Anyone use a 21mm without external viewfinder?

[Dunn]

I've been thinking about getting a 21mm for my m6, but I really don't like external viewfinders. Has anyone tried using one without an external and getting good results?
I pretty much only want it for tight/close quarters where I want to capture the entire scene and when a 28mm isn't wide enough. Occasionally some landscapes.

 

[Livesteamer]

I have done something similar. A few times I have used my Canon 35mm f1.5 on my IIIc without an external finder. You have to frame with the 50 finder (on the IIIc) and use your eyes and brain to add the extra bit into your composition. It is not precise but it can work. Joe

 

[Richard G]

I do it a lot on the M9 even though I have the finder - neater and saves time. I've seen posts from good photographers who regularly use a 25 this way with film Ms. No reason why with practice you wouldn't get quite good at it with the 21.

 

[Austerby]

Yes, when not too bothered about framing I just assume virtually everything is in shot and it seems to work ok.

 

[jonasv]

I've used one in a 28mm finder. As expected it was hard to frame, which meant I often cropped quite heavily to balance the composition, which meant I could have stayed with a slightly longer lens in the first place! One solution is an external viewfinder... my solution was to use my SLR for anything wider than 28mm.

 

[astro8]

I found with head to toe people shots with a 21mm it's pretty tough without an external finder. I was cutting off too many feet, too hit and miss, it was frustrating.

I now use a finder.

 

[shimokita]

Quite often use a 28mm with the IIIf or even the CV15mm on an MP without an external finder even though I have the CV finder...

Casey

 

[raid]

I love using external finders. They look very cool, and the view is clear. It is a win-win situation.

 

[maitani]

I love the 21mm fov, I mostly use external finders except of course on the OM system where the viewinder is gorgeous for itself

I'm about to hack a 21mm F viewfinder from the 21/4 retrofocus nikkor - to Nikon S rangefindrstyle so I can share this great Viewfinder on F and S Nikons.

best
maitani

 

[Dralowid]

With an M6 I've used the full view in the viewfinder and 'added a bit'...this seems to work. With a III I've just guessed but I tend to underestimate the field of view...not sure why?

Michael

 

[raid]

I love the 21mm fov, I mostly use external finders except of course on the OM system where the viewinder is gorgeous for itself

I'm about to hack a 21mm F viewfinder from the 21/4 retrofocus nikkor - to Nikon S rangefindrstyle so I can share this great Viewfinder on F and S Nikons.

best
maitani

I bought a Nikkor 21 a few weeks ago, and it came with such a hacked finder.

 

[astro8]

Zeiss 21 finder, left. Leica 21 finder, right.

 

[Richard G]

One thing about using external finders is that it puts the emphasis on zone focussing and lifting the camera to the eye is extremely quick with rapid framing and the camera is hanging from your wrist again so quickly that no one is quite sure whether you just took a photograph or not.

 

[raid]

Richard is right. This is the strong point for using external finders,

 

[Calzone]

Zeiss 21 finder, left. Leica 21 finder, right.

The new Zeiss finders are woderfull. I already have a 25/28. The Zeiss finders have that bright all at once look of a wide angle that I love.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Richard is right. This is the strong point for uing external finders,

Plus One.

Cal

 

[Austerby]

The main time I have shot 21mm without an external viewfinder is when I have the lens but not the viewfinder with me, which is one of the drawbacks of external viewfinders.

Generally, I love using them - my favourite combination for my IIIa is as a scale-focus wide-angle shooter with the CV 15mm and 25mm lenses.

 

[icebear]

I have a 25/2.8 Biogon which I use without an external finder just using the full area of the M9 finder (beyond the 28mm frame lines). That works pretty ok. I have CV12/5.6 which is a must have for the finder of course. With a 21 I would also go for the finder. Why buying such a wide lens and then start guessing composition?

 

[dpredie]

frame with the 50, run a few steps forward. =p

or ditch the m6 and get a r4m

 

[j.scooter]

OP. Have you ever used an external finder? I ask because, before I used one, I thought that it would be cumbersome. In actual use, I find it quite the opposite , generally a pleasure to use.