Do you use accessory finders?

Do you use accessory finders?

  • Yes, always

    Votes: 33 8.5%

  • Yes, always with a Barnack - otherwise sometimes

    Votes: 39 10.1%

  • Sometimes, depends on the lens

    Votes: 245 63.3%

  • Rarely

    Votes: 26 6.7%

  • No, never

    Votes: 44 11.4%
  • Total voters
    387
Sometimes I use the SuperAngulon without finder together with my M2. I seem to get the framing even if its not as convenient. Makes the camera less "bulky" though.
 
When ever I'm using a lens my camera(s) doesn't have frame lines for.
Specifically, I use the FSU turret finder with any lens other than a 50 on my FED 4 and I use the dedicated finder for my CV 21mm on the FED and my Bessas--R, R2a, and L.
I also have specific finders for 35, 85, and 135. The 35 and 85 are FSU and the 135 is Komura. They are each fairly decent but I tend to use the turret finder more.
Rob
 
Most of the time with 111F even for a 50. Leica`s 50 is better than an M finder including the M3.

for 135 on M2 or any .72 camera.

even 90 mm on later .72 models because the 90 lines are junk unlike the M2.

15/28 on any camera. 28 lines on any M are miserable to use.

I have a full set of 21/28/35/50/90/135 old metal Leitz finders. The 21 and 28 have become very costly, but I have had mine for 25 years and they were not that high then. Even have the leather cases for the 21 and 28.

At one point I purchased the 21/28 Leica zoom finder. Do not waste your money.
 
I use a 15mm viewfinder when I have the Voightländer 4,5/15 Super Wide-Heliar on my Bessa R3a, and I permanenty have a 25mm viewfinder on my Bessa L with its 4/25 Snapshot Skopar. Both very good lenses, and I still find this whole I-simply-do-not-focus-precisely-but-get-sharp-images-anyway thing fascinating. :)

I was even thinking about buying a digital camera and use it with an optical viewfinder -- but then found that I could get a decent, although not 'full-frame' DSLR (like the Pentax K-x) for less money...
 
I use 'em whenever they're needed -- which generally means, when I'm using a lens for which my camera doesn't have a finder frame.

Sure, I sometimes shoot 'from the hip' without a finder, especially 15mm, and I'll also use ultrawides without a finder when my sole ambition is to get everything in; but generally, the better the idea I have of what's going to be on the film, the happier I am. Within the limits of rangefinder cameras' viewfinders, anyway.

Cheers,

R.
 
I don't really like external viewfinders, but make an exception for the Mamiya 43mm f4.5 because its such a good lens. I've sold off all my other lenses that needed external viewfinders.
 
Helios finder on Leica IIIa and Jup-12. Not state of the art of course, but it suits me fine. Turret finder on Kiev 4 and Jup-12.
 
I'm kind of addicted to the Leitz bright-line finders:

SBOOI on the IIIf w/Summitar
SGVOO on the M6 w/90
SHOOC on the M6 w/135
 
Last edited:
Roger:

Perhaps I'm confused, but I remember reading one of your post some time ago stating that you didn't shoot 15mm, but you would have to give it a try. Obviously, you did, or I got you confused with someone else. I only go down to 21mm presently and to be responsive to the thread, no longer use my Zeiss Viewfinder, but rather my R4A. I was thinking of springing for the new 15mm in that I do want to use filters. How are you getting along with your 15mm? Curious as to your experience as a new user.
 
Great accessories - couldn't survive without them :cool:

SBOOI with the O-series - which takes it from the worst viewfinder ever to the all time clearest sharpest 50mm finder.

Frankenfinder with the 21mm Summilux.
This lens encourages OOF/close in use where parallax estimation becomes a big problem.
This finder has a bubble which is great for horizons but I wish it also had a vertical bubble.
A bulky, ugly finder - but it does the job well.

Zeiss 18mm OVF with ZM18- brilliant sharp finder

Ricoh VF-2 with GRD-III a brilliant little 28mm finder

Hassy SWC/M finder with mirror to see the bubble on the camera.

Hassy wire frame 80mm with 501c - clips on to accessory rail.
A really nice lightweight accompaniment to the WLF.
Very useful for shooting out of windows in cars/planes etc. where the WLF is a issue.

Donald.
 
I mostly use a 28mm lens on my M6 and a 21mm on my M8. The 28mm viewfinder lines on the M6 are just too difficult to use. I wear glasses and I can shoot without the glasses but the viewfinder seems too much of a push to be comfortable. A brightline finder works great. I shoot at hyperfocal distance settings usually so the rangefinder is not much of an issue. If I want to use the rangefinder in come cases I do and they shift my eye back to the brightline finder for framing the image.
 
With my Bessa T, always.

With my IIIc, often, even when using a 50; the CV 50 finder is brighter than the built-in 50 vf. The chrome 35/28 mini-finder is compact and easy to use on a barnack, I find.
 
bwcolor said:
Roger:

Perhaps I'm confused, but I remember reading one of your post some time ago stating that you didn't shoot 15mm, but you would have to give it a try. Obviously, you did, or I got you confused with someone else. I only go down to 21mm presently and to be responsive to the thread, no longer use my Zeiss Viewfinder, but rather my R4A. I was thinking of springing for the new 15mm in that I do want to use filters. How are you getting along with your 15mm? Curious as to your experience as a new user.
Click to expand...

Either I was unclear (or mistyped) or you're misremembering, because I've had the original 15 since it came out. I like it very well, even filterless, even on the M8.

Cheers,

R.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom