Cheap 50mm finder?

[Colman]

I picked up a Hexanon 50mm for my Bessa-T, but I don't have a matching viewfinder (except for one of the Leica variable ones, which doesn't fit the case) and I'm out of budget for camera gear at the moment, so a new CV one is too expensive. Any ideas on cheap alternatives?

 

[pvdhaar]

I'm currently kitbashing a 35mm finder for my Bessa-T for similar reasons. The zoom finder I have is much too large and heavy. It's making the camera tilt backward when I'm carrying it on the neckstrap.

I've hacksawed the eyepiece out of a junked single use camera; it's roughly 35mm. Adjusting it to 50mm would be no more than placing a piece of plasticard with the appropriate cutout in front.

Total cost so far: 2.99 for the single use camera. I've not counted the plastic glue and filler I had lying around. But then again, I did salvage the film..

 

[Colman]

Hacking on my 40mm finder is my next best option.

 

[pvdhaar]

Hacking on my 40mm finder is my next best option.

If you've already got a 40mm finder, why not use the inside of the framelines? The finder shows far less than what's captured, so unless you're in the habit of putting everything interesting at the very edge of the frame, you should do fine..

 

[mh2000]

most drug stores that do photos will give you empty disposable cameras for free

🙂

 

[veraikon]

Best and cheapest you can get is imho the KMZ turret finder 28-135mm (28-35-50-85-135mm) about 40-50€.