Leica LTM Dumb question from a long time Leica user

[colyn]

The Leitz 135mm parallax corrected finder (don't recall code name). Do you view through the larger end or the smaller end??? 😕

I can see the frame line when viewing through the larger end but not the smaller end. It looks odd when mounted with the larger end to the rear of the camera....

Here's a photo

 

[FPjohn]

Through the larger end.
yours
FPJ

 

[colyn]

Through the larger end.
yours
FPJ

Thanks

It does look a bit odd mounted that way though..but then that's the only way to see the frame lines.

 

[FPjohn]

I've seen advertising/catalogue illustrations with it mounted the other way! 'definitely works with the fat end to the rear.

yours
FPJ

 

[bob cole]

Dumb question from a long time Leica user

Through the larger end.
yours
FPJ

Sorry, you look through the small end on all viewfinders...

 

[Shac]

I have the same model and made the same mistake the first time I tried using it - so yes you view from the large diameter (black) side

 

[Santafecino]

No; on the 135mm finder you look into the end that has a black circle--the larger end. That's just how they made it. Ours is not to reason why; it works fine.

 

[colyn]

Sorry, you look through the small end on all viewfinders...

I do believe you are wrong Bob..

When I mount it with the small end to the rear and turn the parallax rim to infinity the finder moves downward. It should do that when going from infinity to closest focus..

Mounting it with the large end to the rear and repeating the above operates the parallax right..

 

[bob cole]

Dumb question from a long time Leica user

I do believe you are wrong Bob..

When I mount it with the small end to the rear and turn the parallax rim to infinity the finder moves downward. It should do that when going from infinity to closest focus..

Mounting it with the large end to the rear and repeating the above operates the parallax right..

------------------------------------------------------------------

ok...I've been doing it the same way for as long as I've been using rangefinders, back in the 40's... with the big end in front and the small end closest to the eye...

 

[xayraa33]

Well, I never owned one of these finders, as I am not a fan of the 135mm on RF cameras.
But looking at the photo of this finder, the parallax feet n' metres numbers should be readable the right way round for the user when the finder is mounted in the acc. shoe.
so one looks thru the big end.
unless the germans stopped being logical when they made this.

 

[colyn]

Here's a side view. Notice the pivot pin and the parallax ring. You turn the ring and the body pivots upward (infinity) or downward (close focus). Based on this the only way for this finder to work properly is the view through the back..

 

[Shac]

Looking through the 135 from the small diameter end doesn't show the brightlines, and as Colyn and others have said the way the paralax adjustment works confirms you look through the wide side. Sorry Bob

 

[OldNick]

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks. I've had Barnacks for over 50 years, but never had a dedicated 135 finder. The Imarect worked the same way for all focal lengths.

Jim N.

 

[payasam]

Does seem counter-intuitive, to use a modern expression, but is simple enough: the markings should be right way up for the person behind the camera, not for the subject.

 

[bob cole]

Dumb question from a long time Leica user

Looking through the 135 from the small diameter end doesn't show the brightlines, and as Colyn and others have said the way the paralax adjustment works confirms you look through the wide side. Sorry Bob

here's a 28mm Voigtlander brightline finder mounted on the camera --with the small end closest to the eye [it's on Stephen Gandy's cameraquest]

 

[colyn]

here's a 28mm Voigtlander brightline finder mounted on the camera --with the small end closest to the eye [it's on Stephen Gandy's cameraquest]

I have several finders including the one you show which do work with the small end to the eye but this 135mm finder I have only works properly (framelines/parallax) with the large end to the eye.

 

[Roberto]

I have several finders including the one you show which do work with the small end to the eye but this 135mm finder I have only works properly (framelines/parallax) with the large end to the eye.

Same is true for the SGVOO 90mm that I own.
Large end to the eye, and I believe it's black to reduce flare when looking through.
Cheers,
Rob.

 

[drewbarb]

The 135mm lens works great with the built-in finder in my M3... I view through the back of the camera, with the lens on the front.

 

[FPjohn]

Retro view

Retro view

The 135mm lens works great with the built-in finder in my M3... I view through the back of the camera, with the lens on the front.

🙂

Hello:

The view through a M3 is pretty good. I find the 90 and 135 brightline finders migrate to the M4 and M6 on a regular basis. The "retro" view is helpful. A CV 75 brightline really helps on the M6. Of course, milage may vary.

yours
FPJ