Help! I've lost my Contax G 21mm finder!

[GRK]

Hi all,

I‘ve been a member for some time but I don’t post a great deal. I’ve learnt a lot from RFF members and I was wondering if anyone can help me.
Last weekend I was with friends at the Oxford Cambridge boat race in Putney, South West London. I always carry a G2 body with the 21mm and 45mm. After some time I reached for the 21mm and I realised I had lost its finder :bang: The 21mm is my favourite lens in the G system and without wanting to sound too dramatic, I am devastated.

I realise a replacement Contax viewfinder is pretty much impossible to find- dealers I have asked so far are understandably unwilling to split the finders from 21mm lens- but I can’t help but ask if anyone has seen one for sale in their area?

If not, I was wondering if anyone had any experience with using the Voigtlander, Zeiss Ikon or any other 21mm finders? Will there be greater parallax issues if I choose one of these? Any help or comments will be greatly appreciated.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

You only get parallax issues in close, like under one metre. Your Contax viewfinder did not parallax compensate and the replacement will not either.

In your shoes I'd go for whatever Voigtlander has on offer. VFM.

 

[joachim]

Hi, I am really sorry to hear about your mishap.
Parallax is a geometry issue - since the other finders will sit in roughly the same position, the parallax probs with be roughly the same.

If I were in your situation, I would go for the voigtlaender finder. A lot cheaper than the Zeiss or Leica. And apart from being lucky that someone trashed his lens and offers the finder on ebay, you don't have many other options. It has bright lines and parallax correction lines, which the Contax finder doesn't but lacks the cross the Contax finder offers. See http://cameraquest.com/voigtacc.htm for a detailed description. Robert White and ffordes seem to have it in stock. Please note that Robert White's websites prices do not include VAT (I am wondering whether this is legal).

With respect to user satiesfaction, I would ask in the Voigtlander branch of this forum.

 

[GRK]

I see what you mean about the parallax issue. So I can theoretically go for any finder that offers a 21mm view?

I will definitely look into the Voigtlander range as they seem to be good value.

 

[NickTrop]

Where did you leave it last?

 

[kbg32]

I use the Leitz 21mm finder with my G2. I like it better because it has a lower profile. Voigtlander will work just as well as the original Contax finder. It doesn't really matter what you use. They all will work well.

 

[plummerl]

KEH (www.keh.com) has the Contax finder, but you may not like the price.

 

[GRK]

Thanks for all the reply’s everyone.

NickTrop: I last saw it in the Dukes Head, a pub on the Thames in Putney. I have been back to ask if anyone found it and handed it in but unfortunately it hasn’t been.

kbg32: I hadn’t even considered Leica, the lower profile is an interesting consideration but I don’t think I can justify the cost.

Plummerl: thanks for the KEH tip, luckily (for me anyway) with the current exchange rate it is only slightly more costly than a new Voigtlander from the UK however I suspect shipping will seriously bump up the price.

I’m going to try and find a camera shop in London that stocks 21mm finders so I can try them on my G2 body. I feel the Voigtlander may be my best option.

 

[glynjones]

As you may be aware voigtlander has just launched the R4 camera - with built in framelines for 21mm. Its a fantastic camera

What may interest you though is that there may well be voigtlander owners out there who suddenly don't need their finders anymore

Unfortunately I don't have a 21mm lens (next on my to buy list) but I was in this situation and just sold my 25mm finder on ebay

It may be worth posting on the forums as something you want to buy, or keeping an eye on ebay. This is probably the perfect time for one to come up

Glyn