MP viewfinder

[splitimageview]

I have this 35mm viewfinder which was made for the Nikon rangefinders. It's quite good and small, I can see the 35mm frames with glasses on, although the glasses touch the back of the viewfinder and could be scratched if precautions aren't taken. A piece of cut gaffer tape would solve that.

This pic of the rear shows there is good surface for some protection.

 

[ellisson]

With glasses, I photograph with a Leica M5 and goggled summaron 35 2.8 lens. You get frame lines similar to the 50mm lines. I can see the 35mm lines without the goggled lens, but need to scan the frame at different angles to see the full picture. Not so with the the goggled 35mm lens - its all there. I do not find these to be bulky, other than they take up a bit more room in a camera bag. But then again, I'm shooting with an M5!

The goggled lenses are generally less expensive then regular versions, as many users prefer non-goggled for the smaller size. But I like that too!

 

[xasthur]

Thanks for all the info everyone. I think if anything I will get a Leica SBLOO VF. I kinda wish I could try one before I buy it to make sure I don't end up with the same issue of not being able to see the framelines in it. Anyone here who has made this switch that wear glasses able to confirm?

 

[Beemermark]

Thanks for all the info everyone. I think if anything I will get a Leica SBLOO VF. I kinda wish I could try one before I buy it to make sure I don't end up with the same issue of not being able to see the framelines in it. Anyone here who has made this switch that wear glasses able to confirm?

I wear glasses and have no problem with the 35mm frame lines but can't see the 28mm. I love the 28mm and as I said earlier a 0.58x M7. The .58x was great for the 28mm and 35mm but not much else so I sold it.


I use a 28mm shoe mount VF for the 28mm on my .78x M7 and it works great. I also use a 35mm & 50mm on my IIIF.

 

[WJJ3]

Thanks for all the info everyone. I think if anything I will get a Leica SBLOO VF. I kinda wish I could try one before I buy it to make sure I don't end up with the same issue of not being able to see the framelines in it. Anyone here who has made this switch that wear glasses able to confirm?

The SBLOO and the lovely Nikon finder shared above are not cheap. If you are going to go the external finder route the CV finders are good options because they are great finders at reasonable prices. Below are the metal one I currently use, and the plastic one I used to use.

Both of these finders have good eye relief, better than the 0.72 mag Leica finder offer for the 35mm framelines IMO. The metal one will likely scratch up your glasses unless you put some tape on it. I have not tried the SBLOO or the vintage Nikon finder posted above.

All that being said, if you are a committed Leica film shooter it's probably only a matter of time until you realize a 0.58 mag finder camera is the way to go...

 

[yossi]

Or, you could also upgrade/downgrade to either a Minolta CLE or a Konica Hexar RF. Both cameras have excellent 28mm framelines. Just that they ain't Leica 😛

 

[Beemermark]

Can you still order custom MP cameras from Leica? If you want a .58x that’s the route to get one. Used ones are very uncommon and when they do show up go for a premium price.

 

[presspass]

Going from a heavily-modified DS M3 that I got some years ago, the finder can probably be changed to the .58. I don't know who rebuilt this M3, but obviously it was carefully and professionally done. It has the M4 loading system installed - not the quick load kit but the full tulip one. It also has an M4 finder - 35 and 135 in the same frame, 50 and 90 in their specific frames. If that can be done with an M3, I suspect it can be done with a M4 of any vintage. But, as said above, it will be costly. The external finders are a great choice. In addition to the ones mentioned above, Zeiss also made a new style 35 finder for something and it's as great, and as expensive as their other offerings. There was also a plastic finder made for one of the Olympus digital cameras that gives you the equivalent of a 35 finder for a film rangefinder.

 

[yossi]

If functionality is all that matters, this $40 35mm VF from USSR would work just fine. Plenty of them on the Bay.

(Not sure how cool it would look on an M4-2 though.)

 

[Huss]

If functionality is all that matters, this $40 35mm VF from USSR would work just fine. Plenty of them on the Bay.

(Not sure how cool it would look on an M4-2 though.)

have u tried it?

 

[yossi]

Yes, I used to have one of these VF that came with the J-12 lens, but that was years ago and it is no longer with me. IIRC, it works fine but don't expect high accuracy in framing and distortionless viewing. It was a little bulky on my Leica IIIB but not as much as the Leitz SBLOO finder.

These days, my favorite is the Voigtlander mini 28/35 VF. Compact, solid and very bright. This is how it looks on the IIIB.

 

[awilder]

Unless prohibitive due to your spectacle prescription, consider getting a diopter lens accessory for the camera's eyepiece allowing your naked eye to get much closer to the finder without wearing glasses. This will allow you to see the 35 framelines without moving your eyes. The drawback is you need to put your glasses back on to see when not looking through the finder.

 

[xasthur]

I think I've decided to go with the Leica SBLOO finder as the remedy to my issue. I have a friend with a beat up one which still works fine, but just a little rough looking. As for the 28mm I was never really looking into the mp finder for those frame lines. My line of thinking was that since 28 is obviously wider than 35 the 35 frame lines would be more centered in the viewfinder therefore making it easier to see. Since that is not the case I'll just get an external finder. Which I will also be able to use on my iiia so I guess it works out. I plan to just put some gaffers tape so my glasses don't get scratched up anymore than they already are. Which to be honest they're pretty badly scratched up.

I remember looking a couple years ago for -2 diopters for the older Leica film cameras but was never able to find any that would fit. when I went to the Leica store they told me that the modern ones that they sell in the store only work on the m10 and such. I remember finding someone who custom makes the diopters but they were like $400 which is way too much.

 

[yossi]

I think I've decided to go with the Leica SBLOO finder as the remedy to my issue. I have a friend with a beat up one which still works fine, but just a little rough looking. As for the 28mm I was never really looking into the mp finder for those frame lines. My line of thinking was that since 28 is obviously wider than 35 the 35 frame lines would be more centered in the viewfinder therefore making it easier to see. Since that is not the case I'll just get an external finder. Which I will also be able to use on my iiia so I guess it works out. I plan to just put some gaffers tape so my glasses don't get scratched up anymore than they already are. Which to be honest they're pretty badly scratched up.

---

Again from memory, the Leica SBLOO is bright and has great view but its eye relief is not great. But it is a Leica.

 

[xasthur]

Oh, hrmm. Do you or anyone know of a good external VF for 35 which give decent eye relief?

I found this link a while ago.

https://www.shapeways.com/product/T5EK9LFUG/35mm-viewfinder-top-cover

It looks interesting and very glasses friendly, but I think I remember reading somewhere that in theory it would work well but that when put together things were loose and didn't feel very solid. Which.. I mean it is a frankensteined VF and while thinking about it and working on it I imagine with some glue and taking your time to assemble it you could probably make it to where parts don't move around and stuff.

 

[dof]

Can you still order custom MP cameras from Leica? If you want a .58x that’s the route to get one. Used ones are very uncommon and when they do show up go for a premium price.

Sadly no. Leica discontinued their "ala-carte" program last year. There's currently no means to order a camera with non-standard viewfinder magnifications.

 

[yossi]

Oh, hrmm. Do you or anyone know of a good external VF for 35 which give decent eye relief?

...

The VC metal 35mm VF shown in post #25 above has very good eye relief. It is not $17.50 though. Current price at Cameraquest is slightly less than $300 😛

 

[Deleted member 65559]

Xasthur, Lately I've been using the Voigtlander metal finder. I checked it out and with glasses on, I needed to center my eye in the finder, but I can see the frame outline. It sits firmly in the (cold)shoe. It's less likely to scratch your glasses. On the SBLOO, instead of gaffer tape you can cut a circle from moleskin (yes the blister stuff).
I had several black voigtlander 28/35 mini finders & wanted to love them, especially on the Leica III, but the eyepoint is tiny and there is no way to see the framelines with glasses on. I almost lost one when it fell off the camera. These days they're as rare as hen's teeth, and the last one i saw was priced over $600 USD! They have quite sharp edges and i did scratch my glasses with them, as the rubber insert falls out easily too


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[Mark C]

Thanks for all the info everyone. I think if anything I will get a Leica SBLOO VF. I kinda wish I could try one before I buy it to make sure I don't end up with the same issue of not being able to see the framelines in it. Anyone here who has made this switch that wear glasses able to confirm?

Sorry for being late to the game here, but I had the same situation with my M's and got a SBLOO. I wanted to check to refresh my memory then replyk but couldn't find the darned thing until this morning.

I think the eye relief is fine for the SBLOO. I easily see the entire frame with glasses and I generally seem to have a bit more trouble than some others hear (glasses and eyes being variable).

In the end I've never really used it though. Even though it is a struggle see the 35 frames on my .72 M's, I find I can cope adequately and get the advantage of automatic parallax compensation. The SBLOO seems like it would be most useful for moderate to long distance work where you really want to see the edges for more careful framing.

 

[xasthur]

So I ended up getting my friends SBLOO finder and I must say, it works perfectly for me. I can see the frame lines without issue with my glasses on and I threw some gaffers tape on it to not scratch my glasses even more than they already are. Thanks for all the replies and info.