28mm viewfinder

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sjgslack

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Hi All,

I’ve a question about 28mm viewfinders that I thought people may be able to help with.
I’ve looked through the Leica 12009 finder, and it seems excellent. Other options seem to be the Ricoh GV-2 and the Zeiss (not sure the model number).
The Ricoh can be found new for a bit less than the Leica 2nd hand.
Has anyone used all of these? Does anyone know first hand how much better (if at all) the Leica is than the Ricoh?

Many thanks!
Silas
 
I have been searching for a good 28mm finder for some time. The 12009 is made with a plastic shell which I think looks rather cheap (for such an expensive product). Leitz also produced the old metal SLOOZ 28mm finder but these are quite old and some have fungus or haze which is very difficult to reach. The Zeiss finder has 25mm and 28mm framelines, so it is busy (but if you also use 25mm lenses, could be useful). The Voigtlander metal 28mm finder is one of the best options, but sadly discontinued and expensive. Before that was a plastic 28mm bright line finder which was pretty good. The Sigma VF-11 is similar to the Ricoh GV-2: small, plastic, portable. AFAIK since these are made for pns cameras they have a smaller view to keep the size down. The Sigma VF-31 is the opposite: massive and metal (it’s really large!). There is a new cheapo plastic finder on ebay these days, I don’t think it’s great but it might be an inexpensive option. That’s all I can remember off the top of my head besides the zoom finders! I beleieve you’ll be disappointed with the Ricoh if you expect to use it a lot, but the portability is also an advantage!
 
The out of production Voigtlander's have really gone up in price, if you're lucky enough to find one. If your M camera has a .72 finder, you can use the entire finder for framing a 28.
 
I would also recommend the Voigtlander finder. Get one now while you can still find them in like-new condition; the cost will only go up, while the condition will go down. At about $300 for true mint, they're still a bargain. I got one a couple of months ago, mint, at $199 because I was the only bidder, so good deals are out there. And the finders are superb quality, crisp and clear brightlines, minimal distortion. Chrome or black paint over brass, much nicer than Leica's cheapo!
The 28/35 mini finder is okay, but cluttered. Nice for convenience and compactness; I have one that I bought years ago when they were affordable, but I would never by one now at the going prices.
 
The Leica finder is the worst of the bunch, Zeiss is the best. The CV finder is really good. You can cheat an find the Ricoh finder for the GR Digital which is a CV 21mm with 28mm framelines.

Phil Forrest
 
Not trolling, and not trying to start rumors, but I'm not sure Zeiss is still making their finders. Or perhaps they're just in very limited production. At B&H, they're a special order item now. There's no doubt less demand with mirrorless/live view.
The Zeiss finder is also a 25/28 combination, so it does suffer somewhat from cluttered viewing.
 
I had a metal Voigtlander 28mm viewfinder but found it difficult to use with glasses -not enough eye relief. I then bought the Leica plastic viewfinder. I can use it easily with my glasses on and optically it is superb. One point: it is 0 diopters whereas the Voigtlander, if I remember correctly, is -1 diopters. My old eyes are happier with 0 diopters i.e. as if viewing the scene at infinity rather than 1 meter away.

Its shoe is offset so it fits nicely on a Leica screwmount while allowing the shutter dial setting to be read -it was designed for that camera, in my view. There is even a version with a lever to provide grip, clearly designed with the Leica II in mind. I don't think it looks cheap at all. It is simply black plastic and if you don't like plastic then of course the only other option is a metal one.
 
One more note while we're talking diopter strength: Zeiss finders are unique in taking screw-in diopters, same thread as Bessa rangefinders, Nikon, and many others. Not so much of an issue for viewing, as opposed to focusing, but if your eyes are really poor it could be the deciding feature.
 
Deardorff38 said:
There are a number of metal Voigtlander finders currently for sale on *bay for under $300. I don't think they'll be getting any cheaper in the future. Also one similar looking Nikon finder for $200. The asking price for the 28/35 mini finder has hit as much as $700
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1148893324...sTtiAUGsEtWVAO2RyJ9S|ampid:PL_CLK|clp:2334524
Click to expand...

The Voigtlander-esque Nikon finder actually has a 4:3 aspect ratio. But the Nikon DF-CP1, made for the Coolpix A, is a proper 2:3 28mm finder! I forgot to mention it.
 
The Zeiss is superb. Having the 25 and 28 frame lines may make it a bit cluttered, but it also allows you to see what’s just outside the 28 frame. The view through a Zeiss finder is much clearer than either Leica or Voightlander. The Zeiss also has a rubber eyepiece ring that can save your glasses if you wear them. The only downside is the price.
 
I have quite a lot of 28mm finders, although I never use 28mm lenses.

The best is a quite modern Nikon finder with the marking DF-CP1. No 28mm is written on it, but it is a 28mm. Get it when you can.

I also have the "twin-mini-finder" by Cosina. It has framelines for 35mm and 28mm lenses. Why oh why didn't they make two minifinders, one for 35mm and the other for 28mm? These would have been the best finders available. Now it is quite useless.

The 35mm brightline finders from Nikon for their rangefinders are quite good, but the Leitz SBLOO is much better because the bright line anticipates the distortion of the viewfinder image. Very useful.

The greatest of all finders is the Leitz SBOOI, the classic 50mm finder. Very rare in black.

Erik.
 
Thanks!

I'm ok with the plastic aspect of the 12009... I can see that the SLOOZ may be better, but I think the compactness of the 12009 would be good.

I hadn't thought of the Voigtlander-- I once had the 15mm and the finder was great, so will keep an eye out for one of those.

I had never heard of the Nikon DF-CP1, which looks great! it also looks like I won't find one for reasonable money 🙂

Sounds like the Ricoh one may be a disappointment...

I think having seen all your responses I might stick with finding a 12009 on eBay. At least I've used one and am happy with it.

Thanks again for all the input 🙂
 
sjg, I think it's worth considering that both the 12009 and the plastic version of the Voigtlander are susceptible to breakage due to the design with the plastic base.
 
sjgslack said:
... I’ve a question about 28mm viewfinders ... Does anyone know first hand how much better (if at all) the Leica is than the Ricoh? ...
Click to expand...
Try to remember it's an accessory finder. They're all about the same, but the metal Zeiss finders are most definitely the best and brightest. None, however, are worth significantly more than what you'd spend on a Ricoh or Voigtlander finder (IMHO). They all have glass elements. Also look here (note that the $60 finder I referenced is - unfortunately - no longer available).
 
Deardorff38 said:
sjg, I think it's worth considering that both the 12009 and the plastic version of the Voigtlander are susceptible to breakage due to the design with the plastic base.
Click to expand...
I've owned and used these finders (CV and [plastic base] Leica) for many years and I've never had one break on me. I did have an issue once with dust getting into a plastic Leica finder (only that one); I ultimately got rid of it.
 
Bill Blackwell said:
I've owned and used these finders (CV and [plastic base] Leica) for many years and I've never had one break on me. I did have an issue once with dust getting into a plastic Leica finder (only that one); I ultimately got rid of it.
Click to expand...

Bill, I have seen one with a broken foot...so despite the clean glass it was no longer usable. So that along with my long term use of the metal finders has led to my preference for them
 
I haven't used the Leica, Zeiss, or Voigtlander finders, but I have used both styles of Canon 28mm viewfinders, the manual parallax correction, and the auto parallax design (for use with the appropriate Canon bodies). Both rangefinders performed beautifully and cost 1/3 to 1/2 what is being charged for the other finders. I recommend that you at least check them out before you buy.
 
There is one thing I can't stand with part of these finders:
The combined frame lines for very close FLs.
I understand why it is used (the optics are better fitted).
In the field, having 28 and 25, or 21 and 25 frames combined in the same finder is horrible, at least for me (I tend to shoot wides quickly/intuitively)
I use the CV finder, and while optically it's worse than the Zeiss, in use, I find it much easier to use.
 
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