sam_m
Well-known
Do they exist? The view through the finder on my super ikonta is challenging, to say the least, for glasses wearers like myself! Or should I just use a 35mm finder and imagine it square, or even etch it square?
Square format external finders?
- Thread starter sam_m
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Ranchu
Veteran
I think Tewe made some zoom finders for the Robot cameras, there might be some Robot finders too.
Sonny Boy Havidson
Established
Voigtländer Kontur 6x6.
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
Positively the Kontur 6x6 - that is the only 6x6 finder with decent eye relief I've ever come across. Apart from the Hasselblad SWC finders, that is, but these are no companion for a Super Ikonta, given their angular coverage.
sam_m
Well-known
Thanks for the tip, I'll have to keep an eye out, none for sale at the moment on ebay, but they must appear now and then.
rumbliegeos
Well-known
I use a 6X6 Kontur on a Perkeo II, and it is great, at least for my eyes.
sepiareverb
genius and moron
The VF for the Ricoh GRD has tick marks for square format, as the camera can be set to 1:1, but it is a wide angle, so likely not workable. Just thought I'd put it out there.
Last edited:
ZeissFan
Veteran
Zeiss Ikon marketed an external 6x6 finder that slide into the accessory shoe, I believe, as I thought I had seen one for sale on eBay. But I think the Kontur 6x6 finder might be the better choice.
Vince Lupo
Whatever
If you look hard enough, you'll find rigid Albada finders in square format. Sometimes KEH has them.
stevierose
Ann Arbor, Michigan
What lens focal length is the Kontur 6x6 finder designed for? I would like to get one to use on my Agfa Super Isolette which has a 75mm lens. Thanks!
oldwino
Well-known
75-80mm. Those were designed for the Perkeo, I think, but work on any 6x6 folder.
stevierose
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Great! Now if I can just learn to do the Vulcan Eye Meld trick this will work out great!
peterm1
Veteran
If you are using 35mm as you say one option might be to find an original Canon 35mm finder like the one shown below. These are still common to find on eBay and relatively cheap.
I have one and its advantage for you might be that whilst its "native" framelines are rectangular, the front ring on the finder (see image) simply unscrews and the metal frame mask can be taken out - in fact it drops out. I am sure that you could then add an additional mask in the shape you need using the existing one as a starting point as its already 35mm which is what you say you require. I would not replace the existing mask as it has small protruding tabs top and bottom to keep it aligned correctly . Instead I would supplement it with the one in the required shape. Such a mask can be easily made either from thin sheet aluminium available from stores that cater to airplane / military modellers - or you could use just the thicker type of aluminium found in super markets in kitchen oven trays. I have used both for various tasks and mods in my home workshop. Thin aluminium can be cut with scissors or even a score knife to create the necessary square mask. In use the additional frame mask could be sandwiched between the front retaining ring and the original rectangular mask to hold it firmly in place. Or better yet place it behind the original mask and sandwich it between that mask and the front optics. The same retaining ring holds the front optical elements in place.
When I got mine some years ago I opened it up to clean the optical elements so know this is an simple task.
To be honest though the Voigtländer Kontur 6x6 looks to be your best bet if you can locate one. Especially if you are an eye glass wearer. I do not recall the Canon as being particularly bad in this respect (by comparison with other finders of the period which tend to be very unaccommodating) but the Kontur style typically offers better eye relief.
AFTERTHOUGHT. You could try the same modification with the Voigtlander Turnit finder (below). Though I have not had mine apart you can see in the image the two screws that hold the 35mm frame mask in place. It is a superb though large finder (not too large for a Super Ikonta though) and provides excellent vision. Again this seems to be quite readily available on eBay. Bear in mind the one pictured is the earlier all metal version. A later cheaper plastic bodied one is also available and I am not sure about how it might disassemble. I would say this finder quite simply provides the best vision of any finder I have ever used (I once started a small collection of them and had perhaps 10 of different styles and makes)
I have one and its advantage for you might be that whilst its "native" framelines are rectangular, the front ring on the finder (see image) simply unscrews and the metal frame mask can be taken out - in fact it drops out. I am sure that you could then add an additional mask in the shape you need using the existing one as a starting point as its already 35mm which is what you say you require. I would not replace the existing mask as it has small protruding tabs top and bottom to keep it aligned correctly . Instead I would supplement it with the one in the required shape. Such a mask can be easily made either from thin sheet aluminium available from stores that cater to airplane / military modellers - or you could use just the thicker type of aluminium found in super markets in kitchen oven trays. I have used both for various tasks and mods in my home workshop. Thin aluminium can be cut with scissors or even a score knife to create the necessary square mask. In use the additional frame mask could be sandwiched between the front retaining ring and the original rectangular mask to hold it firmly in place. Or better yet place it behind the original mask and sandwich it between that mask and the front optics. The same retaining ring holds the front optical elements in place.
When I got mine some years ago I opened it up to clean the optical elements so know this is an simple task.
To be honest though the Voigtländer Kontur 6x6 looks to be your best bet if you can locate one. Especially if you are an eye glass wearer. I do not recall the Canon as being particularly bad in this respect (by comparison with other finders of the period which tend to be very unaccommodating) but the Kontur style typically offers better eye relief.
AFTERTHOUGHT. You could try the same modification with the Voigtlander Turnit finder (below). Though I have not had mine apart you can see in the image the two screws that hold the 35mm frame mask in place. It is a superb though large finder (not too large for a Super Ikonta though) and provides excellent vision. Again this seems to be quite readily available on eBay. Bear in mind the one pictured is the earlier all metal version. A later cheaper plastic bodied one is also available and I am not sure about how it might disassemble. I would say this finder quite simply provides the best vision of any finder I have ever used (I once started a small collection of them and had perhaps 10 of different styles and makes)
stevierose
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Since the FOV of the 75mm Solinar lens on my Agfa Super Isolette equals approximately a 50mm view in 35mm I suppose I could get a 50mm finder and mask it so it is square similar to what you have described. I have managed to obtain the Kontur finder for 6x6 and am trying to get my brain to successfully merge the right and left eye views. It's kind of cool, but I think will take some practice.
I
itsjustaride
Guest
The SWC also has finder masks to visualize 645 or that smaller square. Maybe a mask could be fabricated.
eli griggs
Well-known
Could you hack a Holga N and use that finder?
retinax
Well-known
Nope (just for the record). Peter above is right, the 75mm on 6x6 is about equal to a central square crop from a 35mm lens, not from a 50, on 135.
Scrambler
Well-known
"Why is it so?"
The 50mm lens is longer than the film's diagonal.
The 75mm lens is shorter than its film's diagonal.
And cropping the view of the finder reduces the diagonal.
So you need to start with a wider viewfinder for the crop to be close.
In this case, trimming the 35mm finder to square will be almost exactly correct. As close as any external finder ever gets.
Fwiw, by the diagonal the 75mm on 6x6 equals a 41mm on 35 film. But that doesn't help with the viewfinder!
Godfrey
somewhat colored
I have the Kontur 6x6 for my Perkeo II as well. It's the best accessory viewfinder I've ever used! For me, at least, I have absolutely no problem converging the frame lines with the other eye, and it's nearly dead-on accurate framing as well as easy to live with given my glasses and such.
If you have difficulty using it, try switching which eye is looking into it vs looking at the scene. Sometimes, using the "other" eye can help you merge the images more successfully.
G
If you have difficulty using it, try switching which eye is looking into it vs looking at the scene. Sometimes, using the "other" eye can help you merge the images more successfully.
G
Canyongazer
Canyongazer
"What use is having a great depth of field, if there is not an adequate depth of feeling?" - W. Eugene Smith
Sonny...I thought I'd read/heard every Gene Smith utterance except what he ordered for lunch in 1949 but never knew of this one....it is well worth contemplating, as are most of his thoughts.
Thank you!
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