Smallest LTM camera with 35mm finder?

[mothertrucker]

Hey experts, I have a question for you all.

I am not a huge fan of external finders. I am trying to figure out what the smallest LTM mount camera with a built in 35mm finder is, to use with my 35mm F3.5 Summaron.

So far I've found the Canon L1/L2. How large are these compared to a Leica M3?

Is there anything smaller out there? Even if it is scale focus only?

 

[Livesteamer]

I don't know what the smallest camera is but I have often wished that Leica, or somebody would produce a retrofit kit to turn my Leica IIIc viewfinder into a 35mm view. I would like that. Joe

 

[Dralowid]

There was a Leica I with a 35mm finder. You may need to sell a kidney...

 

[aizan]

Voigtländer Bessa R?

I'm pretty sure there's no such thing as an LTM camera with a 35mm viewfinder but no rangefinder.

 

[charjohncarter]

There is the Bessa R, but I wouldn't know if it is the smallest.

^^^^You beat me to it.

 

[mothertrucker]

There was a Leica I with a 35mm finder. You may need to sell a kidney...

Ha! yeah, well, i still have 2....

Not sure about the availability of those unfortunately.

 

[mothertrucker]

I don't know what the smallest camera is but I have often wished that Leica, or somebody would produce a retrofit kit to turn my Leica IIIc viewfinder into a 35mm view. I would like that. Joe

Yes this is exactly what I would like. I was wondering if there was some way to fix a lens on the outside of the viewfinder to reduce the view like on a goggled summaron.

I'm sure it's possible but finding the piece of glass to yield the right focal length would be the hard part.

 

[hap]

Bessa R. Great finder. Reliable shutter. HIgh speed. Much smaller than my Canon 7s. Not much bigger than Canon IID or Leica IIIc. Taller because of RF/Finder housing. Lighter because much plastic. Good meter. Subject to RF alignment issues in some copies. Save a lot of $$...don't get black or "mint" or worry about degrading back door covering.

 

[B-9]

I’m sure you could grab a Zorki/Fed and remove the RF assembly replacing it with the optics from a cheap point and shoot that has a 35mm viewfinder.

Just black out the other 3 windows.

 

[Shac]

Canon L1 is ca. same as M3 size. I have an L1 and really like the finder. As the head Bartender says in his review - its rangefinder patch is the least likely to fade of the later Canons.
I wear glasses and find that it's easy to focus

 

[nhchen]

The fsu drug (droog?) has 50 and 85mm framelines, you could probably use the whole finder for 35mm.
Nathan

 

[mothertrucker]

Thanks for the Bessa R and Drug recommendations -will have to check them out.

Seems to me that barnack size cameras were going out of production about the same time that viewfinders covering 35mm were really taking off, so maybe not much overlap.

 

[zenza]

How has nobody recommend a Leica CL? Just slap an m-mount adapter on your LTM lens and call it a day. Use the 40mm framelines. Rangefinder framelines are only accurate for a very specific distance anyway.

 

[johannielscom]

Yes this is exactly what I would like. I was wondering if there was some way to fix a lens on the outside of the viewfinder to reduce the view like on a goggled summaron.

I'm sure it's possible but finding the piece of glass to yield the right focal length would be the hard part.

Harvest the viewfinder from a compact camera that has a 35mm lens. The smaller the viewfinder on that camera, the less you will have to grind off the edges. It might end up as a bump in the IIIc's front though...


Or use a Leica CL or better yet a Minolta CLE, like I do...

 

[Deleted member 65559]

How has nobody recommend a Leica CL? Just slap an m-mount adapter on your LTM lens and call it a day. Use the 40mm framelines. Rangefinder framelines are only accurate for a very specific distance anyway.

What was I thinking? Must have been asleep at the wheel. You're absolutely right.... as a matter of fact i use one like that because i'm not a fan of the 40mm focal length.

 

[mothertrucker]

How has nobody recommend a Leica CL? Just slap an m-mount adapter on your LTM lens and call it a day. Use the 40mm framelines. Rangefinder framelines are only accurate for a very specific distance anyway.

Thanks Zenza - seems pretty obvious now that you mention it. I had a CL a long time ago and sold it when I got an M5. I really liked the CL, great for traveling.

It wouldn't hurt to have both of them around I guess... I've been on a bit of a barnack style kick the past 6 months so was looking for options in that vein. Seems like they just don't really exist though.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

It wouldn't hurt to have both of them around I guess... I've been on a bit of a barnack style kick the past 6 months so was looking for options in that vein. Seems like they just don't really exist though.

mothertrucker, I think you're right. I used a Leica iii (black '34), but the coolness factor didn't match up with the viewfinder for 35mm...so I regressed (retreated to?) to the CL. This is my 3rd one (used a pair in the late '70s/early 80s). I never had any mechanical problems with them and I used them hard. Don Goldberg told me that in his experience they're reliable....& he has parts. I was expecting to send this one to him for a CLA and battery fix when i got it from Japan last year. But I threw a Weincell in it and lo and behold, the meter worked.... shutter produces consistent negatives on all speeds. It may be a long while until it sees Don.... & BTW the CL 50 anniversary cost me less than what I got for the VC 28/35 finder.

 

[mothertrucker]

Since everyone loves a happy ending, here's what I ended up with. I think I did ok.

The IF I got from DAG's LTM parts page, really happy with it. DAG also recemented the summaron which i got as UG grade from KEH.

The Canon L1 showed up yesterday from Japan, so far I like the feel of it. Need to get it out to shoot soon.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

Nice L1, Mothertrucker. Interestingly there are a couple of chrome L1 on the *bay at circa $69 USD......or a black repaint for $1200 !!

 

[raid]

I have a Standard Leica with the possibility to use with it an external 35mm finder, if needed. Would this count?

The CL or CLE may be the best bet.