Please, help on viewfinder

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giellaleafapmu

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Dear Folks,

it seems that so far I am using this forum only to ask questions...

I have finally made up my mind on what lenses to buy for my Leica IIIg: they will be the CV Skopar 35mm and the 75mm Heliar. However I have a last problem to solve: viewfinders. The 75mm covers just 5 degrees less than a 90 and 14 more than a 50mm so I think I shall be able to use it just by looking at the 50mm and 90mm framelines in the viewfinder of the IIIg. For the 35mm, however, I am not sure. I have seen that CV makes very good viewfinders but 200US$ for a 28-35mm mini-finder or 160US$ for the 35mm viewfinder is in my opinion a bit too much for something which almost does not affect the quality of the picture. The old Leica viewfinders which can be found from time to time on Ebay or equivalent places come to almost the same price once we include the price of shipping (I live in South America and I need to use Fed-Ex or equivalent). What other options do I have? Does anyone produce cheaper viewfinders? How much difference is there between the 35mm frame and what I see in the viewfinder of the IIIg? Does anyone frame 35mm lenses on screw mount cameras using only the built-in viewfinder? Any advice is welcome.

Thanks in advance.

Giella lea Fapmu
 
I use a vintage VIHOO Leica turret finder on my screw mount bodies. It has setting for 35/50/85/90 and 135 lenses. Some do not like them because you can't see what is out side of the field of view as you can with brightline finders. They are also fairly large. There are other choices in this kind of finder made for Russian cameras and others. They are sometimes called multi or zoom finders. A quick web search will get you some photos of them and or descriptions. I have been looking at the CV 28/35 mini finder because of it's small size. The CV finders are good value for your money and are new. With older finders you are taking a chance on having to deal with foggy optics etc. Hope this helps abit.

Bob
 
Hi,
Welcome, if I haven't already said so and IMHO, there is nothing wrong with asking questions. It's quite often the best way to learn! The FSU finders can be had quite cheaply on evilbay. The most common is the turret finder but you do find separate coming up quite often. I haven't used one so I am not sure how bright they are but they will be much less than a Leica or new CV one.

Regards
Kim
 
Welcome!
I have a Canon 35mm finder which I use on the Bessa T. With parallax correction, does the job. Brightline finders are great but very expensive.
Just go hunting and get lucky. Mine cost something like 15 to 20 US. No more.

cheers, Rob.
 
FrankS said:
I have read somewhere about making a 35mm finder using the viewfinder of a disposable camera.
Click to expand...
That's a good idea. I've done stuff like that myself (big surprise); all you'd need to do is put the parts into a small plastic tube, approximate the framing, and glue it all together. Glue an old hot shoe fitting to it an Bob's your uncle.
 
The Russian 35mm finder is decent and sells for $50. The glass is contrasty but there are no white framelines--you use the black edges--so the framing feels a little vague. The image size may be smaller than CV 35mm. I've looked through the similar CV 40mm viewfinder and it seemed very clean and crisp and precise. I'm thinking of getting one soon.
 
I don't understand the concept. We're talking about a IIIG, the ultimate LTM classic, and we're proposing various kinds of junk finders...

The reason people like me use the wonderful and expensive Leica finder is that it's infinitely superior to others. It helps if you can look through a finder with glasses or without and instantly, clearly, see the frameline and more. The Leica 35mm finder is the most wonderful single piece of photo equipment I've ever seen, and I hear that regularly from others. A IIIG deserves a Leica finder, or at worst a CV.

T IIIGs glory is its bright frame finder. What's the point of owning it if one is going to crap it up with non-brightline finders?
 
djon said:
I don't understand the concept. We're talking about a IIIG, the ultimate LTM classic, and we're proposing various kinds of junk finders...

The reason people like me use the wonderful and expensive Leica finder is that it's infinitely superior to others. It helps if you can look through a finder with glasses or without and instantly, clearly, see the frameline and more. The Leica 35mm finder is the most wonderful single piece of photo equipment I've ever seen, and I hear that regularly from others. A IIIG deserves a Leica finder, or at worst a CV.

T IIIGs glory is its bright frame finder. What's the point of owning it if one is going to crap it up with non-brightline finders?
Click to expand...

First of all thanks to all for the answers. I am the one who was first puzzled with the high prices of finders but you know what? While reading all the answers I started thinking exactlyas you... Of course, I will have to look really whether I want to spend all that money now but I think I shall try to find a good brightline finder eventuelly.

If I will decide I cannot afford them now I shall wait but I think I will end up with either a vintage Leitz, or a CV finder. This is the problem of buying a too nice camera... When I started looking for a screw mount camera I had in mind a cheap Russian one, then I started considering a IIIf but eventually an evil shop had the IIIg and I just could not resist... Now I have to mach the quality of any screw-stuff I buy...

At this point I have to ask another question. What are the difference between the Leitz finder and CV options? The CV minifinder attracts me because it has double frame and it looks very neat on a small camera but I read the 35 only is much better as far as vision. How much is the difference in size (on many sites there are the dimentions, my question here is "Does it look huge and hugly on a III?" I can't really understand it from the photos I found) and how much the difference in "quality of vision"?

Giella lea Fapmu
 
Cv 35

Cv 35

Hello:

The metal CV 35mm is compact finder which looks "right" on a ltm like your 111g. The Tewe etc are ungainly by comparison IMHO. The CV brightline 35( I have one) is more pleasant to use in that you can see around the fov rather than have it cut off by the finder edge. Eyeglasses wearers must do a little head moving to see the entire field.

Hope you enjoy your 111g
Frank

Orphan Canon 35mm viewfinders can be had for $20-60 and also "look right". They have distance correction but are not bright line.
 
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Poptart said:
It's just to judge the field of view.
Click to expand...

It's part of the process, like having a personal viewpoint. If one's personal viewpoint wasn't demanding, why would one make photos with vintage cameras?

The finder's more important than the camera body. In this case, a IIIG is as fine as any M, and its built in finder is remarkable. Deserves an equally good external finder.

The Leica 35mm finder allows a glasses-wearer (moi) to see outside the bright lines without any fooling around...immediate perfection, not a moment's doubt.
 
djon, have you--or anyone else on this thread--compared the classic Leitz 35mm finder and the CV 35mm (the larger, non 28/35mm one) directly against each other? How would you characterize the differences? Thanks.
 
Photovillage has what he calls "NOS" finders by VC for 60 bucks, which is half or less than retail. He says there is no warranty-gray market? Anyway, what can go wrong with a finder. Stu
 
Stu, some of the older CVs lack bright frames. The 25 for example. I'd never have bought my 25 from Koh (not KEH) if I'd known to ask. However, some say my version, without bright frames, is the better. Can't win for losing.

I've never compared Leica 35 to CV. Someone earlier commented that the CV 35 was awkward with glasses but worked fine. The Leica isn't awkward. By "awkward" maybe we both meant "see framelines without delay and see outside framelines." Maybe.

I think seeing outside framelines is a big reason for RFDR Vs SLR. I'd buy a Leica 50 viewfinder for my IIIC if I had the spending money. Might use it with a Nokton or might try to find a 2.8 Elmar. My Leica 35 sits on the IIIC or (mostly) Canon P.

fyi "awkward" was my word, not the other guy's.
 
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