Leica LTM 35 mm finder

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
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presspass

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The Leica ones are high dollar and most have loose glass. The Voightlanders are fine but I wonder if there are any other new finders for this focal length, even if they are not intended for an LTM camera? Any suggestions?
Thanks.
 
presspass said:
The Leica ones are high dollar and most have loose glass. The Voightlanders are fine but I wonder if there are any other new finders for this focal length, even if they are not intended for an LTM camera? Any suggestions?
Thanks.
Click to expand...

PP,

The best LTM finder ever I found to be is the one for the Pentax-L 43/1.9. It has bright-frames for 43mm and 50mm, but if you use the entire VF'er it is perfect for 35mm. The Pentax-L VF'er also has a diopter adjustment, and on a IIIG I can use the diopter on the camera as well as the one on the VF'er to shoot without my glasses.

I'm sorry that this might not be helpful because the Pentax-L is kinda rare, and finding a VF'er available separately might be remote, but in the spirit of your search I decided to add to your thread anyways in an attempt to be helpful.

Cal
 
I use a Russian viewfinder.... Made by KMZ. It lacks brightlines but its been accurate on every body I've used it on. Big, clear image. Inexpensive, too, so if I lose it or break it I won't be too horribly upset.

I have Voigtlander finders for my 21 and 25 and they are great but this KMZ is my only 35 so it sees a lot of use.
 
I have a leica 35mm finder, would it be obvious if it has this loose glass you mention? Seems fine to me..
 
In 35mm, I previously had a Canon finder (the early chrome funnel-shaped one), which was very good but the view is fairly small and there are no brightlines. I still have and use a late Komura brightline finder (I think this was originally intended for the 35/2.8; I actually ended up with two of these relatively rare finders and sold one off last year). The glass has a light tint to it and the brightlines are fairly clear. It's not 1:1, but it's a pretty large view.

I'm still looking for one of the auto-parallax adjusting Canon ones in this focal length.
 
There is also a very good Nikon 35m brightline finder for the Nikon S2. Prices vary. Last year I bought one of those for EUR 35 on eBay. There is also a chrome Nikon 35mm finder for the Nikon S, but that finder has no brightlines and the Nikon S has no 24 x 36 mm frame but 24 x 32 mm.

Erik.
 
I prefer metal brightline finders for most occasions. Sports finders when action is more the thing.

There are many companies that have made good ones. CV metal are my favorite, I like their plastic ones too, but their metal just look VERY GOOD. I have a sneaking suspicion that they make most of the new ones for everyone for the last ten years.

Nikon, Canon, Leica and even the off brand (by today's standards), long as they are brightline the are great.

With regards to shaking, I used to worry, but I've gotten over it. Framing a RF is not as exact a science as say an SLR is. Odds are if it's loose enough to impact it shot then the glass will fall out I about 10 minutes.

B2(;->
 
PP,

I forgot to mention that the Pentax-L VF'er has the offset and is made for LTM. On a M-Body of course this offset adds an error.

Cal
 
Ranchu said:
I have a leica 35mm finder, would it be obvious if it has this loose glass you mention? Seems fine to me..
Click to expand...
X2. But some earlier model SBLOO's have loose glass, but the later ones are normally OK. I also have the Voitlander and it is very well made, and solid.
 
My Leica 35 rattled. I dropped it the other day and it started rattling a lot more..drove me crazy. I cut two tiny leather shim slivers and pushed them under the chrome inside the rear glass The rattling stopped. It seems tight as new and I can't even see the shims. Just don't force anything.
 
The Sony Zeiss 35 on the Nicca in my profile pic is very nice and comes up often for around $150. Another is the Leica 36mm for the X1/2/... Pretty bright. The Sony Zeiss is the best I've seen yet IMO.
 
Hello
You can try this
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VIEWFINDER-...336262?hash=item3d359ab486:g:s8IAAOSwVL1WEknO

I have a small japanese Helios viewfinder with lines for 35mm, 85 mm and 135 mm. Try googlin "Helios viewfinder" and have a look at the first images. It was quite inexpensive when I bought it. It might be the same (or very similar ) to the viewfinder that came with Yashica add-on lenses set.

Regards
Joao
 
Thank you Ranchu! It fell to the parking lot as I was getting out of my car. I thought it was a tight fit on my CL but it fell out anyway. Tape from now on! They never fall on grass!
 
Thanks for the replies. I'm probably going for the Sony/Zeiss as I like the ZI finders I already have. BTW, B&H is selling them new for $199.
 
presspass said:
Thanks for the replies. I'm probably going for the Sony/Zeiss as I like the ZI finders I already have. BTW, B&H is selling them new for $199.
Click to expand...
Terrific Price on such a quality unit. One of my friends paid way more for one new a couple years back, and the glass is so clear and sharp looking through his. If I remember correctly, I am sure it cost him almost $500 CAN delivered into Canada.
 
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