Inexpensive 28mm Viewfinder - is there such a thing

Flyfisher Tom

Flyfisher Tom

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Problem? I have a 28mm lens, wear glasses, and can barely see the 35mm frameline with ease in my M6. Needless to say my chances of using the outer edge of my camera's viewfinder is difficult if not tedious.

So before I am forced to spend $150+ on a VC 28mm viewfinder, I thought I'd pick your brains on any cheaper alternatives.

I'm even willing to break out my tiny screwdrivers and Dremel kit if you have any DIY homemade ideas that might work. Thanks
 
If you can find a broken P&S that uses a 28mm lens, you can mount it's VF onto a shoe quite easily. I did that for a 35mm finder for well over a year until I got a great deal on a Canon 35mm VF. There are a number of pages out on the web that will show you how to homebrew one once you find the camera to scavenge from.

William
 
you know, I can't remember where I saw this thing for the life of me, but somewhere out there is a company that makes a little wire attachment that acts like a viewfinder. It's basically a wire square with a tiny ball suspended in the middle (also by wire.) You line up this ball visually with one a few inches in front of it at a certain distance (which they figured out a way to easily estimate) and it's a super cheap, glass free finder! It has a hot shoe base to slide right on your camera.

It's very, very cheap and from what I remember it looks much cooler than my description makes it sound. I almost got one for the fun of it. Anyone have any idea what I'm talking about?
 
canon made one like that. sport or speed finder i think it was called.

it's now a collector's item - very expensive.
 
The Russian/Zeiss Turret finder has a 28mm VF, along with the 35, 50, 85 & 135 views. I wear glasses, and can easily see the whole frame.
 
yeah, kinda big.

i have a slightly scratched canon 28mm finder (scratch in my direct line of sight, of course) and it seems very large, though smaller than a box of film.
 
Flyfisher Tom said:
So before I am forced to spend $150+ on a VC 28mm viewfinder, I thought I'd pick your brains on any cheaper alternatives.
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What's cheap enough? How about $75 for a like-new chrome 28mm CV finder, like the one on my M2 (camera and lens not included)?

Richard
 
shaaktiman said:
you know, I can't remember where I saw this thing for the life of me, but somewhere out there is a company that makes a little wire attachment that acts like a viewfinder. It's basically a wire square with a tiny ball suspended in the middle (also by wire.) You line up this ball visually with one a few inches in front of it at a certain distance (which they figured out a way to easily estimate) and it's a super cheap, glass free finder! It has a hot shoe base to slide right on your camera.

It's very, very cheap and from what I remember it looks much cooler than my description makes it sound. I almost got one for the fun of it. Anyone have any idea what I'm talking about?
Click to expand...

I thought it was sooo cool that I bookmarked the page. :D

http://www.ikodot.com/index.html

EDIT: akalai had it bookmarked too.
 
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Most single use cameras have 35mm finders. If I really 'crawl' into the finder I can see a similar field as my CLE 28mm framelines. Not suitable for those of us who wear glasses.
I got a used few of those plastic toy cameras to scavenge the finders. I am transforming one of them for my newly acquired FED1. It really looks nice because the finder is so small.

I don't know if these exist in 28mm though....

The Ikodot is really cool but kinda pricey for some wire. I'd rather build it myself.

cheers, Rob.
 
Fedka

Fedka

Fedka has a piece of his site dedicated to this DIY project. link!
I had another look at the two finder sets I have left, when my eyelashes are touching the finder (glass) plastic, I can see the 28mm fov. This is the same manner of viewing as with the CLE. Again, not much use for glasses.

Rob
 
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richard_l said:
What's cheap enough? How about $75 for a like-new chrome 28mm CV finder, like the one on my M2 (camera and lens not included)?

Richard
Click to expand...


Are you offering this for sale, Richard? If so I might be keen (after Tom and Joe have had first and second refusual). Could you PM me with a postage quote to the UK, please?
 
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