External VF for a Leica M6 + 35mm

[dugrant153]

Hi folks,

So I've been really loving my Leica M6. It's a great camera.

Recently I've been looking into external viewfinders. This is for two reasons:

1) My CV 35mm F1.2 blocks too much of the VF, especially with the hood.
2) As I wear thick glasses (and I NEED my glasses... they're far beyond any diopter adjustment), I can't see the entire 35mm frameline... making the framelines kind of moot for me. i.e. I find my eye swimming around the VF to try to see the whole image.

I purchased a used and semi-fogged Optimus 35-135 rotary finder and I've set it to 35 and have been using it for a while.

However, I've heard that the Leica M6 top plate is 2.5mm higher than the other M's so.... there's some error with the external VF I believe.

So my question is: Is there a decent external viewfinder that does a 35mm focal length and is adjusted for my M6?

 

[thegman]

To be honest, I think a top plate being 2.5mm higher is basically going to make no discernible difference to framing, which RFs being RFs, is essentially inaccurate anyway.

Having said that, I've always like the Voigtlander finders.

 

[madNbad]

The top plate of the M6 TTL is 2.5 mm taller than the M6 Classic but it shouldn't make much difference if you're using a dedicated viewfinder. Get one for a 35, even an old one for an M3 and framing will be just fine.

 

[rlouzan]

35mm Voigtlander or a used Acall/Komura external VF.

 

[Richard G]

I've used the Leica SBLOO on my modern Leicas. It is harder to get your eye behind spectacles close enough to such a thing in the middle of the camera, and I end up with my head turned and tilted and my nose plastered to the back of the camera if I really want to see all of the frame lines. I much prefer the longer focal length or wider focal length external finders. One great advantage of these is the framing and taking the shot can be lightning quick if you've prefocussed. I now skip the external finder with the 21 sometimes, and always with the 28, even though I can only just see one frame line at a time, even in the wider angle (lower magnification) digital M in-camera viewfinders.

 

[presspass]

There are, or have been, at least two small Voightlander finders. The tubular metal one is nicer looking but can scratch glasses. The plastic one that looks like the Leica 21 and 28 finders seems to work better.

 

[dugrant153]

I'll probably pick up the CV ones. I did have a look through a Ricoh one (For the GR camera) and it was a life-altering experience. haha.

Thanks for the input on the M6 height difference. The 2.5mm might make a difference at minimum focusing distance but probably not much after that. However, I'm thinking my large turret finder, with the lens height quite a bit higher than even where the CV viewfinder would stand, is probably that much more inaccurate? Would love some facts on this as I'm actually just no that sure.

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photograph...sources/RF-Nikkor/Leica_RF/Leica-Finder_B.htm

It's the one in the second to last image, top right. "Made in Germany" apparently 🙂

 

[froyd]

I don't think accuracy and external viewfinders (or even internal brightlines) should be used in the same sentence...