henning

 

[secon]

Thank you Henning for sharing your experience. It seems I need to do some experiments with 15 mm CV finder to be accurate.