jlw
Rangefinder camera pedant
The Imarect is a really crappy finder. Another disadvantage besides those mentioned is that it's a masking-type finder: it shows an image sized for a 35mm lens, and then masks it down smaller and smaller to cover longer lenses. By the time you get down to 75mm, there isn't much left.
If you want to use a variable finder, look for a zoom finder such as a Nikon, or a Tewe or other independent brands. These have variable magnification, so that the longer-lens settings produce a larger image. One advantage of the independent brands is that they cost a lot less than an Imarect, in addition to being better.
A DISadvantage of variable finders in general is that they tend to be taller and may not put your eye in a convenient position. I've got a Tewe finder that I sometimes use on my R-D 1, but its height and position are such that when I put my eye to the finder, the tip of my nose invariably winds up in the camera eyepiece, smudging it.
If you want to use a variable finder, look for a zoom finder such as a Nikon, or a Tewe or other independent brands. These have variable magnification, so that the longer-lens settings produce a larger image. One advantage of the independent brands is that they cost a lot less than an Imarect, in addition to being better.
A DISadvantage of variable finders in general is that they tend to be taller and may not put your eye in a convenient position. I've got a Tewe finder that I sometimes use on my R-D 1, but its height and position are such that when I put my eye to the finder, the tip of my nose invariably winds up in the camera eyepiece, smudging it.
furcafe
Veteran
Good point, if I was that much into precise framing, I'd use SLRs more often. Now my imagination isn't particularly good, but I use a M6/M7 often enough that it's not difficult to visualize 75mm coverage inside the 50mm frame. I don't know what Leica's "safety factor" is compared to Epson/Cosina's, but I always get more on film than I expect when using the 50/75mm frames on the M6/M7 & that has seemed to hold true for the R-D1 as well & I can live w/that. The 135mm finders I'm familiar with provide either too tight a FOV (CZJ/Carl Zeiss) or too wide (Nikon & Canon), @ moderately close focus distances (e.g., 2-5m).
jlw said:
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