Do you use accessory viewfinders?

[charjohncarter]

I use a Leica IMERCT or whatever it is called. And I bounce from the rangefinder to the viewfinder. This viewfinder is really slick. Not only does it have two click stops one for close focus and the other for normal or distance focusing. But it also has Parallax correction, so the finder will tilt for close subjects. That is if you remember to use it.

 

[Joop van Heijgen]

I miss my option - yes I have them but I can never be bothered to use them.

For very wide angle lenses I use the reflex camera!

In fact the M camera is not made for wide angle lenses for more than 28 mm. lenses!

 

[robin a]

I have two,and use both.The FSU turret finder on the Fed 2 and a Helios on the Zorki 3m.Both are great..........Robin

 

[anna missed]

Just got a 90mm CV for my Bessa T, very bright, very big 1to1, bright lines ALL THE WAY AROUND, and unobstructed with viewfinder junk - just pure composition. Will probably be using it on the CL as well. I'm all for these things, in spite of the hassle of changing them when changing lenses.

 

[Kent]

For very wide angle lenses I use the reflex camera!

In fact the M camera is not made for wide angle lenses for more than 28 mm. lenses!

Oh, that's new to me! I wonder why there are these excellent super-wides for the M-system. 😉

 

[noimmunity]

I use a GV-1, the CV viewfinder for the GRD, with my R3A. It has brightlines for both 21 and 28 mm which together with the 40-50-75-90 frames on the R3* VF keeps me set for a wider range than I usually ever want to carry. I prefer having the 21 and missing the 35 (that I could get by using the CV 28/35 mini).

 

[meat tooth paste]

I do, but I have no choice for my CV 15mm lens.

 

[Vics]

I use a CV viewfinder for my 35mm w-nikkor F2.5 on my Contax IIIa. Makes a pretty nice pair with the M3 and 'cron 50.
VS

 

[shadowfox]

I have an external viewfinder of unknown make, it has two dials on the barrel, one for zooming, the other for paralax correction (makes the viewfinder nods down when used for near distances). Haven't got a chance to use it though.

 

[enasniearth]

Finders

Finders

I shoot the nikon s2 which only has a 5cm finder in the camera body .

I use the brightline finders , the leitz 2.8cm , the late nippon kogaku 3.5 cm black brightline ,
Today in the mail I received a Nikon brightline df cp1 finder , it's a brightline for the Nikon coolpix , it fits the s2 and is for the 28 focal length .
The optical finders and multi finders work - but the view with a modern brightline is the best . No rf spot to distract either .
You focus with the main camera finder and transfer your eye to the brightline on top . It's just the frame projected on the scene .
Quick and easy .

 

[uhoh7]

Nice thread resurrection !

My advice: never try a modern Zeiss finder, like Zi 18 or Zi21.

This because the normal nice finders like the CV 28, etc are no longer possible to enjoy afterwards LOL


image by unoh7, on Flickr

I do like my Shooc, that is, after I put it on the right way 🙂

 

[oltimer]

With my IIIF I have to use the SBLOO when using the 35 lens; but with my IIIG, with it having the 50 and 90 frame lines very bright and clear in the finder I have been able over the years to be able to use it without the SBLOO on infinity.

 

[oltimer]

Nice thread resurrection!

My advice: never try a modern Zeiss finder, like Zi 18 or Zi21.

This because the normal nice finders like the CV 28, etc are no longer possible to enjoy afterwards LOL
image by unoh7, on Flickr

I do like my Shooc, that is, after I put it on the right way 🙂

How true your statement on Zeiss. I have their 35 Zeiss finder and I have not found anything close to the "high quality view" through this finder.

 

[WJJ3]

21mm Finders

21mm Finders

Thought I would throw in my two cents.

I use a 21mm accessory finder with my COLOR-SKOPAR, and I prefer Leica's old 12002 finder over the modern Zeiss finder. I actually prefer the plastic VC 21mm finder over the Zeiss as well. The Zeiss has a great build, at least as good as the Leica, and is very clear and bright to look through, but the eye relief is not very good. In this respect the Leica finder has generous relief and is very comfortable to view and frame with. Even the plastic VC finder has higher eye relief and more viewing comfort than the Zeiss. I looked up the magnification of these finders trying to understand why my experience was so different between them. It turns out the Leica is 0.3x magnification, while the Zeiss and VC are 0.54x and 0.42x respectively. These magnification factors have a big effect on eye relief and useability...

 

[pschauss]

I have several accessory finders including the FSU turret finder and a couple of plastic single focal length FSU finders. My favorite, however, is a Leitz VIOOH. The image is hopelessly small at the longer focal lengths, but, if you use the parallax settings carefully, the framing is reliably accurate. It has the added advantage of allowing me to slip my VC Meter into the shoe on the top.

 

[Out to Lunch]

I have been using the Voigtlander ''zoom viewfinder'' which covers 15mm up to 35mm. Very bright and sturdy and including diopter correction. Yes, it's a bit large but I can live with that.

 

[barnwulf]

I use a Leica brightline viewfinder on my IIIc and on my M camera if the viewfinder doesn't have lines that are for the lens I am using. - jim

 

[Martin Carone Santos]

On Contax IIa, always with the universal viewfinder. With M3 only with the Super-Angulon. With the Barnacks as much as possible, ever with the 5cm lens. I prefer the single viewfinder like SBOOI, SBLOO, etc, than the universal.

 

[justsayda]

Turret

Turret

I use the turret rangefinder on my FED4 for the 35mm lens. Using the hyperfocal focussing technique, I don't have to look through the rangefinder.

Although the rangefinder / viewfinder isn't too bad on the FED, the turret is far easier to see through (for me at least) than the rangefinder window on the Zorki 4.

What I would like is the dedicated 35mm accessory finder, but all the ones I've seen are going for silly money.

 

[Tompas]

I use a 25mm Voigtländer viewfinder on my Leica MD-2 with the Snapshot Skopar, zone focussing. Since the MD-2 has no view-/rangefinder there is no other way, and I find it oh so liberating not having to focus precisely (or even being able to).

On my M6 I switch between the internal and external viewfinder when using my Ultron 2/28mm. Depending on the aperture I zone focus or use the rangefinder.

I also have and use external viewfinders for my 15, 21, and 90mm lenses. And I have one of those tiny finders on my Ricoh GR IV, which I always have in my coat pocket (except when carrying another camera).

I guess I really like external viewfinders.