Leitz 21 12 002 viewfinder

[jkjod]

Is there a specific distance in which this viewfinder is calibrated for? 1m or inf? And if I need to correct for parallax what is the best way to do so? I understand it won't be exact, but I'd at least like to know the basics for best results. I have never shot 21 with a rangefinder before - I have with digital and its a focal length I really enjoy, but had the benefit of live view previously. Any help/advice/experience would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance,

Jordan

 

[FrozenInTime]

The frame lines are about right at infinity.
You do need to estimate parallax as you move closer.
At minimum focus distance - almost a quarter of the top of the frame is lost.

 

[Dektol Dan]

21mm Viewfinders

21mm Viewfinders

Very wide viewfinders today have no swing or tilt adjustment, which was common on even 35mm finders in the past.

The previous post said frame for 1/4 from top, I have experienced that within 3 feet or so 1/2 from the top is in order and swing the camera 1/4 frame to the left.

Very wide viewfinders are good for architecture and landscape and lining up vertical and horizontal. The viewfinders ar pretty good when 10 feet + from your subject.

I almost never use one. To get the hang of it and if you don't have a digital camera, imagine a small compact car and step back 5 steps, at that distance you will have the whole car in the frame.

When framing without the add on viewfinder, the center is still the center, so it's pretty easy to adapt, but remember you are still framing for a large area above and below, as well as right and left. So if you don't want a bunch of sky the option is for a big bunch of ground!

I only needed 3 test shots with a digital to get the idea, so it's really not that hard to adjust.

21mm shot without a viewfinder. I got it all in with one take!

 

[Tom A]

Jordan, as stated before - close up drop the camera slightly - about 1/3 of the top would otherwise be cut off. The other problem is bias to the left - for some reason most finders show more of the left than the right. The Leica 21 is pretty good - finder and lens axis re almost perfectly aligned. Best way is too shoot some film and experiment [ move the camera right to left, move the camera up/dpwm - both at close focus and medium distance. I tend to shoot for a bit more on the negative and crop in post processing, just in case. Rangefinders are really not made for exact framing - a bit of extra helps.
Only camera that works pretty well for 21's is the Bessa R4M with its built in 21mm frame lines.

 

[jkjod]

Thanks everybody - I have the finder, but no lens yet (still in the mail). I will for sure run some tests at minimum focus distance and medium distances once it arrives - the tips you gave will be a great starting point for sure. I also still have a digital camera I can throw the 21 on to help with the adjustment to the rangefinder. Thanks again,

Jordan

 

[jkjod]

Finally got the 21, a Zeiss ZM 2.8. You all were right, it didn't take too long to figure it out. I have a digital camera still and it helped. Being able to use live view with the 21 and then look through the viewfinder to get an idea of what was actually on the frame made it pretty easy. Nothing special in the test shots, just my back yard, but I'm pleased with the framing.

2015-04-08-0001-29.jpg by jkjod, on Flickr

2015-04-08-0001-2.jpg by jkjod, on Flickr

2015-04-08-0001.jpg by jkjod, on Flickr