Leica's internal Viewfinder / no SBOOI

[paniolo]

Hello Photographers,
I cant take my hands on a Barnack so I would like to know from you how high is the magnification of the viewfinder for 50mm?
Of course I mean the viewfinder, not rangefinder.

I want to use one without any external finders, especialy the non RF model II.
Just the camera and its small viewfinder. But how small is it really?
like 0.5x or 0.3x? They look tiny compared to M's.

If the viewfinder of the II/Standard is not bigger than a Barnack with RF like the IIIa-f I would go for these.

Regards!

 

[summar]

I believe the magnification for the built-in viewfinder on all Barnack Leicas up to and including the IIIf is 0.5.The last Barnack Leica, the IIIg, has a different viewfinder/rangefinder setup -- I've never handled one of those.

 

[Erik van Straten]

They all have the same magnification (except IIIg), but not the same mask. The viewfinder of the I shows a lot more than will appear on film. This is very inconvenient. The viewfinders of the II and the others are better.

Erik.

 

[ChrisLivsey]

http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/screw-mount/iiif.htm

Ken says it's 0.5 so it must be 😉

 

[rjschell]

There is nothing more enjoyable than viewing through an SBOOI finder. You can view the world in front of you with both eyes open. Why squint?

 

[Rob-F]

I can remember, as a teenager, using the built-in finders on my Dad's II, and his IIIf. It seemed OK back then, but I wouldn't want to do it now that I've acquired external finders for my 25, 28, 35, and 50mm lenses. It is Sooo much nicer with the auxiliary finders! 🙂