24/25 viewfinders

[sanmich]

Hi all

Please share your experience with your finders...
I would like to avoid the plastic VC finder without investing in a mortgage.
a used Zeiss 25/28 sounds a good choice if I sell the 28 finder I have (great metal VC) but the frame accuracy is apparently so-so.
(see: http://photo.net/leica-rangefinders-forum/00Hdsv )
It has even been advised to use the zeiss 21 finder for the 25 lens...

What say you ?

 

[Al Kaplan]

I've had a plastic 15mm Voightlander finder on my Bessa L for several years. I bought a 21mm Voightlander finder to use on my M3 body with the 21/3.4 Super Angulon, but that rig is a LOT heavier than the Bessa with a 15mm Heliar. The camera swung against a table and the plastic viewfinder broke off from the foot.

 

[BillBingham2]

I've been in love with the metal finders from CV, they are as good as you can get. I used a plastic finder on my L with a 25/4 attached to it all the time. It was my carry everywhere camera. Never had a problem with it. I have one still for the 25/4 in S mount for my Nikon RFs. While they are not built as strong as the metal ones I never experienced any issues.

In Al's example it might have damaged the top of the camera if the finder had been metal (read caused more problems). Break-away is not always a bad thing. Think crumple zone for a camera.

B2 (;->

 

[Avotius]

I have the voigtlander 21 finder that I use on the zeiss 21 2.8, the accuracy is way way off on it, it seems to frame high and way way off on the bottom and left sides. In a way I think it might be better for a 25mm lens but no promises.

 

[Doug]

I have not compared frameline accuracy, but I recently got a Zeiss 25/28 finder for use on the M8 with 18mm lens... while I already had the Voigtlander 25 finder without framelines that came with the Snapshot Skopar and the excellent metal Voigtlander 28mm finder that I've used on the M8 with 21mm lens.

The Zeiss 25/28 is big and bright with almost no barrel distortion. Beautiful view. I expect it will be very enjoyable for dual-use with both 18 and 21mm lenses on the M8, plus the 25mm lenses on film cameras.

Framelines on an RF camera are an approximation at best, and there's usually no field-size correction for focus distance anyway. Some have complained strongly against the "inaccurate" original M8 framelines, but the photographic results are what count. With this issue in mind I've carefully looked over my M8 "captures" but find very few instances where I've gotten more image than I want... That is, I seldom need to crop off unwanted image area except to change the proportions.

So look at your photos to see how your viewfinder is serving you.

 

[Roger Hicks]

The Zeiss Ikon finders are superb. As they should be at the price!

Tashi delek,

R.

 

[marduk]

I'm wondering if Zeiss 21/25 viewfinders are more accurate than those from CV..

 

[Doug]

Divining the meaning of "more accurate" is like standing on shifting sands... One must consider the subject distance. Some frames are accurate at infinity, some at the close-focusing limit, and some at 2 meters like the new Leica accessory finders...

Then there's parallax issues, which Aviotus may refer to, worse at close distance, where the subject is not centered. Or worse, an apparent defect where it's off kilter.

 

[sanmich]

Thanks for all the answers!

could someone that owns both the 21 and 25 compare their field with the actual image of a 25mm focal length lens?
Let say, at 2m distance?
Maybe, as it is suggested, the 21 finder is closer to the 25 FL?

Best to all...

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

My displeasure with the CV plastic finders is what eventually led me to trade in my R3 for an R4. Now I don't use accessory finders at all... both the 21 and 25 finders were way off, in my estimation.

The 15 was pretty decent, though, at least in terms of accuracy.

 

[ferider]

Look for the Leica 24mm finder. The old one that you can get for around US 200 used. Has the most accurate framing.

Anybody know how well the DLux 24mm finder would work ?

Roland.

 

[TJV]

I have the Voigtlander 28mm and 35mm metal finders. The accuracy of the 28mm is average at best on my M7, a little better on my M4-P (shorter body) and the 35mm was pretty bad on my M3.

I lust for the real Leica finders or the Zeiss offerings. I too would be interested to know what the accuracy is like using the Zeiss finders on Leica bodies at 3-5m.

 

[ruby.monkey]

The VC finder is pretty bright, and accurate enough for my needs. Unfortunately mine took an unlucky knock while mounted and the foot snapped, so I'm waiting for the new VC zoom finder to be readily available before I replace it.

 

[sanmich]

Look for the Leica 24mm finder. The old one that you can get for around US 200 used. Has the most accurate framing.

Anybody know how well the DLux 24mm finder would work ?

Roland.

Roland,

do you mean the plastic 12019 ?

Do you mean that it is more accurate no matter what lens I use?
(I have the CV, may upgrade to the zeiss and both are 25mm...)

Thanks

 

[Al Kaplan]

ruby.monkey, the foot snapped off my 15mm VC finder last week. I'd been using it daily for a few years on my Bessa L no problem, but I guess it was the momentum of the much heavier M3 body bumping it into a piece of furniture that did it.

It would be nice if they were molded out of a fiber reinforced plastic. For $128 it could be made a lot sturdier for very little more money.

 

[peter_n]

I use Leica and CV finders. I've replaced the Leica 24mm finder with a CV 25mm finder because I'm afraid that the foot might break on the Leica, it seems a little flimsy to me. I've had no problems with any of the CV finders and I particularly like the tiny 28/35 one.

 

[sanmich]

I just had a quick check on the 35 and 28 VC finder:
They both are "on the safe side". I will from now on compensate by taking into account elements at the limit of the outer side of the frame.
The worse is the close up accuracy of the lower line. Way too conservative...
It seems the position sbave the lens turns these finder to be pretty accurate on the horizontal side (and much better than the built in finder on my M2 for the right side of the frame), but to be less accurate on the vertical side.
Paralax...
I wonder if the lower profile of the mini-finder could do better than these high-profile, on-foot finders...

 

[George S.]

I'm fairly disappointed in the C-V 25mm plastic finder. I literally have to have my eyeball in contact with the damn thing to see the framelines. Anyone else have the same experience, or did I get a lemon?

 

[ferider]

Roland,

do you mean the plastic 12019 ?

Do you mean that it is more accurate no matter what lens I use?
(I have the CV, may upgrade to the zeiss and both are 25mm...)

Thanks

Yes, Michael. I actually like plastic finders since they break first when something happens. And the rectangular profile of the 12019 fits better.

Again, there is also the new DLux finder which might fit well, but I don't know.

Roland.