r-d1 lens vf combinations HELP

[hamish_gill]

ok i need some advice or at least some recomendations

i have a r-d1 winging its way to me as a type this and im unsure of the best lens - vf combinations

the lenses i have that im unsure of what vfs to use are the:
cv 15mm
cv 21mm
cv 25mm snapshot
i have all the coresponding voigtlander vfs for these lenses and i also have a leica 21-24-28 vf i obviously also have the r-d1 finder and if this relates in anyway i dont find it to much of an issue using the entire finder on my r2a with my 28mm

im not likely to be forking out for anything else anytime soon (r-d1 and 15mm just purchaced = poor) so i would like to use my current vfs if at all possible

what recomendations can anyone make for me?

 

[yanidel]

for cv15mm, I use regular CV21mm external finder
foe cv21mm, I use CV21mm D finder. (made for the RD1). It also works pretty well with the cv15mm if you use the whole area of this finder outside the framelines.
for cv25mm, I read many times that the whole R-D1 finder area is a good enough approximation so no external finder is needed.
Hope this is clear, good luck !

 

[hamish_gill]

i had a feeling the vf of the r-d1 would be ok with the 25mm as im guessing its the same vf as in the r3a and with that having a small space around its 40mm lines it makes sense with the 25 being about 38 on the r-d1

im still a little stumped with my 21 mm if anyone has any other ideas
is the 28mm of my leica finder too wide?

 

[Sam N]

I also have an R-D1 and the CV 15/21/25. The 21mm finder works great for the 15mm, and I don't really use the other two lenses on my R-D1.

The 15mm and 21mm have vignetting issues on the R-D1. This probably isn't what you want to hear, but I'd suggest simply not using your 21mm on the R-D1 and using the whole VF area for the 25mm.

 

[Jim Watts]

A 28mm viewfinder works pretty well for a 21mm lens on the R-D1. I use the CV28/35 minifinder. The 28mm for my 21mm Avenon and the 35mm for my 25mm Snapshot Skopar. The full frame works pretty well for the 25mm, but only iof you don't wear glasses.

To get the best approximation for the nearest equivalent viewfinders for the R-D1 multiply the focal length of the lens by 1.53 and then again by 0.85 (to account for the frameline safety factor which IMO is too generous unless you shoot very close up most of the time).

e.g. 15mm x 1.53 x 0.85 = 19.5.
e.g. 21mm x 1.53 x 0.85 = 27.3.
e.g. 25mm x 1.53 x 0.85 = 32.5.
e.g. 40mm x 1.53 x 0.85 = 52 (This why most people find that the 35mm framelines, 53mm equivalent, a better match for a 40mm lens than a 35mm lens). It all depends on how much of a safety factor (or lack off) you feel happy with.