How good is the Leitz SBLOO 3.5cm finder

Papercut said:
I haven't tried the vintage Canon but the Nikon 35mm that came with my Nikoor 3.5cm/2.5 is really squinty and hard to use for me with glasses. I really like the modern CV Voigtlander 35mm for my IIIc. Seems a perfect match to me. The view with the SBLOO is very nice, but it seemed oversized on my Barnack, and the square corners made it less suitable to carry under my coat or over-shirt (I often carry it slung bandolier style under a long sleeve shirt while teaching). The round Voigtlander doesn't catch on things so it works well.
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never thought about the corners issue
 
The only 35mm capable finder I have used that approaches the SBLOO in its build quality and large and clear view is the Turnit finder from the old Voigtlander Prominent rangefinder. The earliest version of this was all metal and glass (a later version was more plasticy) and is nicely made and well engineered. The main disadvantage is that it is designed for 35mm, 50mm and 100mm and as a result is BIG. It is still very nice but not perhaps as elegant as the Leica one. Still, for anyone wanting something with a large clear view at a price point much less than the Leica alternative it's really not a bad option (and it does attract attention of other Togs.) Here is one on a Zorki camera:

4251565525_4deb6bdf73_b.jpg


And a clearer picture of the finder showing the 35mm business end (the Turnit finder rotates to give the multiple focal lengths, hence the name)

1b5db71b5f59f6a6c70d8885b3c0ef6b.jpg
 
I have such a turnit, Peter! The old Prominent equipment was made rock solid. I have a like-new in the box Leica 35mm finder that came with the M3 when I got it from someone. It is too beautiful to be used :)
 
I use the Leica 36mm finder for my 35mm needs. Paid $100 for mine. The best finder I've ever used for 35mm was the Sony/Zeiss one. Sometimes they come available for a good price--it's in my avatar. Those Zeiss finders are the best, IMO.
 
raid said:
I have such a turnit, Peter! The old Prominent equipment was made rock solid. I have a like-new in the box Leica 35mm finder that came with the M3 when I got it from someone. It is too beautiful to be used :)
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The Prominent stuff is beautiful, Raid as you know. I trust you are enjoying your Ultron. I have seen some of your photos from it and they are excellent.

I do like the Turnit finder as it provides one of the nicest, clearest images of any finder I have tried.
 
I find that the Ultron provides a very special rendition that no other 50mm lens I own can provide. I bought a second adapter so that I can use one all the time with the Ultron.
The Leica finder is very special. It is very clear and it feels luxurious.
 
raid said:
I find that the Ultron provides a very special rendition that no other 50mm lens I own can provide. I bought a second adapter so that I can use one all the time with the Ultron.
The Leica finder is very special. It is very clear and it feels luxurious.
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You are making that Ultron sound very tempting for me.

But everything is so much easier now with mirrorless - its hard to know where to draw the line. I have recently discovered how good Minolta and Konica lenses are and am engaged in trying them out. One I purchased a few days ago is the Minolta Rokkor 80-200mm f4.5 from the late 1970s / early 1980s. It was cheap as chips for me to buy now but was an expensive lens in its time and it was one of those lenses which was regarded as being so good it was licensed for use by Leica on their SLRs and sold with their own logo on it much as they presently do with Panasonic. (At an appropriately higher price).

But that Ultron............
 
raid said:
I find that the Ultron provides a very special rendition that no other 50mm lens I own can provide. I bought a second adapter so that I can use one all the time with the Ultron.
The Leica finder is very special. It is very clear and it feels luxurious.
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Good to hear you like the Ultron. Because I enjoy for having the German Nokton and Ultron for many years too. I have three different versions of the adapters for them.
 
Which adapter versions do you own? I have one by Amedeo which is Prominent to Contax. My second adapter is in the mail to me. It is a Prominent to ltm and it has some adjustments possible.
 
peterm1 said:
You are making that Ultron sound very tempting for me.

But everything is so much easier now with mirrorless - its hard to know where to draw the line. I have recently discovered how good Minolta and Konica lenses are and am engaged in trying them out. One I purchased a few days ago is the Minolta Rokkor 80-200mm f4.5 from the late 1970s / early 1980s. It was cheap as chips for me to buy now but was an expensive lens in its time and it was one of those lenses which was regarded as being so good it was licensed for use by Leica on their SLRs and sold with their own logo on it much as they presently do with Panasonic. (At an appropriately higher price).

But that Ultron............
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Do you mean the m 4/3 system or a full frame or different mirrorless? The crop in the M 4/3 makes it difficult for wide angle lenses.
 
raid said:
Which adapter versions do you own? I have one by Amedeo which is Prominent to Contax. My second adapter is in the mail to me. It is a Prominent to ltm and it has some adjustments possible.
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One is Amedeo Prominent to Nikon S Mount. One is from Taiwan Hawk’s adapter. And the last one is Fotodiox Pro. You could easily find it on Amazon or B&H. The last two adapter could allow you to focus down to 0.7m. Hawk’s might get even closer.
 
peterm1 said:
The only 35mm capable finder I have used that approaches the SBLOO in its build quality and large and clear view is the Turnit finder from the old Voigtlander Prominent rangefinder. The earliest version of this was all metal and glass (a later version was more plasticy) and is nicely made and well engineered. The main disadvantage is that it is designed for 35mm, 50mm and 100mm and as a result is BIG. It is still very nice but not perhaps as elegant as the Leica one. Still, for anyone wanting something with a large clear view at a price point much less than the Leica alternative it's really not a bad option (and it does attract attention of other Togs.) Here is one on a Zorki camera:

4251565525_4deb6bdf73_b.jpg


And a clearer picture of the finder showing the 35mm business end (the Turnit finder rotates to give the multiple focal lengths, hence the name)

1b5db71b5f59f6a6c70d8885b3c0ef6b.jpg
Click to expand...
Greatly agree on this one Peter. Turnit is quite bright and cool. No bright lines if I remember correctly, right?
 
raid said:
Do you mean the m 4/3 system or a full frame or different mirrorless? The crop in the M 4/3 makes it difficult for wide angle lenses.
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I mean in general, Raid - in the sense that all mirrorless cameras have a short register difference allowing almost any SLR lens (or other lens for that matter) to be used on them with appropriate adapters. That's more what I was referring to.

You are of course right about 4/3 being difficult if you enjoy shooting with wide angles. Though for me I almost always shoot longer lenses as I like to get closer. For wider shooting on 4/3 and NEX I keep a 12mm f2 Samyang lens that can be adapted for either.
 
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