cosmonaut
Well-known
Another Newbie question. I just put my 35mm Color Skopar on my IIIa. Do I really need a finder or can I just fill the frame?
Solinar
Analog Preferred
The 35/2.5 Skopar is going to capture a good deal more on film than what you are going to see in the 50mm VF on the IIIa.
So, yes you will need a separate finder.
So, yes you will need a separate finder.
steverett
Anthopomorphized Camera
The finder on the IIIa is designed for 50mm. When I use a 35mm lens on mine, I just fill the frame, knowing that I'm going to get a little more than what I see. Any wider than 35mm or longer than 50mm, I would recommend a finder, but for 35mm you can do without.
BillP
Rangefinder General
No you don't.
I agree with Fred and Steve
When I first got my IIIc it came with a 3.5cm Elmar. I just got on with it. Just frame, and visualise a slightly wider FOV in your head. Obviously if you want to frame exactly, a finder is the thing (I now have a VIDOM) but I wouldn't get hung up on it to start with.
Regards,
Bill
I agree with Fred and Steve
When I first got my IIIc it came with a 3.5cm Elmar. I just got on with it. Just frame, and visualise a slightly wider FOV in your head. Obviously if you want to frame exactly, a finder is the thing (I now have a VIDOM) but I wouldn't get hung up on it to start with.
Regards,
Bill
Solinar
Analog Preferred
cosmonaut
Well-known
Thanks for the diagram. I have a Bessa R and can see about how it works. I like leaving some room around my images any way so I can crop and process later. It may work out for the best. I will be on the look out for a finder though.
payasam
a.k.a. Mukul Dube
Cosmo, make sure you don't end up wasting too much negative area. Those of us who have made the transition from 6 by 6 cm to 35 mm tend to compose tightly because the frame is so much smaller.
Solinar
Analog Preferred
payasam said:
- That's exactly what I was thinking. -
Luddite Frank
Well-known
Regarding accessory finders...
If you want a single-purpose finder, the new C-V are probably the best buy.
If you think you might be getting other focal-legnth lenses for the III, you might want to consider keeping your eyes open for some sort of multi-focal finder.
In my humble opinion, the Leitz "VIDOM" and "VIOOH" Imarect finders are more valuable as collectibles than they are useful accessories; others will disagree with me, but I think there or more user-friendly finders out there.
My top-picks for multi-finders are:
1) Nikon "Varifocal" ( not to be confused with the "Variframe")
2) TEWE Polyfocal (German copy of the Nikon)
3) Zeiss "turret"
4) Russian copy of the Zeiss turret finder.
Of the four types I listed, the TEWE and Russian turret are probably the least expensive.
The great thing about the TEWE and Nikon vari/polyfocals is that the frame size of the viewing window remains constant as you dial-up the different focal legnths; with the Leitz finder, the viewfinder image gets smaller and smaller as you dial-up longer focal-legnths. By the time you set it for 135, the vF image is tiny. Accurate, perhaps, but not terribly easy to use.
You might find a 35mm folding "sports finder" a bit cheaper than the optical finders...
Good hunting !
Luddite Frank
If you want a single-purpose finder, the new C-V are probably the best buy.
If you think you might be getting other focal-legnth lenses for the III, you might want to consider keeping your eyes open for some sort of multi-focal finder.
In my humble opinion, the Leitz "VIDOM" and "VIOOH" Imarect finders are more valuable as collectibles than they are useful accessories; others will disagree with me, but I think there or more user-friendly finders out there.
My top-picks for multi-finders are:
1) Nikon "Varifocal" ( not to be confused with the "Variframe")
2) TEWE Polyfocal (German copy of the Nikon)
3) Zeiss "turret"
4) Russian copy of the Zeiss turret finder.
Of the four types I listed, the TEWE and Russian turret are probably the least expensive.
The great thing about the TEWE and Nikon vari/polyfocals is that the frame size of the viewing window remains constant as you dial-up the different focal legnths; with the Leitz finder, the viewfinder image gets smaller and smaller as you dial-up longer focal-legnths. By the time you set it for 135, the vF image is tiny. Accurate, perhaps, but not terribly easy to use.
You might find a 35mm folding "sports finder" a bit cheaper than the optical finders...
Good hunting !
Luddite Frank
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
Solinar said:
Andrew, that's a useful diagram!
Cosmo, what a timely question, I'm waiting for a 35mm RF lens that is in LTM, so I'll be using it on my IIIc, the info in this thread would be very useful.
cosmonaut
Well-known
I have been looking at the different finders. Other than the 35mm and 5cm I hope to add a 90mm. I want a 15mm too but a finder should come with that. Thanks for all of the usefull info. I have seen the turret stlye finders on e-bay. I ike what I see.
Kim Coxon
Moderator
There is an FSU 35mm finder in the classifieds at the moment. I have used one of these in the past and they are much more usable than the turret ones. Not up to the CV one but at about 1/3 the price, a good deal.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost-classifieds/showproduct.php?product=8920
Kim
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost-classifieds/showproduct.php?product=8920
Kim
Bill58
Native Texan
CVs are unbelievable in their brightness and clarity for the $$$, but figure out some way to secure it safely to the camera.....or else you'll lose it.