Recommend a 35mm viewfinder?

[ricardovaste]

Hello,

Firstly, I wasn't sure where to post this, so please move if inappropriate.

I'm looking for a shoe mounted viewfinder. I'm looking for something preferably black, relatively small (not huge), and that won't break the bank. I've been recommended the Voigtlander 35mm viewfinder (the one you can buy new), which second hand can be had for around £130, but you have to wait to find one.

I was wondering whether anyone else had recommendations. I don't want to spend more than what the Voigtlander is worth.

Thanks,
Richard

 

[Dan Daniel]

There's a plastic viewfinder from Russia/USSR on Ebay all the time-
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Viewfinder-...725?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5649d86c4d

I bought one for trying out a Jupiter-12. It's very bright. I can't say exactly how accurate it is yet, but seems pretty good. No bright line. I've never seen a Voigtlander or Leica 35mm viewfinder so I can't compare.

I did try one for a Petri adapter lens. Rubbish. Not certain about the optical quality of the viewfinder for the Yashica GTN with adapter.

 

[ricardovaste]

I had seen those Russian ones and almost ordered one. Good to know they're bright. BUT if they have no bright line or frame line, are you just using the edge of the VF to compose? That isn't quite what I'm looking for, sadly. But thanks for the hands-on info, much appreciated!

 

[wallace]

I have both the Voigtlander and the Russian viewfinder.
Don't like the Russian finder.
The Voigtlander is very good with bright lines and paralax marks.
But it is expensive....

 

[ricardovaste]

The Voigtlander does seem to be good. I like the size, the colour, the finish. And it sounds like the viewing experience is good too. Just £130, assuming you can find one used, is quite a lot. Maybe I should just be patient / save.

 

[rjbuzzclick]

I use a Petri Tele-Wide finder (not my photo):

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3481/3199247030_19340ec781_z.jpg

They're pretty inexpensive, I have three and each one was less than $5. The entire view is pretty close to 35mm and I just ignore the frame lines. It may not be as accurate as what you're looking for, but it works well for me. External viewfinders are really only approximations anyway.

 

[Godfrey]

I have the Voigtländer 35mm Brightline. It's a very good performer. I compared it to a Leica finder and found I liked it more .. The view was very similar, but the Voigtländer is more compact.

G

 

[bgetty]

recently picked up the 35mm voigtlander finder from a member here at a good price. it is very well-crafted and wonderful to use.

the old canon finders are also good, though lacking frame/bright lines. there was some haze in mine, but i opened it and cleaned it easily--very bright now.

 

[ricardovaste]

I received a very inexpensive Helios finder this morning. On the plus side, it's very small, discrete - you could even call it kind of 'cute' if you were so inclined. BUT the 35mm frame lines /bright lines are terrible. They must be more like 45mm. Just pointless.

It seems a Voightlander is the only feasible way forward.

I see two versions though. A smaller, rounder VF, and a larger, boxy one. Any significant differences?

 

[wallace]

the round one is made of metal while the boxy finder one is plastic.
I'd go for the round finder which is much better built and fits nicely
on a vintage rangefinder camera like my IIf.

 

[lawrence]

The Voigtlander mini finder is also nice and has 28mm and 35mm frame lines.

 

[ricardovaste]

Ohh, I hadn't seen that voigtlander mini finder before, looks nice! I wonder how easy it is to view through it, given the size? edit: where on earth can you buy this thing? I can't find it anywhere, not even a price reference.

Thanks for the tip re: metal & plastic voigtlander 35mm VF as well.

 

[Godfrey]

Ohh, I hadn't seen that voigtlander mini finder before, looks nice! I wonder how easy it is to view through it, given the size?

Thanks for the tip re: metal & plastic voigtlander 35mm VF as well.

I had one of the mini-finders. With my glasses on, it was a bit of a peephole. The metal Brightline model viewfinder is much easier to work with.

G

 

[ricardovaste]

Thanks Godfrey - I think the regular Voigtlander is pretty much the only way to go, it seems.

Question. Zeiss 432/5 Viewfinder - any experiences? Is it brightline / frame line?