Parallax Correction Using Voigtlander 40mm on Leica IIIf

[EddieO]

Ok, so I just bought Leica IIIF and considering a Voigtlander 40mm 2.8 Heliar lens for it. I'm attracted by the small form factor-for street shooting-as I will use the camera often in point and shoot. My question is whether that lens absolutely demands using an external viewfinder or whether parallax correction for the 50mm viewfinder in the IIIf view can be done without an external? Also, will this lens block the viewfinder view?

BTW-I'm opting for a new lens since it seems like it is hard to find an Elmar or Summarit without haze, cleaning marks or stiff focus and aperture rings.

eddie o

 

[Timmyjoe]

Hi Eddie,

Congrats on your new-to-you Leica IIIf. I can certainly see why a new lens would be an attractive option. A couple things about your new Leica IIIf. The viewfinder doesn't have parallax correction IIRC (sold my IIIf many years ago so I might be mistaken on that). And secondly, you can probably guesstimate the framing of the 40mm lens by using the 50mm viewfinder (just a little bit wider than the view you will get).

There are a number of external 40mm viewfinders available, but the good ones aren't cheap, and I'm not sure of the quality of the ones you can get on the auction site.

I'd try using the camera viewfinder and see how that works for you, before adding an external finder.

Best,
-Tim

 

[splitimageview]

definitely no parallax correction.

no lens blockage.

 

[EddieO]

Hi Eddie,

Congrats on your new-to-you Leica IIIf. I can certainly see why a new lens would be an attractive option. A couple things about your new Leica IIIf. The viewfinder doesn't have parallax correction IIRC (sold my IIIf many years ago so I might be mistaken on that). And secondly, you can probably guesstimate the framing of the 40mm lens by using the 50mm viewfinder (just a little bit wider than the view you will get).

There are a number of external 40mm viewfinders available, but the good ones aren't cheap, and I'm not sure of the quality of the ones you can get on the auction site.

I'd try using the camera viewfinder and see how that works for you, before adding an external finder.

Best,
-Tim

Thanks for that info, really helps a Barnack newbie.

 

[JSteed#2]

You may know this already, but since you are a new user of a Barnack Leica, please note that you must make sure you trim the leader before loading. Otherwise, enjoy!

 

[wlewisiii]

I only did 50mm on Barnacks. I'm not overly fond of 40mm as a focal length anyway - being half way between 35 & 50 it's neither fish nor fowl - but If I had one and spun it on the IIIf I used to own I'd just use it as see how the first couple of rolls came out. How close do the shots match what I expected from what I saw when I took the photo? That kind of thing. I'd also advise you to take notes on the shots so you can look back easier when you get them back or do your developing (depending on if you do your own.).

When I used a 35 on my Kiev, I used to use the two lines of the cold shoe as the left and right for it rather than an actual finder. It worked for me after a bit of practice. Your mileage will, of course, vary.

A tip - I never trimmed the leader. I put it into the take up spool, wound a bit around it, then fed it into the camera as I pushed the spool down in. I found that faster and easier. YMWV again.

Good luck!

 

[EddieO]

I only did 50mm on Barnacks. I'm not overly fond of 40mm as a focal length anyway - being half way between 35 & 50 it's neither fish nor fowl - but If I had one and spun it on the IIIf I used to own I'd just use it as see how the first couple of rolls came out. How close do the shots match what I expected from what I saw when I took the photo? That kind of thing. I'd also advise you to take notes on the shots so you can look back easier when you get them back or do your developing (depending on if you do your own.).

When I used a 35 on my Kiev, I used to use the two lines of the cold shoe as the left and right for it rather than an actual finder. It worked for me after a bit of practice. Your mileage will, of course, vary.

A tip - I never trimmed the leader. I put it into the take up spool, wound a bit around it, then fed it into the camera as I pushed the spool down in. I found that faster and easier. YMWV again.

Good luck!

So-you would it around the spool several times and then fitted it in-like that?

 

[Godfrey]

So-you would it around the spool several times and then fitted it in-like that?

Same thing I do. ... Not several times, about 1.5 turns of the take-up spool works fine.
Is it less or more fiddly than trimming the leader? Hard to say ... LOL!

Re: the original question
If you fit the 40mm and use the built-in finder, just get into the habit of framing "tight" (notion being that the film will see more than you see in the finder). If you fit a 35mm auxiliary viewfinder, or even a 40mm (much less available), go the other way and frame a little "loose" (presuming that the viewfinder will likely see a little more than the film will).

This is typical of RF camera viewfinders ... You don't get "precise" framing, you get approximate framing. Even with SLR viewfinders, most of them only show 80-90% of what the lens is seeing. Only a few SLR viewfinders (Nikon F series, Canon F1 series, a couple others) have a 100% screen. (Nearly all EVF cameras give a 100% view of what the lens sees, but of course we're into the digital domain there, not film cameras.)

With a short focal length in the 35-40mm range, parallax correction is minimally accurate even when it's available, unless it's built into the main finder (not on a IIIf). You just work with the camera and lens until you learn the framing at various distances, and remember it. 😉

G

 

[maddoc]

I use the Heliar 40mm with a 35mm finder, works well enough for me.

 

[wlewisiii]

So-you would it around the spool several times and then fitted it in-like that?

About 1 1/2 times and then slid it in after putting the spool in... then as the film slides in you put the canister in. Slip the bottom plate on, use the rewind knob to make _SURE_ it's all tight but then go for it.

 

[Godfrey]

I kinda like the 40-43mm FoV, and that Heliar 40 looks like a very nice size/weight match for a IIIc (or IIIf) body. Hmm ... I don't really need another lens ... 🙄

The serious question is: black or silver finish? 😉😇

G

 

[wlewisiii]

Barnack? Are you kidding? Can't be anything but silver! Unless you have a repainted black IIIf 😉

I do have to admit, now that I have a Canon IID, finding a Leica 50/2 Summar or Summitar is creeping up in priority for me again. A barnack with a semi-fast 50 collapsible is a nice pocket rocket camera 😉

 

[splitimageview]

Barnack? Are you kidding? Can't be anything but silver! Unless you have a repainted black IIIf 😉

Did someone say black IIIf?

 

[wlewisiii]

Ok, let me put it like this - all _I've_ ever seen are fake russian black ones, ok? 🙂

 

[maddoc]

I kinda like the 40-43mm FoV, and that Heliar 40 looks like a very nice size/weight match for a IIIc (or IIIf) body. Hmm ... I don't really need another lens ... 🙄

The serious question is: black or silver finish? 😉😇

G

I have a black one and was thinking adding a silver one ... only to realize that the lens is already out of production and fetches astronomical high prices on Amazon.jp

 

[EddieO]

Barnack? Are you kidding? Can't be anything but silver! Unless you have a repainted black IIIf 😉

I do have to admit, now that I have a Canon IID, finding a Leica 50/2 Summar or Summitar is creeping up in priority for me again. A barnack with a semi-fast 50 collapsible is a nice pocket rocket camera 😉

Yeah, the pocket-ability of that is very appealing!

 

[EddieO]

Did someone say black IIIf?

View attachment 4857192

Wow - that one on the right with the black dials is crush-worthy!!

 

[Bingley]

I love shooting the Heliar 40mm f2.8 on my IIIc, and I always use an external vf when doing so. I was lucky enough to purchase a CV bright line 40mm finder some years ago from a member here, and since getting the Heliar 40 I've been using the external vf a lot. I also use external VFs w/ other lenses, too: makes the shooting experience a lot more pleasant IMO. A Barnack and the Heliar 40 make a great travel and street shooting combo; it's a sensational lens!

A couple of samples from Lisbon last summer...

A gentleman in Lisbon by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr

Back to back by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr

 

[splitimageview]

Wow - that one on the right with the black dials is crush-worthy!!

That one is a IIc. 🙂

 

[retinax]

You seem to be unclear on the concept or parallax correction. It is to correct for the off-set between lens and viewfinder. The 40 mm has a wider view than a 50, so you mainly need a viewfinder for a wider view, parallax is secondary and only really affects close-up photos. As has been mentioned, a 35mm viewfinder may be close enough. Another possibility is going with a 50 mm non-Leitz lens. There are lots of Soviet and Japanese lenses without haze out there. I'm particularly fond of the price-performance ratio of the Jupiter-8.