External viewfinder for 25mm?

[robinje]

I am considering buying a 25/2.8 Biogon at some point, but would like to know how necessary it is to use an external viewfinder with this lens. Do the build in lines for 28mm on the ZI serve as a useful reference point when having a 25mm lens attached to the camera (i.e. the film's 'view' would be slightly/somewhat wider than what is indicated for a 28mm lens)? If using a 25/2.8 Biogon on the ZI, will the 28mm lines be visible by default? Thanks!

 

[mfogiel]

Yes, the 28mm lines pop up, and if you do not wear glasses, you can use the entire VF as an approximate coverage area.

 

[gotium]

Yes, the 28mm lines pop up, and if you do not wear glasses, you can use the entire VF as an approximate coverage area.

This is odd. On my Ikon, the 35 mm lines come up. I shot half a roll with the wrong lens on last week because it confused me.

 

[jonmanjiro]

This is odd. On my Ikon, the 35 mm lines come up. I shot half a roll with the wrong lens on last week because it confused me.

The early 25mm Zeiss lenses brought up the 28mm frames, but i think Zeiss modified the lens mid-production so that it would bring up the 24mm (35mm) frame line on an M8. either that, or your lens was modified by a previous owner.

 

[arseniii]

I have a "changed" Biogon and 35mm frames pop-up on a MP. External finders are great, in my opinion. My Voightlander 25mm finder is bright as swarovsky crystal and doesn't have this focusing patch in the middle to disturb me from composition...

 

[Richard G]

Love the Zeiss finder, clear and straight. Great for street shooting. Most often focussing is unnecessry with the 25 or scale focus. Great lens. There are photographers who not only don't use the external finder but really don't use the full internal either, having internalized the FOV of the 25mm lens.

 

[peter_n]

Panasonic VF

Panasonic VF

If you want sturdy, there is also the Pany DMW-VF1 which is nominally a 24mm VF but is actually 25mm. All metal including the foot and extremely well made.