Need advice on cheap external viewfinders from the auction site

[Laviolette]

I'm looking for a finder for using 21mm lenses on my M4 and was about to buy the CV 21-25 metal finder until I found these cheap finders (~30$ incl. shipping) made by a guy from Jerusalem.

Anybody used them? I obviously don't expect the same quality from it compared to the more expensive finders, but I looked around a bit and found very little information from users. How are the build quality and the usability?

 

[erikhaugsby]

This is probably absolutely no help, but I looked up the finder in question. His eBay auction seems okay, except for the image of his Zorki 4 and Voigtlander 15/4.5: why photoshop "Leica" onto the camera, and "Carl Zeiss" / "21mm" onto the lens?

 

[Laviolette]

This is probably absolutely no help, but I looked up the finder in question. His eBay auction seems okay, except for the image of his Zorki 4 and Voigtlander 15/4.5: why photoshop "Leica" onto the camera, and "Carl Zeiss" / "21mm" onto the lens?

Yeah, I stumbled upon a thread here discussing the seller's Photoshop techniques. Can't help but that gives a bit a fishy look...

 

[Spavinaw]

Laviolette--I have one of these finders in 17mm size. They are all plastic, not very big, and quite sturdy. The view through them is bright. They have some barrel distortion, but if you are not photographing a brick wall or something like that you'll probably not notice it. I would recommend it. You certainly are not going to find anything nearly that cheap. Sure, it's not going to be like a super expensive finder, but for framing your shot, I think it'll do just fine. If not, save up for a more expensive one and sell it.

 

[Laviolette]

Laviolette--I have one of these finders in 17mm size. They are all plastic, not very big, and quite sturdy. The view through them is bright. They have some barrel distortion, but if you are not photographing a brick wall or something like that you'll probably not notice it. I would recommend it. You certainly are not going to find anything nearly that cheap. Sure, it's not going to be like a super expensive finder, but for framing your shot, I think it'll do just fine. If not, save up for a more expensive one and sell it.

Thanks - that's exactly the kind of advice I was looking for!

 

[filmtwit]

I have 25mm finder on the way from this guy.
Shipping is free because it take a very slow boat so to say.
I think I'm on week three.
It does come with a tracking number and from the looks of it held in customs for a week.
Once it gets here I can report more.