external finder on Leica 18mm 3.8 ASPH

[ramosa]

Hello All,

I shoot with an M8 and am planning to purchase a Leica 18mm 3.8 ASPH. I will use it for wide landscapes. It will join my 28mm Elmarit ASPH and 50mm Summicron. Eventually, I’ll add something longer (e.g., 135mm or 90mm).

For the 18mm 3.8 ASPH, I have read about three options for an external viewfinder: 1) use no external finder and just shoot the entire M8 viewfinder; 2) use the new Leica 18mm external finder; and 3) use the new Leica 24mm external finder. Per the second and third options, it appears that some folks like a larger in-finder image and, thus, use the 24mm external finder, while other folks prefer to see outside of the focal image and, thus, use the 18mm external finder.

Do any of you have experience with the Leica 18mm 3.8 ASPH? And, if so, which of the above options would you recommend?

Great thanks for any help you can offer. 🙂

 

[Roger Hicks]

Not the Leica 18 but the Zeiss 18 -- and I'd go for an external finder WITHOUT HESITATION. Personally I like the Zeiss 25: cheaper than a Leica 24. I don't agree with the idea of the oversize finder at all.

Incidentally grey-on-white is a bugger to read. I assume you use a black background?

Cheers,

R.

 

[ramosa]

Roger,

Thanks on two counts. First, let me check this. Yes, the background is black. So is it best for me to write in white text? (It naturally selects grey, but I can change it. I'm using a new computer and monitor, so need to relearn some things.)

Second, if you read this (no joke), thanks for your input on the finder. Just so I understand your comment about not using an oversized finder. You're recommending that I'd use the 18mm finder with the 18mm, right?

Thanks--and hope you can read this message in white! (Man, I may be writing white on black, but it may be all white to you, in which case, I'm not communicating at all 🙁).

 

[oldoc]

Why not just save 2500.00 and get the CV 15/4.5? Even in LTM, which I have, it's a jewel.
If you really want to lose any vignetting, and get the M and hand code, you can buy a nice M7 with the difference...

 

[kbg32]

Other options are the CV 25. I had gotten a great deal on the Leitz 24mm finder here at RFF. Love it!

 

[kbg32]

I wouldn't recommend the CV 15 for the M8. The older one has given me so-so results. The Zeiss 18 is fantastic.

 

[Freakscene]

On the M8, use the Zeiss 25 mm finder. The 18 mm shows a wider field of view than the 18 mm gives you on the M8. The Zeiss finders are absolutely the way to go.

Marty

 

[hiromu]

I have SE18 and used on my M8 with either Leica 24mm or Voigtlander 25mm (I have both) and either one works fine. It is very nice wide angle on M8 but a bit too wide on films. Since I am shooting more films, i will probably end up selling the Super Elmar sometime soon... Watch out for RFF ads.🙂

The other option is, obviously, zeiss finder, which is supposed to be super. But on digital body, you can review the images, you may not need an external finder ONLY IF you are shooting stable subject such as landscape or architectures.

Hiromu

 

[sepiareverb]

The Leica 18mm finder is a dream, and if you like the viewfinder when using a 50mm on a .72 camera then I'd go for the 18 VF. I use it for my 24 on film M's as I prefer the 'extra' beyond FOV.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Yes, it was all white, so I couldn't see it at all in the new version. Select 'automatic' I think, for easy legibility.

On the M8 I'd use 24/25mm; on M9 or 35mm, 18mm.

I also have the 15/4.5 and it's very good (with a 20/21mm finder) but I think the 18mm Zeiss (with 24/25mm finder on M8) is even better and I would be surprised if the 18mm Leica with coding were not better still -- but I've not tried it.

Cheers,

R.

 

[ramosa]

On the M8, use the Zeiss 25 mm finder. The 18 mm shows a wider field of view than the 18 mm gives you on the M8. The Zeiss finders are absolutely the way to go.

Marty

Marty, thank you. good to get your comments on the zeiss, and i like the price, too.

 

[ramosa]

I have SE18 and used on my M8 with either Leica 24mm or Voigtlander 25mm (I have both) and either one works fine. It is very nice wide angle on M8 but a bit too wide on films. Since I am shooting more films, i will probably end up selling the Super Elmar sometime soon... Watch out for RFF ads.🙂

The other option is, obviously, zeiss finder, which is supposed to be super. But on digital body, you can review the images, you may not need an external finder ONLY IF you are shooting stable subject such as landscape or architectures.

Hiromu

Hiromi: thank you. i see your point--and will benefit from it.

 

[ramosa]

The Leica 18mm finder is a dream, and if you like the viewfinder when using a 50mm on a .72 camera then I'd go for the 18 VF. I use it for my 24 on film M's as I prefer the 'extra' beyond FOV.

i guess i can cross out options 1 and 3. your referring to the leica as a "dream" is certainly having an impact. thank you.

 

[ramosa]

Yes, it was all white, so I couldn't see it at all in the new version. Select 'automatic' I think, for easy legibility.

On the M8 I'd use 24/25mm; on M9 or 35mm, 18mm.

I also have the 15/4.5 and it's very good (with a 20/21mm finder) but I think the 18mm Zeiss (with 24/25mm finder on M8) is even better and I would be surprised if the 18mm Leica with coding were not better still -- but I've not tried it.

Cheers,

R.

Roger,

for good reason or not, i'm a sucker for the 6-bit coding. i know it doesn't matter that much for some lenses and you can hand code for others, but simplicity--and ease--seem to have more and more of an effect on me as i age.

 

[Hacker]

Do the frame lines confuse as the finder is for both the M8 and the M9? Thinking of getting the Leica but keep hearing that the Zeiss is just as good or even better. I'm using it on the M9 only.

 

[D&A]

Hacker, not really (the frame lines do not confuse). The outer ones are an entiure white rectangle and the inner one are just the "L" shapeed corners..sort of like the 50 & 75mm framelines you see in a M8 viewfinder. The "L" shaped corners are even easier since the paralex dashed horizontal lines in the finder line up with the two top "L" shaped brackets almost making the top of a rectabgle for the inner frame lines. Sounds cumbersome to describe but once seen, you'll quickly understand. My comments here are strickly for use with the M9 and 18mm AND if you think you might at some point (or already do) use a 24/25mm on that M9. Then in this case the Lieca finder is the only game in town if you want to use a single finder for both focal lengths. If its just about using a 18mm only...then as others suggestied, there are many great chocies in different price brackets.

Dave (D&A)

 

[Hacker]

Thanks Dave. I have ordered the 18mm VF.

 

[D&A]

You're most welcome Hacker. I do though feel embarrassed by the incredably large number of spelling mistakes in my post "above". I was in a rush and typing very fast as the time...still its even hard for me to make out what I wrote 🙂. Let us know how you like the finder. Thanks!

Dave (D&A)

 

[sepiareverb]

the new Leica finders are much nicer than the previous versions in my opinion. I have the ZM 25 also and wile the larger area is nice the snap and brightness of the leicas is what bowls me over. And they're more compact too!

 

[Richard G]

I have an M9-P and I cannot get either my Zeiss 25/28 or 21 to mount in the accessory shoe. It doesn't look close to going in, and I am terrified that if I push hard it might go in, and then not come out. Anyone had trouble with these finders and M9s?