somak
Newbie
I'm looking for an auxiliary zoom/varifocal viewfinder with extended focal range. That is to say beyond 35 mm on the wider side and beyond 135 mm on the telephoto. The TEWE is nice that way, extending from 28-200. Can anyone suggest any other viewfinder that has at least 200mm on its telephoto side?
Though I primarily want a zoom type and not a turret type I have surveyed a few of them out of curiosity. One from zeiss is 21-105 mm, which has quite high coverage, but unfortunately prohibitively expensive for me. I also came across one russian Turret Finder that has 28 mm on its lower side. Are there Turret finders which extend beyond 135 mm ?
Though I primarily want a zoom type and not a turret type I have surveyed a few of them out of curiosity. One from zeiss is 21-105 mm, which has quite high coverage, but unfortunately prohibitively expensive for me. I also came across one russian Turret Finder that has 28 mm on its lower side. Are there Turret finders which extend beyond 135 mm ?
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
Most common TEWE zoom finders start at 35mm, by the way - and those that do not often have the same angular coverage, and are merely engraved with a scale for half format (18x24mm) or Robot square (24x24mm). Buyer beware!
somak
Newbie
Yes, I think the 28 mm is a secondary lens which you attach at the front of the TEWE viewfinder
Luddite Frank
Well-known
The limitation for focusing a long lens via rangefinder was a factor of the increasingly shallow depth of field as the focal length increased.
During the Barnack era, Leitz did not make an RF lens longer than 135 mm. Anything longer was designed to be used with the Visoflex reflex focusing housing.
I believe Zeiss cut things off at 180mm with the Sonar for the Contax RF.
As far as I know, the 200 mm Tewe and Nikon "zoom finders" are the longest variable finders out there. And with both, anything wider than 35 mm requires an auxiliary lens.
During the Barnack era, Leitz did not make an RF lens longer than 135 mm. Anything longer was designed to be used with the Visoflex reflex focusing housing.
I believe Zeiss cut things off at 180mm with the Sonar for the Contax RF.
As far as I know, the 200 mm Tewe and Nikon "zoom finders" are the longest variable finders out there. And with both, anything wider than 35 mm requires an auxiliary lens.
somak
Newbie
Thanks for all your replies. I'm also considering bright-line viewfinders now. I've an old Kaligar made one but still looking for alternatives. One interesting piece is the Helios viewfinder with three focal length frames etched in it. However I find it expensive in online auction sites. Is there any other viewfinder available that has three( or more ) frames in it?
Thanks
Thanks
Spavinaw
Well-known
The Kodak Signet Multiframe Finder for the Signet 80 camera has full frame lines for 35, 50, & 90mm lenses. The view outside the 35mm lines works well as a 28mm finder.
Beware! I have a Manon Universal Zoom Finder that is marked 28-135mm, but at the 28mm setting it really only covers 35mm.
Beware! I have a Manon Universal Zoom Finder that is marked 28-135mm, but at the 28mm setting it really only covers 35mm.