Cosina 28mm vs. 28/35mm Finders

[Lemures-Ex]

How do the metal 28mm finder and the 28/35mm mini finder compare?

I just got a GR-D and I want a really small finder for it, but if the 28/35 is not that great then I'd settle for the 28mm.

Thanks all,
Jared

 

[sirius]

Just be aware that the hotshoe is not directly over the lens on the GRD. The GRD finder is adjusted for this. It looks big, but in practice it is bright and really easy to use.

 

[Lemures-Ex]

Just be aware that the hotshoe is not directly over the lens on the GRD. The GRD finder is adjusted for this. It looks big, but in practice it is bright and really easy to use.

But it's also very expensive.

The only time I can see this being a problem is during macro shots, in which case I'd be using the screen anyways.

Has anyone here used/compared these finders?

Thanks,
Jared

 

[ferider]

But it's also very expensive.

The only time I can see this being a problem is during macro shots, in which case I'd be using the screen anyways.

Has anyone here used/compared these finders?

Thanks,
Jared

I had both but no GRD. I now use the minifinder only, love the low profile on the M3 and the fact that the 35 line is effectively a 40 line. They are both great and I don't wear glasses.

I have played with the idea of a GRD or Foveon. And always in connection to the minifinder.

Roland.

 

[vrgard]

Okay, I'll take a stab at answering your question since I do have both of those finders.

The 28mm finder is big and bright. Makes "quick framing" a breeze. So it is great for scale-focusing street photography type shooting. The 28/35 minifinder is small and therefore wonderfully discreet. Makes fitting the camera into a tight bag a much easier proposition. And while I have no problem framing a shot with the minifinder, the 28mm finder is definitely bigger and brighter. Note also that I have not yet tried using the minifinder in a low light situation so can't comment on how much difference in the relative brightness of these two finders might make. Not sure I'm really telling you anything that you didn't already know. The problem is that comparing these two finders is a bit of an apples-to-oranges comparison. They each have their advantages and disadvantages. But they both work well and I do not have a problem using either one of them. So, my recommendation is to get the one that best serves the purposes to which you intend using it.

-Randy

P.S. As Roland (ferider) notes above, the minifinder looks great on an M3. The size, shape and coloring make it look like it was made for it.

 

[back alley]

the 28 finder is well made, solid and looks retro.
i chose it over the 28/35 but have not used the mini-finder at all.
i use the 28 finder on the grd and so far so good.
looks funky - retro and modern combined.

 

[back alley]

wanna see a pic?

the finder looks bigger in the photo than it looks/feels in real life.

 

[Bingley]

I'm interested in this question, too, although the finder would be for a Canon P rather than a GRD. I started a thread on which finder to choose y'day. Here's the link in case you're interested:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40230