Is the IIC (big C) a bright finder? or just ok?

68degrees

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My dad has a IIc and the finder is ok. I noticed the windows on the IIC are huge. Is it as bright as I would expect it to be or just so so? How does it compare to the brightest Rangefinder you have experienced?
 
It's not so much the brightness, but the fact you get frame lines with the big C models. You need an auxilary finder when using the wide and tele lenses on a small c model to get the framing.

PF
 
It's not so much the brightness, but the fact you get frame lines with the big C models. You need an auxilary finder when using the wide and tele lenses on a small c model to get the framing.

PF

right. ok.. so the lenses from the IIc will fit on a IIC? and you dont need the aux viewfinder anymore right?
 
AFIK that's the way it is. I've never used the wide/tele set on mine, they are too much of a bother. And you can't mix the S-K's with the Rodenstocks. If you have an S-K 50 on the camera, you need the S-K wide/tele. Same with the Rodenstock. And the serial numbers have to match on the 50, and the mount, or you've got a bum camera.

PF
 
It's not so much the brightness, but the fact you get frame lines with the big C models. You need an auxilary finder when using the wide and tele lenses on a small c model to get the framing.

PF

That is probably true. Didnt realize that the Big C had wide/tele framelines...I would only opt for the Big C only if you want a bigger viewfinder.

If you want to use interchangeable lenses without going Contax/Leica/whatever then you would perhaps want to look into the IIIS. I know this is not what you asked for but I'm just saying...
 
so if I have SK 50 on a IIc, I cant use another SK 50 from a differnt camera? Why is that?

The front componant of the 50mm is matched to the rear element group. Using another may or may not work right.
 
The front componant of the 50mm is matched to the rear element group. Using another may or may not work right.

I've read that, but I've wondered: If matching front and rear elements of the 50mm is so critical, why don't the Curtar (35mm) and Longar (80mm) attachment lenses, which replace the front element of the 50mm, need to be matched?
 
If you notice the 35 and 80 focus differently. You first focus with the rangefinder then set the distance from the 50mm scale to the distance of the lens you are using via each scale 35mm or 80mm. These scales are located on the bottom end of the shutter..
 
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