28mm P&S with viewfinder

V

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
 
Fuji Tiara, Tiara II, and the Konica Off-Road 28 WB all share sharp 28mm optics. Really awesome cameras for the price.
 
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.....:mad:
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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