Question on new Zeiss Finders

[Captain]

Some people have mentioned that if you use a Voigtlander 21mm finder, that when you view the whole finder area outside the framelines that it is pretty much the same as the 15mm finder. Does this trick work with the new Zeiss 21mm finder? These finder are good but expensive but if one finder could cover 15 and 21mm then it would be more economically viable not to mention you dont have to carry heaps of finders with you. Does anyone have the new Zeiss 21mm finder and is the whole frame area approx cover a 15mm lens? Many thanks

 

[SDK]

I've the Zeiss 21mm finder, but nothing in the 15mm line to compare it to. A crude estimate of the total horizontal angle of view with a protractor is about 105˚, a bit narrower than a 15mm's angle of view to the negative. It's probably quite OK in a pinch, but not precise or accurate as a 15mm framing aid.

 

[back alley]

you have a protractor?

😉

 

[StuartR]

I don't have it in front of me at the moment, but I would assume no. That said, is a finder really so critical for 15mm? You can pretty much assume that everything will be in view...

 

[Captain]

I've the 21mm finder, but nothing in the 15mm line to compare it to. A crude estimate of the total horizontal angle of view with a protractor is about 105˚, a bit narrower than the 15mm angle of view to the negative.

Given that a 15mm lens is 110 degrees then 105 degree is about 95%. Most finders are about 85 to 90% so that would make that pretty good in comparison, unless my calculations arent quite right?

Someone with both the Voigtlander 15mm finder and Zeiss 21mm finder would be able to compare best.

 

[Talisker]

I don't have it in front of me at the moment, but I would assume no. That said, is a finder really so critical for 15mm? You can pretty much assume that everything will be in view...

I'm happier using a finder. A single human eye has a field of view (FOV) of about 140 degrees horizontally and 90 degrees vertically, although you aren't necessarily aware of all of it as the resolution falls off towards the edge, as with non-biological optics. That said, the eye/brain system is more akin to a scanning video system than a still camera as you constantly move your eyes and whole head, and the brain builds a composite image in memory. This can can easily give a wider FOV. With a finder, although you still can't concentrate on all the image at once its much easier to define the limits. Still, I expect some people will become expert at rapidly estimating the FOV much better than I can!

Also, on a more practical note, my CV 15mm vignettes very noticably, especially shooting into the sun, (I'll be posting some pictures from my recent trip to Svalbard later which which show how extreme this can get) and the viewfinder helps me estimate quite acurately where the vignetting will fall, and whether this is useful creatively, or whether I will want to crop the image.

 

[StuartR]

Well to be honest, I don't really understand the question. The finders don't really take up that much space. If you are talking about the voigtlander 15mm, then it comes with a finder -- it is included in the price. On the other hand, if you are talking about the Zeiss 15mm, surely if you fork over the 4000 for the lens you can afford the 300 for the right finder? My point about everything being included (in field of view) was pretty much just to indicate that the normal use of this lens is to include everything in view. If you need to be really careful about what you are including in the frame, SLR's are probably better for this focal length...

 

[ampguy]

not at all

not at all

if you don't plan on cropping, an accurate vf (or slr) is required. Contrast a 15mm with a full 180 deg. adapter, and you'll see that the 180 gets most everything including your feet if you're not careful, but the 15 needs careful framing, or cropping later.

I don't have it in front of me at the moment, but I would assume no. That said, is a finder really so critical for 15mm? You can pretty much assume that everything will be in view...

 

[StuartR]

Well, I guess if it is so critical it probably makes sense to just bring it along then instead of trying to make do with a 21mm finder!

 

[SDK]

you have a protractor?

😉

Not really, I work in Harvard's Biology Teaching Labs at the Science Center, and students leave such things behind frequently. More often than not, they never come back to our "lost and found," and if an item remains unclaimed for a long while, we keep the semi-useful stuff around the lab or take it home. I have not bought an umbrella in years, and now I have a great big Armani A/X one! Brand new! Just the thing to keep the RF gear dry in less-than-gale rains. It's amazing what rich kids will abandon. The plastic protractor is quite the most humble example! 😀

 

[back alley]

it's ok, you can admit to being a...geek.

😉

 

[Palaeoboy]

Well to be honest, I don't really understand the question.

Seems pretty simple to me. The question is can this one finder be used for 2 lenses. It would save money and having to carry around an extra finder. Not unlike a dual finder. (Whether or not you would point a 15mm lens in the general direction and hope for the best is totally up to you but most prefer to use finders for more accurate framing, I certainly would never shoot with a 15mm without a finder)

The 15mm Voigtlander may have come with a finder but it isnt all that good so a Zeiss alternative is welcome. Upgrading to a better finder is a fair and realistic concept.

 

[Dingo]

Some people have mentioned that if you use a Voigtlander 21mm finder, that when you view the whole finder area outside the framelines that it is pretty much the same as the 15mm finder. Does this trick work with the new Zeiss 21mm finder? These finder are good but expensive but if one finder could cover 15 and 21mm then it would be more economically viable not to mention you dont have to carry heaps of finders with you. Does anyone have the new Zeiss 21mm finder and is the whole frame area approx cover a 15mm lens? Many thanks

Go to a camera shop, get the two finders and check with your own eyes. That is the simplest way to find the answer.

 

[back alley]

i bet my local pro shop hasn't seen a external finder in 20 years.

 

[Palaeoboy]

Yes I dont know of any store that will have these finders in stock locally. Its special order for most rangefinder stuff for me unfortunately. I dare say thats why most of these questions appear on forums because alot cant physically hold them in their hands. Zeiss has announced their new distributorship but here in Australia we dont actually know where that is just yet! Your probably just spoilt in Hong Kong Dingo LOL

 

[Captain]

Thanks for the responses so far. Hopefully we can find someone with the Zeiss 21mm finder and 15mm Voigtlander finder to compare.