best Russian viewfinder

[nikarlo]

Hi all!
Wich is the best russian viewfinder that you have ever seen?
And for mens like me that wearing glasses?
Thank you!
Carlo.

 

[wlewisiii]

The best is on the Kiev 5. Big and beautiful with bright lines for 50 & 85, the whole of finder equals the FOV of 35, & it's parallax corrected. Of course it's also a big heavy monster of a camera... but if you get a good one, it's a nice user.

William

 

[kiev4a]

Zorki 3 or Zorki 4 or FED 5 are all pretty decent for glasses wearers. The Kiev advocates will say it's better but as a life-long eye glass wearer, I have much better luck with the above mentioned. The adjustable diopters those cameras have also help. Be aware, however that it will be difficult to see everything in the viewfinders on any of the FSU cameras if you wear glasses because if you get you glasses lens right up against the eyepiece on any of 'em you are likely to get a scratch. Even with your eye right against the eyepiece you only get an approximation. The best solution is the turret finder that mounts on the accessory shoe.

 

[P C Headland]

Not sure how they work with glasses - contacts are much friendlier

In 35mm cameras, the best I've seen is on the Leningrad - 35, 50 & 135mm frame lines. Nice clear bright viewfinder and rangfinder patch. The Kiev 5 is also quite nice (from the one example I have seen).

For MF, the Iskra (but there is far less competition!)

Paul

 

[brians]

Z4 baby

 

[ruben]

Zorki 3 or Zorki 4 or FED 5 are all pretty decent for glasses wearers. The Kiev advocates will say it's better but as a life-long eye glass wearer, I have much better luck with the above mentioned. The adjustable diopters those cameras have also help. Be aware, however that it will be difficult to see everything in the viewfinders on any of the FSU cameras if you wear glasses because if you get you glasses lens right up against the eyepiece on any of 'em you are likely to get a scratch. Even with your eye right against the eyepiece you only get an approximation. The best solution is the turret finder that mounts on the accessory shoe.

As a Kiev advocate, I would back very much most of the abovementioned, with a small addition. Although the Kievs have a rather dim viewfinder, there is absolutely no problem at all with focusing , as the yellow patch is very bright and contrasty.

Double mention should be made about the need of making the Soviet Turret Finder and integral part of your camera, for composing with a bright image that only modern AF cameras are able to deliver.

As for scratching your glases (I am glass wear too), you have two optional solutions: early Kiev models, let say from the fifties and sixties, do not scratch as they are better finnished (and better mechanically made as well). Later Kievs do scratch, specially the last model with the rewinding handle. But you can overcome the issue with a bit of taping.

Finnaly, the main issue is not the best model, but which specific sample have you got. Fortunately prices are so ridiculously cheap, that you can afford purchasing from the most reputed (and therefore relatively expensive) sellers, which in my opinion are the Soviet Camera Store (Ukraine), and Fedka (USA).

Cheers,
Ruben