Another finder question

[traveler_101]

Hi to all,

I bought a Canon 100mm f/3.5 last year to use on a IIIF for portraiture. It came with a nice finder mounted on a pivot that raises and lowers the image to compensate for parallax. Fine enough for a Canon camera, which apparently had a device to link the finder to the lens cam, but not so great for my camera.

Problem for me is that the shots I took are low; I am cutting off the forehead. My question is: is there someway to make this finder work on my camera or do I need to replace it?

 

[shimokita]

Cameraquest mentions an adjustable Canon finder in the "Choosing Accessory Viewfinders" section. Might be the one you have or not??

Casey

 

[B-9]

These finders are just simply parralax corrected. They do not couple to the camera or lens.
My suggestion, buy a cheap hot shoe to PC sync adapter shoe, this will raise the finder about 3/8"-1/2".

Unfortunately, its going to take a bit of trial and error.

Maybe a zoom finder would work for you? Leica VIOOH finders are cheap as chips.

 

[traveler_101]

Cameraquest mentions an adjustable Canon finder in the "Choosing Accessory Viewfinders" section. Might be the one you have or not??
Casey

No, mine is a single FL (100). Wish I did have the multi-FL "collectible" one Stephen describes . 😀

These finders are just simply parralax corrected. They do not couple to the camera or lens.
My suggestion, buy a cheap hot shoe to PC sync adapter shoe, this will raise the finder about 3/8"-1/2".

Unfortunately, its going to take a bit of trial and error.

Maybe a zoom finder would work for you? Leica VIOOH finders are cheap as chips.

Apparently, this finder was designed to attach to some kind of cam on the Canon camera because the spring-loaded pivot swings the finder up and down about 5 degrees (?). It would have been capable of very finely adjusting the level of the viewfinder based on distance to the focused object, i.e. providing parallax correction. I don't know how they did it, but it must have been a somewhat interesting mechanism.

 

[shimokita]

I was refering to the finders for the Canon V & VI not the multiple finders...

Quote from Cameraquest:

"NOTE: Canon made a series of black finders for their V and VI models which DO NOT work well on other cameras. You can spot them because they have NO parallax adjustments and they have a connecting pin in the shoe which adjust the finder for parallax as the camera is focused. While Canon did made an attachment to use these finders with other cameras, it's so rare as to be practically unobtainable."

http://www.cameraquest.com/leicafin.htm

Casey

 

[traveler_101]

I was refering to the finders for the Canon V & VI not the multiple finders...

Quote from Cameraquest:

"NOTE: Canon made a series of black finders for their V and VI models which DO NOT work well on other cameras. You can spot them because they have NO parallax adjustments and they have a connecting pin in the shoe which adjust the finder for parallax as the camera is focused. While Canon did made an attachment to use these finders with other cameras, it's so rare as to be practically unobtainable."

http://www.cameraquest.com/leicafin.htm

Casey

Mea culpa. Yes, you are absolutely correct. This is the type I have. I have conducted tests now with my m43 camera shooting at a 3:2 ratio with a 100mm equivalent lens. At one meter, the tests confirm that the finder is too high.

 

[Landshark]

Is the hinge point at the front or back of the finder?
If it's at the front, the back of the finder could be shimmed at a middle distance.

 

[traveler_101]

Is the hinge point at the front or back of the finder?
If it's at the front, the back of the finder could be shimmed at a middle distance.

By the way, it's a real nice finder: all metal, a bright optic with frame lines. It would be nice to be able to make it work.

The hinged axis is in the back; the swingable axis is in the front. What I have done thus far is to remove the spring and tighten the back axis screw as much as I dare. With the spring removed, I have now been able to right the finder so it lies level (whereas it once leaned forward). However it can still move.

What i'd like to do is drill through the front of the foot and secure the thing permanently. It would take a precision drill to do this and i don't have it.

Yes, I thought about shimming it. What would I use that is thin enough and hard enough?

 

[dc5]

Cut very small pieces of cardboard to fit on each side of the shaft when you push up on the ball underneath. Test with your M4/3 until it is set at say maybe 10 ft. Use the inner lines at closer distances.
Dave

 

[Luddite Frank]

My suggestion: either get the camera that goes with this finder, or sell the finder and get another dedicated finder that better suits your purposes...

I would think that this Canon finder would be worth a few beans to someone with the appropriate camera.

My favorite Accessory finder for LTM are the Nikon Vari-Focal and Tewe Poly-Focus zoom-finders... nice clear images, and they cover all the normal focal lengths...

Good luck !

 

[Scrambler]

...
Yes, I thought about shimming it. What would I use that is thin enough and hard enough?

Aluminum kitchen foil.

Don't modify it permanently. They are collectable because as has been said they auto correct on the appropriate cameras. The best you will achieve will be a single correct distance. I agree with the suggestion to replace the finder with another more conventional design.

 

[B-9]

+1 for replacing the finder.
There are a ton of cheap alternatives out there.
No sense in fusing around with it to much.

The Leica VIOOH cab typically be had for under 100$
If your really feeling cheap get a FSU turret finder, easily had for under 50$

You may also be able to find the correct Canon finder for under 100$
The 100mm isn't exactly popular, and by no means expensive.