Leica LTM Brightline Finder how do I love thee....

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
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Pakmanpdx

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OK, I've been squinting into the finders on my Barnacks for a little over a year, or, I've been squinting into my VIOOH whenever I mount a focal length other than 50mm, but I am ready to sell all but the "nifty-fifties" now. There is nothing like framing with both eyes open it really is completely addictive. It's very inspiring to be able to frame and see the whole scene and then some. Anybody else feel this way about a simple thing like a finder?
 

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Yes, a good clean finder is a joy to use. I like setting the hyperfocal distance and using Leicas like the worlds best point-n-shoots.
 
Looking through the finder of my 25/4 snapshot skopar mounted on my bessa L is indeed a revelation to behold. Makes the whole scene come alive.
 
I use the brightline finders with my 15, 21, 35, and 50mm lens on my IIIc and IIIf RD cameras. The VIOOH is nice to have in a pinch but it in no way compares to the individual finders..
 
I was happy with a VIOOH on a IIIc and, earlier, with a SBLOO on an M3. My Zorki 1C sports a turret finder made in Liechtenstein and marked "Argus". This business of being able to see outside the frame has always foxed me. I choose the tactic of moving the camera this way or that. Besides, my unused eye is always available for use.
 
Like others here, I have given up on the VIOOH universal finder for my IIIf -- too bulky, and it's no different from looking through an SLR finder. (For that matter, the same is true of the IIIf's own finder.) I just bought an SBOOI brightline finder for my Summitar 50, and it's wonderful. Cool-looking too. Am now looking for a comparable finder for my 35mm Summaron.
 
sircarl said:
Like others here, I have given up on the VIOOH universal finder for my IIIf -- too bulky, and it's no different from looking through an SLR finder. (For that matter, the same is true of the IIIf's own finder.) I just bought an SBOOI brightline finder for my Summitar 50, and it's wonderful. Cool-looking too. Am now looking for a comparable finder for my 35mm Summaron.
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I second the SBOOI. Way, way better than the VIOOH and the III's own squinty finder. But I still use the rangefinder to focus and then the SBOOI to compose.
The 35 mm brightline finder is a lot more expensive and bulkier than the SBOOI though, and even bigger than the summaron itself. I'd love to have one though!
 
HuubL,

I've noticed there are 35mm viewfinders on eBay made by other manufacturers, especially Russian ones. I'm not a Leica purist, so am tempted. Do you know if they are any good?
 
sircarl said:
HuubL,

I've noticed there are 35mm viewfinders on eBay made by other manufacturers, especially Russian ones. I'm not a Leica purist, so am tempted. Do you know if they are any good?
Click to expand...
Not sure which brightline finder that should be. There is a Russian turret finder which is said to be pretty good, but I doubt it's better than Leica's SBLOO. Never seen/used one though.
 
I have the SBOOI, and love the circular profile. I wish Cosina would issue a circular metal finder like their 28mm, but for 21. The square SBKOO and shoe-box CZ ZM 21 don't appeal to me.
 
The SBOOI is just a jewel. It has it's place on my Leica III. However, the SBLOO isn't just as great as a finder. Furthermore to it's size, it isn't 1:1 but ~ 1:0.9 making it difficult to use with both eyes open, plus I cannot see all framelines at one glance with eyeglasses. So it's next to useless on my Canon P. However, it makes sence with the Leica III, Bessa R3M and Nikon S2 (if I had a 35mm in Nikon RF mount)
 
Having used lots of different finders, once I went Brightline, I never went back. As a T lover and user for many years while expensive, they are the great equalizer for a camera without a finder. Having the area around the frame to show you what extra you have is a wonderful thing.

Now a zoom finder is handy, one finder for a wide range of lenses, but good ones are hard to find.

Brightlines are a requirement for longer lenses (e.g. 105). I have several great brightlines for sale now on EvilBay.

I do not think the Russain finders you see often are really brightlines as they have no lines in them and show only the frame they are made for. I've owned several and the quality is no where near a Leica or Cosina, but then neither is the price.

IMHO, equally as good to a clean bright line is a Sports or Wire finder like a Leica RASAL. It gives you the view around the edges, is naturally 1:1 viewing so you can do it with both eyes open and folds flat to almost nothing!

B2 (;->
 
For wides, it would be tough to make a 1:1 finder. If you wear glasses you'd never be able to see the outer parts of the frame. The SBLOO and the V/C copy are about .7 magnification.

The individual 1:1 finders for 50, 75, 90 and 135 allow for shooting with both eyes open, which for me is more fluid and allows me to interact with people in the scene.

There is a case to made for finders with great than 1:1 magnification for longer focal lengths. In good light, you get a more detailed view of the scene.
 
My current favorite lens is my 75mm Heliar. And while my MP has the 75mm frameline I really prefer using the CV Brightline Finder. I love that thing...

Bob
 
I added the SBOOI to my IIIF RD and it is so much nicer since I wear glasses. Then when I opened my left eye I was blown away. I love it too!
 
I have the brightline mini-finder (28/35) for my T and Canon P, and I couldn't be happier. I'm hoping Santa will bring me a brightline 50mm finder for use on the T with a 50/3.5 Elmar.
 
I owned a SBOOI in 1960 for my Leica IIIc and loved it. It was stolen in Milan in 1964. Now I'm thinking of replacing it--for a Leica CL. I acquire equipment deliberately.
--Lindsay
 
I've played around with various finders on my II and IIIa
and in the end I go back to a 5cm lens and the built-in
finder. My problem is that I prefer to print full-frame, often
with a person closely framed, and the auxiliary finders do
a terrible job with parallax. At least, with the finder in the
camera body, the finder is close enough to the lens as to
make parallax less of an issue, and easier to guess a
proper compensation for it.

Any thoughts on this issue?

Sanders
 
Sanders--
Your pictures attest to your methods. In the end, the only view that counts is what the lens sees. Surely, the built-in finder sits closer to the lens and has less of a parallax problem.

What I have noted also is that it is sometimes easier to see the masses of light and dark in a finder with a smaller magnification. Sort of a paradox, but I sometimes use an accessory finder with maybe 0.6x magnification to compose, in preference to the built-in finder.
--Lindsay
 
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