24mm without the finder on a 0.72 M7 ?

[dcsang]

Hi folks,

I have a curiosity....I'm considering going a bit wider than 28mm (currently owning the 28mm CV Ultron) and I'm looking at, potentially, the 24mm Elmar.

Yes, I'm aware of the Zeiss 25mm 😀 😀

I'm curious, can I get away with using the 24mm on my 0.72 M7 and "approximate" the 24mm field of view, that is, use the entire viewfinder window in the 0.72?

In other words, I don't want to (or currently can't afford.. take your pick 😀 😀) the external finder.

Curious and in need of help (in more ways than one),
Dave

 

[Ken Ford]

I tried this a few years ago with a CV 25mm and it didn't work for me. A shame, too - that was a nice little lens.

YMMV, of course.

 

[sepiareverb]

If you have any desire to print full frame it won't work. The real 28 FOV is nearly the full viewfinder at any distance, the 24 will give you more. With a .58 you might be close, but not with a .72.

 

[dcsang]

Dang... I would rather not have to spring for a new 24mm finder - and I don't really want to go to a 25mm .. *sigh*

Dave

 

[menos]

As has been said - using a 28 on a 0.72 is already frame at edge.
If you frame seriously, you won't come around saving up for that finder :-(

 

[Chuck Albertson]

Nah, just get the finder. I use it most of the time I'm shooting with the 24. Don't have to adjust focus or exposure very often, so it's just frame and shoot. The Elmarit and hood takes up a quarter of the view through the .72 viewfinder, and I think the Elmar sticks out further.

You can probably get a cheap(er) 25 finder, which will work fine.

 

[Tim Gray]

A lot of people might say yes, but I think 28 is the limit for the built in finder.

Now if I was shooting fast, like up close shots of people, then the built in finder might be ok. Frame what you want and who cares about what shows up on the edges. But if that's the case, why not shoot with a 28 to begin with?

 

[peter_n]

It won't work Dave, at least with my Elmarit. I've got three finders, including the insultingly expensive Leica one, and my favorite is the Pany DMW-VF1, all metal and very sturdy. No more cracked feet... 🙂

 

[dcsang]

Ooo... Peter.. that one will work?? I mean.. I thought it would provide the "24mm equivalent" view on the Panasonics.. but it will work for a full frame 24mm field of view on a full frame body?

If so, then perhaps that may be better 🙂

Thanks !
Dave

 

[peter_n]

Dave it has an almost identical view to the 25mm CV finder. It has a 24mm frameline and I use mine on an MP. It also has some barrel distortion at the edges that gets worse as you go outside the frameline, but then so does the insultingly expensive Leica. I've been looking for all metal VFs, and this Pany works well for me and is less expensive than the plastic 25mm CV.

 

[dcsang]

That's awesome Peter.. THANK YOU 🙂
It makes me feel a lot "better" (well, not "better" per se.. just means I would have to spend less money *LOL*) than having to shell out for the Leica finder..

Cheers,
Dave

 

[peter_n]

I don't know if anyone else uses the Pany here, I think Bob (sepiareverb) might have tried it. The barrel distortion is better on the CV as are the parallax marks in the brightline, but the Pany won for me on size and the all-metal construction. Below is a very quick snap I just took to illustrate the size difference.

 

[dcsang]

Ya.. I agree Peter - as much as I like CV finders - those big plastic ones are a bit much.. the smaller metal ones that they have are nicer (28mm, 35mm .. and the 28/35mm mini) - the Pany 24mm looks to be about the right size for the M7..

Cheers,
Dave