reasonably priced viewfinders

[David Murphy]

As already mentioned by some of the above, the FSU copies of the Zeiss Ikon turret finder are pretty good and reasonably priced - nice to have around. The various plastic non-parallax compensated FSU fixed focal length viewfinders also work pretty well (within their limitations) and are fairly low-priced. The parallax corrected Japanese viewfinders imported during the hey-day of the 35mm rangefinder (most pretty well made), are starting to get expensive these days.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I sold M3 after getting SBOOI. This is how good it is.
For 35/28 I purchased craped out XA2 and cheap hotshue plastic cover. Cut, screw and glue technique. 🙂 Minox 35's VF should be the same, easy to find source. Those never worked from factory 🙂.
For 21, I have Russar finder. But I have to wait for good price on eBay.
Leica made universal one didn't impressed me at all. FSU copy of Zeiss made was much better.

 

[David Hughes]

Hmmmm, I am one of those dreadful scientific people the politicians have been warning you about, especially during a crisis or two. So I got out a Leica II, IIIc and a Kiev/Contax and did a little measuring with the KMZ VF.

The KMZ turret finder has the lens axis 66mm above the Kiev/Contax, 60mm above the IIIc and 56mm above the II. Looking at the front of the cameras the displacement to the left is 6 or 7mm for all three.

The built in VF's of all three are 35, 6 and 10mm to the right to give a yardstick and the best for height above the axis is the II, of course, at about 29mm.

As for framing accuracy, with film only about 94% can be used due to frames and I was told several times in another thread that no one prints 12 x 8 - which is full frame - but it is usually 10 x 8 and that is a crop to about 83% of 94% making 78% of the full frame. Digital is another matter but the question is about a VF on a IIIf.


Regards, David

 

[kuvvy]

Hi I have a 3F and I was wondering if anyone has some insights into accessory view finders that are A. good quality and useable. And B. don't cost a fortune.
The Leica ones on eBay recently are as much as a camera !!

Thanks Dave

Check you private messages Dave.

 

[Dralowid]

A little bird told me the brand name is Swallow. 😉

Tweet Tweet! Thanks for that, its an age thing.

 

[Out to Lunch]

My favorite is the CV zoom finder which covers 15-35mm:

• For Full-Frame & 1.3x/1.5x Crop Cameras
• Parallax Lines Show Cut-Off
• Built-In Diopter
• metal housing
• built to last

Have a look at the Head Bartender's site and BH. I've been using it for some 10 years now and never need to buy another viewfinder. Cheers, OtL

 

[Malcolm M]

The VIOOH multifinder (35-135mm) is very usable and not expensive. Avoid the superficially similar, earlier VIDOM, which gives a reversed image.

 

[twvancamp]

I’m going to post a classified here for these. Sold quite a few of them the last couple of years.

The plastic optics of the Canon Owl are quite good.

How much flexibility is in the kit? Will it only work with the Owl guts?

I've been trying to find a for parts P&S with a 40mm viewfinder to make something like this.

 

[philslizzy]

I have made several from disposable camera viewfinders. Plastic card, glue files and a disposable camera is all you need.

My instructable https://www.instructables.com/35mm-Viewfinder-for-Leica-Fed-Zorki-Cameras/

 

[twvancamp]

I have made several from disposable camera viewfinders. Plastic card, glue files and a disposable camera is all you need.

My instructable https://www.instructables.com/35mm-Viewfinder-for-Leica-Fed-Zorki-Cameras/

This is great! Thank you. So far the only 40mm P&S I've found is the Canon AF35.

 

[splitimageview]

How much flexibility is in the kit? Will it only work with the Owl guts?

I've been trying to find a for parts P&S with a 40mm viewfinder to make something like this.

It was designed to work with the three optical pieces removed from the various Sure Shot Owl models, which have 35mm lenses.

The Owl has the largest viewfinder of any P&S with a 35mm lens, making it an ideal donor for this purpose.

Here are the list of all the model names:

Sure Shot Owl - Prima af-7
Sure Shot Owl pf - Prima af-9/date
Sure Shot Owl/date - Prima af-8/date
Snappy lx / bf35 - Prima bf
Snappy lxII/date - Prima bf-8/date - BF35D
Snappy lx/date - Prima bf-7/date - BF35 QDN

 

[davethesnapper]

Thanks for all the info guys it given me a lot of info to digest and mull over.

Dave

 

[james.liam]

Hi I have a 3F and I was wondering if anyone has some insights into accessory view finders that are A. good quality and useable. And B. don't cost a fortune.
The Leica ones on eBay recently are as much as a camera !!

Thanks Dave

Reasonable for some is absurd for others. Head Bartender here has the Voigtländer 28/35 (2nd hand) for US$799. Metal and glass but a bit toward the absurd-end of the price spectrum (aka, "overly exuberant").

 

[presspass]

If you can live with a frame finder instead of a bright line finder, Rasul or Rasuk run in the $100 - $150 range and, depending on which one you get, can cover 35-135 or 50-135, all with one finder. A bit bulky, but they allow the shooter to see what's outside the frame. Not for precise framing, but if you want that, you shoot an SLR, not a rangefinder. For adjustable optical finders, there's also the TEWE which covers from 35 to 200. Not bright line, but does work much better than the Leica variable finders.

 

[Joao]

I have made several from disposable camera viewfinders. Plastic card, glue files and a disposable camera is all you need.

My instructable https://www.instructables.com/35mm-Viewfinder-for-Leica-Fed-Zorki-Cameras/

Thank you for the detailed instructions.
A word of caution concerning the choice of cameras: some disposable cameras have the viewfinder at the side (not above the lens). Those viewfinders, when extracted, are assymetrical.
It happened to me with disposable underwater P&S cameras

Regards

Joao

 

[cary]

For a 35mm viewfinder I use the Olympus VF-1, fairly inexpensive and bright.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

For a 35mm viewfinder I use the Olympus VF-1, fairly inexpensive and bright.

I have it, but someone told here it is different aspect ratio from 135 film format frame.

 

[james.liam]

How about the Ricoh GR OVF? has 28/35 frame lines? Wonder if it would work fine on a RF shoe.

 

[TheMapleLeafForever]

My SBOOI came in today and wow it is amazingly bright. I was able to get mine for 125 USD. I agree 150 quid is way too much but keep on the lookout for good deals.

 

[agentlossing]

How about the Ricoh GR OVF? has 28/35 frame lines? Wonder if it would work fine on a RF shoe.

The GV-2 actually only has 28mm frame lines. I bought one and just resold it, as the eye relief just doesn't work with glasses. It is tiny, and does work well enough on an RF.

The larger GV-1 has double frame lines, but for 28mm and 21mm. It would also be a good candidate, if you wanted it for 21 or 28.

I'd really go the Olympus VF-1 route if you want 35mm, but wait till you find one under $75, they are a bit elevated in price right now but shouldn't cost as much as other options, certainly over $100 is more than you've historically needed to pay.