28mm P&S with viewfinder

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v_roma

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Hi,

I am thinking of cannibalizing a cheap P&S with a 28mm lens to make an external viewfinder for a Ricoh GRD. This is just for bright sunny days and to get an idea of framing so I don't want to spend $200 on either a Ricoh or a CV 28mm viewfinder.

I know it's a long shot, but does anyone have experience doing this (specifically for a 28mm VF) and that could recommend a cheap P&S to get the VF from?

Thanks!
Roma
 
Roma, most of the 28mm p&s cameras I have shot had viewfinders that were no where close to the actual field of view. They were either too narrow, or too wide.

PF
 
Hi,
I think is better if you wait and save money for a second-hand GV-1 finder.
This is my experience on this:
1- first, I try to use a Canon 28 finder (for Canon RF cameras) with manual parallax correction, black: I take it on E-Bay, from USA and spend about 80 euros for the auction, postal service, custom duty & VAT (a lot!). Unlucky with it, the area of the view was to much narrow (I wear glasses....), GRD is in 4/3 and there was a lot af things unexpected in the pics......the only way to get sharp framing was to use the GRD III in 1/1....in a winter chilly day my hands was almost frozen and it fall on the ground: the front lens (two elements glued togheter) get a bad crank and now rest on the shelf...:bang:
2- try to buy the GV-1 used on E-Bay...I find one in England for about 75 Euros but my bid was to low and I missed it for few pence.....😡
3- a member of italian "Leicapassion" forum solded his Epson RD-1 and have one of those GV-1 finder he used for 21 mm lens on film and on digital (the GV-1 finder is both for 21 & 28 frame).....selling the RD-1 he didn't need it any more so I take it for 75 Euros.
The finder is good, a lot! It's sharp and contrasty and the view match the GRD sensor almost perfectly....I think is built by Voigtlaender/Cosina, because I own the 15 CV finder for the Super-Wide Heliar and they resemble each other a lot.
The Ricoh GV-1 finder is slightly adjusted on the right side of the camera top, so the flash-light can easily pop-up.
They, both, are bright and confortable even for my glasses.....
I must tell You.....in real life 1 Euro worth the same of 1 Dollar, even if the excange is 1.4 dollars for 1 euro (I mean You, in Europe, can buy the same for 1 Euro You can buy in USA for 1 Dollar) so I think You can find the finder second-hand for the same 75 Dollars I spend in Euro....
4- the chapest way to build a finder is to use (and destroy) a "disposable-camera":

http://www.flickr.com/groups/analogica/discuss/72157621951618618/?search=mirino

http://www.ragarecords.com/photo/diy_viewfinder.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wt-gr/sets/72157619378706956/detail/

The second link is in english.....the first in italian, but if You follow those links there You will find some cheap old P&S cameras that could fit....

PS: I'm sorry for my terrible english, but I learn it at school......
 
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The Ricoh Caplio GX8 have an optical viewfinder though I don't know quite how accurate it is in relation to what is being captured. Probably something like 90-95% would I estimate it to. Having checked two reviews but it is not being mentioned.
Speaking from my Ricoh Caplio 500G/SE (it is based on the GX8) which are water, shockproof and dustproof design and aimed towards industrial use mainly. Its viewfinder is like a tunnel but certainly not useless would it have been a usual GX8.
On the 500SE, the left lower part of the viewfinder are blocked by the rugged shell which has to cover the zoom as well. I don't know what GRD you are using but the jpeg output from the GX8 and 500G/SE reminds much about the GRD1 and the zoom tend to be sharp at f2.5 as well as long as it is a good copy.
Just a thought.
 
thegman said:
Not cheap, and it's film, but the Klasse W from Fujifilm is 28mm, has a finder, and is a superb camera.
Click to expand...

Having just attained one and seeing the results... even with mine being "sort of" not fully functional - I would heartily concur - it's an awesome film P&S cam.

Dave
 
Thank you all for the input so far even those who only skimmed through my post and suggested $600 cameras to destroy for the viewfinders 😉

If I do go ahead with this, I'll be sure to post back results.

Ps: special thanks to 39per1 for the detailed and helpful reply. Your English is perfectly understandable by the way.
 
Thanks. I ended up going with an Olympus Trip AF 60 for a similar price. Haven't received it yet so we'll see how it works out.
 
I know this is a very late post to the original question, but here's my alternative:

The Pentax PC-550. The 28mm viewfinder in this little ripper is HUGE! It's actually one of my favourite cameras, simply because it's so odd: one shutter speed (1/100), fixed aperture (f5.6), runs on 2xAA's, great shutter button, and a sliding lens cover.

Don't go anywhere near Nikon's AF600: it has the tiniest viewfinder of all time; I reckon it's easier to squint through a Leica III than that Nikon.

There was also a Pentax PC-330 (with a 26mm lens).
 
3 years too late, but for reference purposes:Get a disposable film camera and salvage the viewfinder. I tried it and couldn't do it. Maybe you could.
 
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