CV 21mm Finder for 15mm WA

[Joe Mondello]

Browsing around KEH the other day for used gear I saw an EX+ 21mm CV finder available for $115 so I snagged it. It just arrived.

Just a few quick snaps in the house show that the 21mm brightlines are pretty darn close to the actual FOV of the 15mm lens on the R-D1. Certainly close enough to be useful for composing a shot. Way better than the included 15mm finder.

Just FWIW for anyone looking for a useful finder for this lens on the R-D1 apart from the custom R-D1 23mm finder which I've seen available for $175.

 

[JonasYip]

That's what I use with the 15 as well, because I happened to have the 21mm lens already.

I think you can get the finder new for $128. And for anyone thinking of getting one now, I believe when you buy the 21mm lens ($330?) the finder is included. Good excuse to get yet another lens (of course, then you need a finder for the 21...)

j

 

[rogue_designer]

(of course, then you need a finder for the 21...)

Should be fairly close to a 35mm frame then yah? Those come up much more frequently.

 

[JonasYip]

Should be fairly close to a 35mm frame then yah? Those come up much more frequently.

That'd probably work pretty well. I just took another finder I had lying around (24mm) and cropped the view with some electrical tape. Not ideal, but works well enough.

 

[Innerimager]

When I got my 15mm CV from CameraQuest, he very nicely allowed me to swap a 21mm finder for the 15mm finder that comes with the lens. I haven't tried it on my RD-1 yet, it;s been on my M8 a lot, fantastic lens and very user friendly finder.....Peter

 

[rvaubel]

When I got my 15mm CV from CameraQuest, he very nicely allowed me to swap a 21mm finder for the 15mm finder that comes with the lens. I haven't tried it on my RD-1 yet, it;s been on my M8 a lot, fantastic lens and very user friendly finder.....Peter

I splurged and bought the Zeiss 21mm finder for my 15mm Heliar. It is a step up from the 21mm VC finder but probably not worth the $375 asking price. It is a great finder with less barrel distortion than the VC, and miles above the Leica 21mm finder.

Rex

 

[Joe Mondello]

When I got my 15mm CV from CameraQuest, he very nicely allowed me to swap a 21mm finder for the 15mm finder that comes with the lens.....Peter

Camera Quest's website kinda confuses me . . . As you say the lens comes with the finder, but on this page, they seem to be asking for an additional $175 for the finders. Am I reading this wrong?

"Voigtlander 15/4.5 $345 Order Here (needs R-D1 15 Viewfinder $175, screw mount to M adapter $55)"

http://cameraquest.com/epson_rd1_VF.htm

 

[iml]

Should be fairly close to a 35mm frame then yah? Those come up much more frequently.

I use a 28 finder with my 21. It's pretty close, the actual FOV is very slightly wider, but not by that much.

Ian

 

[Didier]

The 21mm finder is included in the 21mm lens price. I happen to have both 21mm and D-15mm (=22.5mm) finders. When using the 15mm Heliar on the R-D1, the 21mm's frameline shows slightly more than what's on the picture afterwards, so one must consider this when framing. The D-15 is more comfortable to use, as you're shure what's in the finder is on the sensor. But if one already has a 21mm finder, or wants to buy the lens including finder, the D-15 is rather obsolete.

Didier

 

[Didier]

Camera Quest's website kinda confuses me . . . As you say the lens comes with the finder, but on this page, they seem to be asking for an additional $175 for the finders. Am I reading this wrong?

$175 is for the D-finders. The 21mm finder is inclded in the 21mm lens price, as the finders are all included for the 12mm-25mm lenses. The price for the 21mm finder alone is $128.

Didier

 

[Ben Z]

One thing I noticed with all of the clip-on finders (mine are all Leitz) is that the actual image is closer to the left side of the viewfinder frame than the right. So I have to leave more room at the left side of the frame in the finder.