Leica IIIa: Finder blockage with Nokton 1.5/50

[6x7]

How much does a Voigtländer Nokton 1.5/50 (without hood) block the viewfinder of a Leica IIIa? This has certainly been asked before but I cannot find a quick answer. Thank you in advance.

 

[xayraa33]

How much does a Voigtländer Nokton 1.5/50 (without hood) block the viewfinder of a Leica IIIa? This has certainly been asked before but I cannot find a quick answer. Thank you in advance.

It blocks it alot, in fact it makes the built in VF practically useless.

I use a SBOOI finder on my Leica III and its Nicca copies when I use the 50mil Nokton f1.5 lens or the Canon 50 mil f1.4 lens.

 

[6x7]

It blocks it alot, in fact it makes the built in VF practically useless.

That is not good news. I will give it a try anyway. If it really blocks that much I can still use my old KONTUR.

 

[xayraa33]

That is not good news. I will give it a try anyway. If it really blocks that much I can still use my old KONTUR.

A SBOOI and its modern CV clone are expensive to buy but they make using these old cameras very enjoyable, even on the Canon bottomloader cameras, with their dim and squinty tiny viewfinders.

 

[6x7]

This is the real finder blockage of the Nokton:

 

[6x7]

The Kontur makes the time knob unusable.

 

[xayraa33]

This is the real finder blockage of the Nokton:

Been there and done that, to me that is unusable.

SBOOI it or use a small diameter lens like the Elmar and their clones or anything f2 or f1.8 like the Summars , Summitars , Canon f1.9 or f1.8 or J8.

The old school f 1.5/f1.4 lenses work OK too .

The J3 , Canon f1.5, Nikkor f1.4 and even the bulky Summarit f 1.5 work ok sans SBOOI

I have all these lenses and plenty of Barnacks, so I tried many combinations.

 

[BLKRCAT]

Been there and done that, to me that is unusable.

Cmon you gotta feel the shot not see the shot. Shooting film is all about unexpected surprises right?? 😉😀

 

[xayraa33]

Cmon you gotta feel the shot not see the shot. Shooting film is all about unexpected surprises right?? 😉😀

You still get plenty of surprises on the negatives, even with a SBOOI equipped Leica IIIc or IIIf .

 

[EVIL_Guy]

I use the SBOOI an my IIIf and on my Minolta CLE which has no 50mm frameline.
It's not cheap but really a great finder!

 

[6x7]

SBOOI it...

I do not like accessory finders.

...or use a small diameter lens like the Elmar and their clones or anything f2 or f1.8 like the Summars , Summitars , Canon f1.9 or f1.8 or J8. The old school f 1.5/f1.4 lenses work OK too . The J3 , Canon f1.5, Nikkor f1.4 and even the bulky Summarit f 1.5 work ok sans SBOOI.

Thank you for all advices! What about the Color Skopar 2.5 50? I like a modern lens with good contrast and sharpnes. I am not interested in "glow" or "bokeh".

 

[xayraa33]

I do not like accessory finders.

Thank you for all advices! What about the Color Skopar 2.5 50? I like a modern lens with good contrast and sharpnes. I am not interested in "glow" or "bokeh".

Get an M Leica or most CV Bessa cameras or a Canon P or VIL or VIT or the 7 series cameras if you want to & do not like accessory finders and want to use LTM lenses.

The Color Skopar 50 mil fits the bill as it is a physically skinny lens, and that is the solution to your problem. Glow or bokeh is neither here or there in this case

 

[lxmike]

yes it blocks quite a bit thats why l use my nokton on a bessa r as opposed to my IIIg

 

[EVIL_Guy]

I do not like accessory finders...

in this case you have the wrong camera, as the finder in all screw mount Leicas (except the much bigger IIIg) is a joke.
SBOOI is a very good solution and you will be happy to have a look through it.
Or buy another camera, i.e. Voigtlander Bessa etc. ...