Universal Finder

[dragonx]

just won a universal turret finder with an auction for a canter beauty rangefinder. does anyone know if i can use it with other cameras and lenses? it sure is a cute little thing.
i use finders for my 25mm biogon and my 15mm heliar on my leica, but have yet to try the various finders on other cameras, especially the universal ones.
great thread.

 

[rbiemer]

If it is one of the Russian(FSU) finders, then it will have individual lenses for five different lenses: 28, 35, 50, 85, and 135. So you will still need the finders for your 25 and 15. It should fit most any camera with a standard flash/accessory/cold/hot shoe.
The biggest concern will likely be if the shoe is centered over the lens or off set.
And the FSU finder has, umm, very basic parallax correction. If you're shooting at "infinity" there is one setting. And there is a second setting for 1 meter. And that's pretty much it.
Still, I like mine.
And, Welcome aboard!
Rob

 

[ruben]

just won a universal turret finder with an auction for a canter beauty rangefinder. does anyone know if i can use it with other cameras and lenses? it sure is a cute little thing.
i use finders for my 25mm biogon and my 15mm heliar on my leica, but have yet to try the various finders on other cameras, especially the universal ones.
great thread.

Hi Dragon,
Congratulations for havind made a very intelligent purchase. Compared to a single finder, the Universal is biggy. But compared to five single finders, the Universal is quite smaller.

Compared to other competing multi finders, the parallax compensation of the Universal is rather crude. But get one of those high priced multi-finders with fine grain parallax compensation, and you will go crazy for each shot.

With some forgiveness claimed by any rangefinder camera against an SLR, the Soviet Universal Turret Finder is one of the most usefull items for a person with many lenses. Originally designed by the German Zeiss Ikon, in this case the Soviets improved the original version by eliminating the German dark surrounding of the Turret image, and making instead a kind of web around the actual image, not interfering and yet allowing to see the surroundings.

In case you want dead on accuracy, you will have to study what each focal length produces at short distances starting with 10ft for the 135mm, and closer, comparing the image at the Turret against the image in your camera, whithout film but some creamy paper or ground glass where the film is supposed to be. But this is close to madness and in any case you will end acceptably close to the real image.

Another use of the Turret by people carrying lenses either for RF cameras or SLR, is as the quickest way to learn the different compositions they can do with the lenses they carry, before mounting them to the camera.

Just beware the Turret will not fall from your cameras or hand, via preventive measures of your own creativity. At the third time the prisms inside the Turret will start to break.

And now that you have the Turret, and you seem to lack cameras, it's time to start collecting FSU stuff, both cameras and lenses. They are so cheap that it is a pitty to leave them at the shelf.

Cheers,
Ruben

 

[ErnestoJL]

I´m using a FOCA (french made) turret finder for 28/35/50/85/135 in the Contax. This finder is centered on the acc. shoe, and was designed during the ´50s for the FOCA cameras. This cameras had the VF in line with the lens so parallax correction is very easy. No frame lines, just as a Contax / Kiev VF.

The other VF I´m using in the Kiev came from a novelty camera and is a home made version of the Tele-Wide finders: 35 mm in normal position, and reversed, very close to 135 with apropriate masking. This is OK when you have just two lenses (35&135) other than the normal. Besides, it was cheap, and bright.

Ernesto

 

[oscroft]

I have an FSU turret finder, but I prefer the Helios finder - it has frames for 35mm and 85mm (and 135mm) which are the only two focal lengths I have apart from 50, and for 50 I just use the camera viewfinder.

MrCad has had the Helios finder advertised as "Last few, special price" for £6 for the best part of a year now - whenever the "number remaining" gets down very low they miraculously seem to find some more. (I can't navigate the MrCad site now - all I get is lots of SQL errors).

 

[oscroft]

I can't navigate the MrCad site now - all I get is lots of SQL errors

Ah yes, it's ok now. Several months ago they had about 6 left in their "Last few special low price" deal - now they've only got 57 left 🙂

 

[mike goldberg]

I enjoy a Rostow 35.
Check with alex_photo ... a reliable eBay Seller of FSU gear.

Cheers, mike

 

[wolves3012]

I recently got one of the FSU turret finders - mainly since I "won" (on the bay) a FED3 which came inclusive of a Jupiter 12 for a ridiculously low price (and turned out that camera and lens are both excellent). I've since got a Jupiter 11 too, so the finder was needed. It does the job quite well. The parallax correction may be a bit crude but it's good enough - I'd use an SLR if the shot demanded more accuracy! I was quite impressed by the optical elements in the finder, now I see why they aren't so very cheap!