External finder for R-D1

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pphuang

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Just wondering what external finder works best on an R-D1 with a 25mm lens? With the 1.5 crop, I'm assuming that a regular 25 won't do the trick. Voigtlander used to make a modified 25 specifically for the R-D1, but they are no longer available. Should I try a 28 or 35? I'm guessing 35, since the FOV of a 25 on the R-D1 would be equivalent to around 37, but I'd appreciate some "real world" opinions. Thanks!
 
pphuang said:
Just wondering what external finder works best on an R-D1 with a 25mm lens? With the 1.5 crop, I'm assuming that a regular 25 won't do the trick. Voigtlander used to make a modified 25 specifically for the R-D1, but they are no longer available. Should I try a 28 or 35? I'm guessing 35, since the FOV of a 25 on the R-D1 would be equivalent to around 37, but I'd appreciate some "real world" opinions. Thanks!
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The 35mm frame on the CV 28/35 minfinder works and having the 28 frame as well allows some adjustment by eye. I use the 35 frame for my 25mm Skopar and the 28 for my 21mm Avenon. This finder also has the benefit of being small and unobtrusive.
 
If you want to spend alot of money you can get the Leica 21-24-28 finder, too. About $700 at your friendly camera store.

/T
 
Jim Watts said:
The 35mm frame on the CV 28/35 minfinder works and having the 28 frame as well allows some adjustment by eye. I use the 35 frame for my 25mm Skopar and the 28 for my 21mm Avenon. This finder also has the benefit of being small and unobtrusive.
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Thanks to both of you for the responses.

Jim, is there much room around the framelines of the minifinder? Is it pretty comfortable to use, or is there a lot of squinting involved - unfortunately, my eyes aren't what they used to be...:(
 
Paul
If you don't wear glasses, using the full finder of the Epson is another option for the 25mm. It might signifcantly speedup your shooting with that lens, compared to using an external finder. There are quite many here on the RFF Epson forum doing it this way. But as said - without glasses only.
Didier
 
If you wear glasses ( as I do ) the 28/35 minifinder framelines can be hard to see. I use it nonetheless in conjunction with my 21, mostly just as a rough guide though...

J
 
Thanks all for the additional input. I did try using the full finder trick, but since I wear glasses, it leaves too much extra room around the subjects. Speed using an external finder isn't much of an issue for me, since I usually shoot with hyperfocal at small apetures with the 25, so I'm mostly interested in framing.

The minifinder looks nice and small, but maybe too small and fiddly?? Probably one of those things where you won't really know till you give it a try for yourself...
 
the metal CV 35 VF is not so big, gives a bright view, leaves plenty of vision outside the framelines, and it has parallax reminder lines. don't know about suitability for glasses.

I go between that and using the full area of the internal finder.
 
pphuang said:
Thanks to both of you for the responses.

Jim, is there much room around the framelines of the minifinder? Is it pretty comfortable to use, or is there a lot of squinting involved - unfortunately, my eyes aren't what they used to be...:(
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Paul,
I wear glasses and I find that I can't really use the full area of the R-D1 finder for a 25mm lens,, although I can use the built in 28mm (43 equivalent) just about without scanning.

I dont have a problem with the CV minifinder for 21mm or 25mm lenses. I can see the outside edges of the 28mm framelines without scanning and so the 35mm framelines are no problem at all. I find this finder bright and clear and IMHO despite its small size not at all fiddly. I much prefer it to the CV 25mm finder I have. This may of course depend on the type of frames on your glasses and how close they allow you to get your eye to the exit eyepiece. You most likely won't have a problem, but a trial may be advisable.
 
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Jim Watts said:
Paul,
I wear glasses and I find that I can't really use the full area of the R-D1 finder for a 25mm lens,, although I can use the built in 28mm (43 equivalent) just about without scanning.

I dont have a problem with the CV minifinder for 21mm or 25mm lenses. I can see the outside edges of the 28mm framelines without scanning and so the 35mm framelines are no problem at all. I find this finder bright and clear and IMHO despite its small size not at all fiddly. I much prefer it to the CV 25mm finder I have. This may of course depend on the type of frames on your glasses and how close they allow you to get your eye to the exit eyepiece. You most likely won't have a problem, but a trial may be advisable.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your thoughts, Jim, very helpful...
 
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