CV 15mm viewfinder... is this covered under the warranty?

robklurfield

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A small mishap yesterday.

While hiking in the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge yesterday, I came upon a trio of ladies of a certain age all bedecked in their birdwatching finery with all kinds of equipment. I stopped to take their picture. One of them asked what I was doing. I explained that I am an amateur photographer and that their group looked interesting. When one of them shot me a look of skepticism, I said, "no, really, I'm from the Interior Department's Bureau of Fish and Game and I'm here to see if you have a permit to be photographing those birds." This broke the ice and brought a laugh.

So, I toddled along down the dirt road then realized the shot I'd just taken of them was the last frame on the roll in my M2. So, I turned to their group and said they were probably in luck since the image of them was likely going to be only a half frame. I then got to work loading and unloading. I must have bumped my 15mm viewfinder because when I got 100 yards farther down the road, it was missing from the shoe. I fumbled in my pockets to see if I had absentmindedly popped it off to stow. No such luck. So, I doubled back to retrace my steps. From about 50 yards, I could see a black lump in the middle of the road where I'd stopped to reload. Seemed like a good sight at first. Now, this being a Sunday, this road, which is normally closed to cars, was streaming with lots of SUV's and other vehicles. It should have come as no surprise when I closed the remaining 50 yards to find this (shot at home later, but you'll get the gist):

4359175429_e5b0c729da.jpg


Upon passing the group of birders again, I told them it had been an expensive walk. One of them said, "Don't worry. That's a Leica. They back their products. They'll give you a new one."

Dear Head Bartender: is this covered by my warranty???:bang::D:eek::angel:
Since, we all know the answer to that, if anyone has a 15mm or 21mm VF they don't want, feel free to PM me. I'm happy with used and cheap (Kobalux???). No $500 VF's for me just now. I'll probably post a Wanted ad later this week if I can't find one for less than the cost of new. Otherwise, Stephen gets to sell me the second one in the same size. Pity, 'cause that 15-35 looks gorgeous, but way out of my price range.

Stephen, or anyone else: is there any chance Mr. Kobayishi is considering a metal VF for 15 or 21mm similar to the pretty one he's showing for the new M-mount 12mm lens? I'd wait to buy replacement if he's going to do one like that in metal.
 
Well, the glass in a metal finder can break too. I dropped my 12mm finder and broke the front glass. Looks like a replaceable part, but no such luck.
 
You might get lucky with a WTB post since RD1 and M8 users are likely using a 21 finder, and might have their unused 15 lying around. Good luck.
 
I would suggest DUCO cement.
I just picked up a tube, at the local hardware store.
Works on glass, metal, and plastic.
 
Duco cement is great stuff and works well. But, take a look that picture again. This thing is squashed beyond repair and I'm sure pieces of the glass are still on the road. When I get a a new one at some point, you are welcome to have a crack (no pun intended) at fixing this one. Fix and you can keep it.:D

I've been using mine with both an M8 and an M2 so I'm undecided whether to go with a 21 or a 15mm. I'll settle for whichever one comes available first used. If I don't find used one, I'll probably buy a new 21 from Stephen.

Oh, by the way, the dropping isn't what killed this VF. It was the car or truck (or maybe one of each) that ran over it that did her in. My clumsiness is to blame. Just bad luck to have dropped it on the one day of the week where there's actually traffic in the park. I think the VF would have survived the fall to the relatively soft dirt road with minimum damage. The car is another story altogether.

I would suggest DUCO cement.
I just picked up a tube, at the local hardware store.
Works on glass, metal, and plastic.
 
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A happy ending: where money is the only impediment in life, it is usually possible to find a nice result (at least until my credit card bill shows up; reminder to self: get the mailbox before the wife does). My flattened CV 21 finder has been replaced by a CV 15 (courtesy another RFF member... thanks again ampguy!) AND a monstrously ginormous Kobalux 21mm finder. So now my M8 and M2 have more or less appropriate finders for the CV 15. This Kobalux behemoth is bigger than my Summaron 35 and I think the lens caps are just about interchangeable. If you don't mind the hirsuite guy in the background, here's a scary pick of this beast of a finder in situ (maybe I'll post one later with the Summaron for size comparison):

4389766629_8696f16433.jpg
 
Glad to help Rob. The one advantage to that big Kobalux is it will be harder to lose. The old CV leather lens/finder cases are nice keeprs, that's what I use for my 21 kit, but works with ltm versions only (and is tight).
 
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