Best 35mm lens viewfinder or best bang for buck

[Michael Markey]

I use the Voigtlander metal finders. They are excellent and available in silver or black.
I'd buy them again.

Same here .
Nice finders .

 

[Out to Lunch]

I bought the Voigtlander 15-35mm multi-format zoomfinder (Type A), many moons ago. For full-frame, 1.3x and 1.5 crop cameras -in my case with the Epsons, with a built-in diopter. A bit pricey but a worthwhile investment.

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

I'm sure it's great, but it has capability I don't and won't need.

By default it's looking like the only ones available in any number are the SBLOO ones, and fortunately for me, none in black as I suspect they are horribly priced!

I shall keep looking under stones and in strange webby places to see what turns up. Given how popular 35mm is, it's a surprise that more aren't being made!

 

[Erik van Straten]

Given how popular 35mm is, it's a surprise that more aren't being made!

Usually the VIOOH was used. I presume that originally the SBLOO was very expensive.

Erik.

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

Certainly more of a historical thing that 35mm wasn't as popular a focal length as now, but given the popularity today I wonder why Voigtlander doesn't crank up production again.

 

[Erik van Straten]

given the popularity today I wonder why Voigtlander doesn't crank up production again.

Most modern 35mm rangefinders have 35mm frames built into the viewfinder.

Erik.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

Charles, If you're looking for an SBLOO, try to find one with the original leather case. Separately the case asking prices are high.
Erik,I couldn't find the 1951 price for the SBLOO, but I can't imagine the costs being that expensive. When I bought my first M2 used in the late'60s it was $175 cdn (115 euro / 127 usd). That was more than two months rent for a small apartment near the university and about 3 weeks work at a student's summer job. When the M4 was released in late 1966 it cost $635 cdn (415euro/ 460 USD).

 

[Erik van Straten]

I can't imagine the costs being that expensive.

I think it was expensive because the rather big housing was pressed from brass in one piece. The machines that can produce such a housing are extremely expensive. It is like the machine that produced the top plate of an M3 or M2.

Nowadays pieces like that are cut with digital devices, like the top plate of an MP or M-A. The low number of pieces produced make the construction of a pressing machine - like that for an M3 top plate - uneconomical. The original machines are all gone, I can tell you that.

Erik.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

I think it was expensive because the rather big housing was pressed from brass in one piece. The machines that can produce such a housing are extremely expensive. It is like the machine that produced the top plate of an M3 or M2.

Nowadays pieces like that are cut with digital devices, like the top plate of an MP or M-A. The low number of pieces produced make the construction of a pressing machine - like that for an M3 top plate - uneconomical. The original machines are all gone, I can tell you that.

Erik.

Erik, I agree with you as far as 'cost' of production. As we all know and admire, that's the way things were made in those times. "Avaiable in black to special order." Apart from very few photos (including yours), I've never seen a black paint one.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Erik, I agree with you as far as 'cost' of production. As we all know and admire, that's the way things were made in those times. "Avaiable in black to special order." Apart from very few photos (including yours), I've never seen a black paint one.

Yes, most were in chrome. There is one other variant, chrome, but the script and the logo are more modern.

Mine is even boxed. Boxes with black paint items were marked - of course, if not, you had to open them all when you were looking for the black one - with a small, round blue sticker. I have such a box with mine.

Erik.

 

[Beemermark]

I have a Zeiss 35mm brightline finder sold by Sony for one of their fullframe digital cameras.

I like the look of that Zeiss finder. My 35mm finder is an old Canon (looks almost identical to the VC) and the Zeiss probably gives a much better view.

Just got my 1954 IIIF back from Ye, ripped shutter curtain replaced and CLA. I thought the RF & VF was good before, now like new. Amazing.

 

[Bingley]

I use the Voigtlander metal finders. They are excellent and available in silver or black.
I'd buy them again.

Same here. I’ve got a silver one I use all the time on my bottom loaders.

Or you could get an M2...;-))

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

Same here. I’ve got a silver one I use all the time on my bottom loaders.

Or you could get an M2...;-))

Ha. At the price of a the SBLOO with box at about £300 here, it starts to get attractive! I did have an M2, but I just prefer the M3.

Found a couple of nicey Zeissies, plenty of time now to hunt out bargains and the search is on.

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

By dint of going through every possible website I found a Voigtlander black plastic finder in as new condition with brightlines for £69 from a dealer. As every other lovely option looked to be upwards of £200, I couldn't see the point of spending that sort of money, and if plastic's good enough for Leica! I know the proportions from the non-framelined 15mm finder, and it is in keeping in size with the cameras.

Thanks for all the help, a mine of information as always!

 

[Out to Lunch]

I bought a plastic Voigtlander viewfinder once -dropped it and in the dustbin it went.

 

[jcb4718]

A feature of all Voigtlander viewfinders is that they are -1 dioptres, including their 35mm viewfinder I think. I use glasses and my old eyesight can't accommodate it so I would somehow have to fit a +1 dioptre correction lens...and then my guess is I would not have enough eye relief! The Leica viewfinders are 0 dioptres; the modern Zeiss 35mm viewfinder (see my message above) is -1 dioptre but the rubber ring at the rear screws off and it then accepts standard 19mm correction lenses e.g. like those made for the Nikon SLR. The eye relief of the Zeiss (and the Leica) viewfinders is fine for me.