Leica viewfinder opinion needed

[MP Guy]

I would like to know if any of you have used the variable 21-24-28 viewfinder and the fixed ones as well. If you like one better than the other and why.

Thanks

 

[waileong]

Are you aware there's a review of the 21-24-28 viewfinder at Luminous Landscape?

I've used only the 24 and 28 mm finders, they're good except for being easy to smudge with face oil/grease.

If you really have 21, 24 and 28 mm lenses, then it's certainly cheaper and easier to carry one finder vs three. I now only have a 24 mm lens, so I kept only my 24 mm finder.

 

[kbg32]

I like the fixed ones. They're more compact.

 

[egpj]

I have the 21-24-28 but have never tried the the separate ones. I bought the combo finder because of the build quality. Although I had not handled the finder for the 21mm lens I knew that it was made out of plastic. I just figured that one made out of metal would last longer then the one made out of plastic. I also have 28mm lens but the .75 viewfinder on the MP has frames for that lens. One thing I can say I do not like about the combo finder is the amount of barrel distortion on the 21mm view. It is near impossible to get things level with this finder. I think that I am doing better now then when I first started using it though.

 

[SDK]

I have one and use it all the time for the Zeiss 21 and 25mm ZM Biogons on my M7. It is big, but very well made, all metal, with a screw clamp on the ISO shoe, so you won't knock it off the camera. I wish it were a brightline finder, but then it would probably be even bigger! One nice thing is that they take Leica eyepiece diopters, so you can have a corrected view for your vision (I use a -1.00). They are made In Japan! I wonder if Cosina is the subcontractor.

 

[BudGreen]

I've only used the 21-24-28 viewfinder. I agree with the above comments and would add that for me it seems to attract a good bit of attention in public. I always thought it looked pretty cool on top of the camera and evidently, so does everyone else.

 

[Bill58]

You can't beat the current VC finders for any money.

 

[paulh]

Prefer the fixed ones. Much smaller and compact. Also one for each camera with different lenses.

 

[peter_n]

I don't think Leica do a very good job with their finders. I now have a Leica 24mm finder and I'm replacing it with the 25mm CV which IMHO is a much better finder. I would second the above comment that the CV finders are very good.

 

[CameraQuest]

I would like to know if any of you have used the variable 21-24-28 viewfinder and the fixed ones as well. If you like one better than the other and why.

Thanks

The variable 21-24-28 Leica view finder SUCKS!

Too Big, Too Heavy, Too Expensive, Too Dark !

Until recently the best 21, 25, and 28 viewfinders were the Voigtlander (Plastic 21 and 25 finders, later 28 Metal version 28) viewfinders, even better than the Leica 21,25, or 28 finders. The Voigt finders still remain by far the most bang for the buck at $128 to $145.

Yet the new Zeiss ZM 21, and combination 25/28 ZM Viewfinders have better views, and are even brighter. These are unquestionably the best 21/25/28 viewfinders ever made by any camera maker. Discounted these can be found at $349.



Stephen Gandy

 

[Ronald M]

The fixed plastic finders get broken feet regularly, but are best optically. My metal finders are the strongest, but have some distortion not present inthe plastic ones.

The zoom finder has no brightlines and I dislike it for that reason. The amount you see depends upon your exact eye position and has somewhat fuzzy borders with my eyes. I do not recommend it.

Pay your money, take your pick.