Do you use accessory finders?

Do you use accessory finders?

  • Yes, always

    Votes: 33 8.5%

  • Yes, always with a Barnack - otherwise sometimes

    Votes: 39 10.1%

  • Sometimes, depends on the lens

    Votes: 245 63.3%

  • Rarely

    Votes: 26 6.7%

  • No, never

    Votes: 44 11.4%
  • Total voters
    387
I am currently using a CV 50mm finder on a Bessa T. The finder is brilliantly bright. I use the VF with the 19mm and 21mm lenses and with the CV 25mm lens too. External finders look very cool and classy and cool and classy ...
 
The CV 35 brightline on a Canon G5 digi, an original Voightlander 'Kontur' on most FSU's
and on the Bessa L with 50's, the CV 25 with the Snap 25, and a Nikon finder with the Nikkor 100/2.
 
I like extreme wides (like 12mm, 15mm) so for those an accessory viewfinder is needed. I use glasses and sometimes using 35mm lenses becomes a bit hard to see on the camera viewfinder, but I wouldn't spend on an external vf for that matter.
 
I have to admit:
I love photographing with an auxilary VF! I somtimes even hafe one on my Nikon FM... or on the DSLR...

The simple reason: not having to deal with the right-sided-brain issue of focusing (and metering etc) is helping me composing the better pictures. The secret trick of HBC :cool:

Pre-focusing, or even better, focus, and switching to the uncluttered aux VF, recompose, and think whats in that picture that is of interest. great fun, and it can quickly become a habit.

This is also the reason why my main camera at the moment is a Nikon F3 equipped with the great "type H" screen (Clear Fresnel field with microprism focusing pattern over the entire screen area. Permits rapid focusing on any part of the screen with optimum edge-to-edge brightness in poor light.)
The "H" screens are totaly uncluttered and the microprism pattern allows focusing everywhere on the screen.

So its the FM, the Kiev, the Contax G2 (doesnt really work good on this cam because of AF) and the various Yashica RF's with aux finders and the F3 with the special screen. Maybe its all because I just don't own a Leica with their better finders. Who knows.

Actually I started a similar thread a while ago, after finding out about my bad habits.
 
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I always use a finder with my cv 15mm and it works well for me (except for the fact that the plastic foot cracked a couple of days ago and now the thing falls off easily).....


I have been using the 35mm nokton on my m3 a lot with gaffers tape covering the frame line window....it sort of sucks to be honest...I can't close focus because my m3 won't allow it, I can't see a lot of what I am getting and it just dosen't feel right.

My m6ttl and m2 have been away getting re-repaired and I have been making do with what I have......using my 28mm on my m3 is not even an option for me right now.

I often use my 28mm on my m2 with gaffers tape on the frame line window and it works fine for me. I've never really considered getting a viewfinder for it.

as much as my set up is struggling now, I have no plans for buying any viewfinders , I am just going to use what I have until I get my m6ttl and m2 back......

cheers, michael
 
Donald, pleased to hear about the SB001 with the 0 series. I have just purchased such a finder to use with my 1A....am looking forward to it and am gladdened by your comments.
David
 
I need to use it whith the CV 12mm lens...
robert
PS but I'm very carefull: I lost one and later I broke another one (falling from my hand :bang:) and it is very expensive...
 
I rarely ever shoot anything wider than 35mm, but if ever I buy that 15mm I'll definitely get an external VF
 
A combination I like - Contax G with VC 28mm, not perfect match, but gives a better preview of the "wideness" of the lens than the built-in viewfinder. And of course awesomely bright.
 
Always with anything wider than 28. I like the contax 21 finder on an M with the 21mm and I think its better than the Leitz version.
 
On the Barnacks and recently the GF1. Mostly the SBOOI with the 20 1.7, a bit narrow, but the size is better than the SBLOO. I got the EVF recently, it works, but the SBOOI is so much nicer for just aiming with an autofocus lens.
 
Oh drats!!

I've just had a reminder that you really have to pay attention to the parallax marks on the external finders when focusing closer than 3 meters.. I've now got a complete roll of 24 perfectly fine shots of people with their arms cut off!
 
pvdhaar said:
Oh drats!!

I've just had a reminder that you really have to pay attention to the parallax marks on the external finders when focusing closer than 3 meters.. I've now got a complete roll of 24 perfectly fine shots of people with their arms cut off!
Click to expand...

What focal length Peter?
 
I have a couple, one for the 15mm SWH, and a VIOOH finder which I use on my old '48 FED/Zorki. The Zorki's viewfinder leaves a lot to be desired; none too bright, and the it's field of view is not that close to it's 50mm lens. With the VIOOH I see exactly what I'm going to get on film.
 
Hi Folks.

Am I the only one here using a Voigtlander Kontur? Maybe that does not really count as a "viewfinder" since there is no view. But it surely does work for my Kiev 4a, offsetting that wee little pipsqueak excuse for a viewfinder it has.
 
I'm still new to rangefinders with interchangeable lenses. :)

My Leica IIIc came with an old Leica multifinder and my J12 with the fixed FSU finder. I've used each once now - the FSU finder with the J12 and the multifinder with an Elmar 9cm. I still am having a hard time feeling confident in both my composition at focus at once.

I think I need to stop worrying about perfect focus and tight-as-possible compositions. I'm accustom to being very strict about each given my SLR background which I just don't think is possible for me while looking through two windows.

More to say on that but I'll keep it for a new thread. :)
 
On my M7 I usually do if I have a wide lens on. But ever since I got my M9 and the ThumbsUp, I haven't bothered.
 
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