Do you use accessory viewfinders?

Do you use accessory viewfinders?

  • Yes - I frame carefully and make each shot count.

    Votes: 159 43.8%

  • No - I'm trigger happy, guess the framesize, and fire away!

    Votes: 42 11.6%

  • Sometimes - It all depends on the application.

    Votes: 162 44.6%
  • Total voters
    363
I have five multi-finders. They look cool and they are very useful. Quite often, such a finder is much brighter than the viewfinder in the camera.

Raid
 
Pretty much like the others. I have auxiliary finders for 21, 24/25, 28, and 75mm. I can use the 24mm Elmarit without the finder, by estimating the coverage through the 0.58 M6 finder. The Zeiss 25/28 finder or Leitz 24mm finder allow more accurate framing, though--or perhaps I should say less inaccurate framing.

I use the 28mm finder with the Tri-Elmar, to get an unobstructed view through the finder. And I use it with the .72 cameras, so I can see the full 28mm frame outline.

The 75mm VC finder is used on the M3, so I can take advantage of that camera's accurate focusing with the 75mm Summilux used wide open.

Switching back and forth between finders? Sure, with the 75mm. But with the wides, I am inclined to zone focus unless shooting at the wider apertures. I'll likely focus the 28mm when used at f/2. But much of the time I close down for good DOF anyhow, so don't need the rangefinder.

A good external finder is easy enough to get used to. The Zeiss 25/28 and the Leitz 28mm are a couple of favorites.
 
"... do you jump back and forth between the a. finder and rangefinder?"

I use an accessory finder with my 15, 21, & 28 (and 35 when mounted to my M3).

Focus in the RF and frame with the acc. finder. It isn't all that hard and if you have any patience, you'll get used to it.
 
Do you like it to use accessory finders? These are my finders:

back row: Leica finders in silver metal: 21-28-35mm;
middle row: Leica finders in black plastic: 21-24-28-35mm;
front row: Voigtländer finder in silver metal: 28-35mm.
 

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I luv to use an accessory finder (VF)--when I don't LOSE one ($150), like I did the other day!!!!!! I wish there was a more secure mounting system, but all I got is a thin stretch cord (which was not installed when I lost the VF) .
 
freusen said:
Do you like it to use accessory finders? These are my finders:

back row: Leica finders in silver metal: 21-28-35mm;
middle row: Leica finders in black plastic: 21-24-28-35mm;
front row: Voigtländer finder in silver metal: 28-35mm.
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You win. :) Please describe your experience and preference between the generations (Wetzlar metal, Leica plastic, C/V metal). Thanks!
 
I have:

CV black 12, 21, 25, 28, 2-35's (plastic and metal), 50, and 75 finders. Good stuff. I prefer to use accessory finders, when possible. A small piece of Black Scotch Photo Masking Tape keeps them from coming off my bodies.

Got a Russian 85mm from Fedka to go with my Jupiter-9, which I have temporarily misplaced. And I just found a very nice silver Canon 85mm finder, which has parallax adjustment. Don't have it yet, seems useful for $40.
 
I use the CV 15, 21 and 28 finders on my R2A, and the 15D and 21D finders on my R-D1. What I have yet to find, however, is a suitable way of storing the finders when they are off the camera. I don't want them bouncing around in my bag and the optics getting scratched. Short of wrapping them in old socks (!), does anyone have a suggestion?

Alan
 
I use the little purple drawstring bags, that they came in.

Saves them getting scratched and chipped up.

Voigtlander makes a -nice leather case that will hold a lens in the bottom, and a finder securely in the top. I have five or six of these. They are cut-out for specific lenses, I think there are three versons. They store very neatly in my Domke F2.

Recommended.
 
I have a Rollei 35RF and when I use my ZM 25 Biogon, I use a CV 25 finder when I need accurate frmaing. If I just need something wider than the 40mm Sonnar and don't need to "hit the bullseye" with my framing, I don't bother.
 
Nokton48 said:
I use the little purple drawstring bags, that they came in.

Saves them getting scratched and chipped up.
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I wish they did come in little drawstring bags. Mine, all purchased new, have only ever come in little plastic bags inside the cardboard box (they are the larger CV plastic finders, not the later and smaller metal ones). Perhaps I should just use those plastic bags instead.

Alan
 
I use the Rollei (Voigtlander) VF for my 40 'cron- and go back and forth between it and the RF. Not too much trouble in practice. I also use the VF for the Contax 21 on my G2- and rarely use the cameras finder in that set up- mainly because it runs in autofocus and in aperture priority. I do check what my set shutter speed is if it seems dark, or the shutter speed sounds slower than I should be holding. I keep the 40 VF in a contax G lens pouch or in a small microfiber bag I got in some hotel bathroom- don't know what its intended use was. Works very well for the VF. The 21 finder pretty much lives on one of the G2 bodies.
 
sepiareverb said:
I also use the VF for the Contax 21 on my G2- and rarely use the cameras finder in that set up- mainly because it runs in autofocus and in aperture priority... The 21 finder pretty much lives on one of the G2 bodies.
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Same here, and one of the plusses of picking the G-system for a 21mm lens platform, just going with the cross-hairs.
 
Yes- the G21 is a very nice lens, and perhaps this ain't the place to utter these words, but the G2 is a pretty nice body (for the 21).
 
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There is one finder I have never used even though I own it; a like new Leica 35mm original brightline finder in the box. Once I was offered $400 for it. It is a piece of art and is incredibly clear and bright.

Raid
 
maitrestanley said:
Just wanted to know how many of you actually use the accessory viewfinders for very wide angle lenses.

If yes, do you jump back and forth between the a. viewfinder and rangefinder?

If no, how are the results?

If sometimes, how do you decide when to use it or not?
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well NONE of your choices work for me:D R4M 21,25,28,35, 50 R2 75& 90 so I don't need any extra viewfinders:eek: well unless I am using the L or T:rolleyes:
 
I use an Altix 35mm viewfinder for my Jupiter-12 at my FED3b.
(See avatar!)
Cool to have one... And the Altix comes with a 50mm mask, so it also can be used with my Industar-61. As Raid said, it is much brighter than the original cam viewfinder!

EDIT: I also use an attachable Russian BLIK rangefinder now, in order to turn my viewfinder into rangefinder cams. ;)
 
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I thought I had 1 but counted and have 4, FSU 35mm and 85mm, Argus 35/50/100, and the best, VC 28mm.
 
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