suggestions for an uncluttered 24/25mm finder

[sanmich]

I have just received a ZM 25mm.
This is the second time I'm trying this FL.
Last time I had the Zeiss finder which, beside being beautifully made, a bit big, and optically excellent, drove me nuts with its combined 25/28mm frame lines. I tend to use wides "on the fly" and to compose quickly.
I can't stop and go "wait, these lines are for the 28 or for the 25?"
I understand that the VC is plagued with the same problem with its 21/25 finder. And now I see that the Leica finder (not that I can afford one) is described as having FL for the M8...
Any advice?

 

[mdarnton]

The original plastic VC finder is completely uncluttered, but mine was not particularly accurate, having more in the vertical direction than was proportionally correct (the finder was more towards square, and the extra was on the top), I don't know if that was the case for all of them.

 

[Rob-F]

I have the Leica 24mm finder and the CV 25mm finder (both for film) and I get on with them pretty well. Finder frame lines are invariably a bit under sized, and there should be no problem using the 24mm finder with a 25mm lens. If you want the Leica finder, a little patience should get you one at an OK price, I should think. One other thing: I did pretty well when shooting the 24mm lens using the full finder field with my 0.58 bodies.

 

[iphoenix]

I've found the Canon 25mm finder to be quite accurate with the Canon 25mm lens on my M6.

 

[sepiareverb]

The current 18mm Leica Finder has lines for 24mm (as the 18 behaves on the M8) with lots of space around. I’ve found this to be the best for me with the 24. The area is a little small, but easier on the eye. There is always the ever perfect Frankenfinder also. Immensely accurate.

 

[mcfingon]

I use the 28mm framelines on my M6 .72 viewfinder and imagine four more line-widths of space outside that area. That way i'm still getting the parallax compensation and an RF patch in the middle.

 

[sanmich]

Thanks all for the answers.
I remember now that the most difficult with the Zeiss was shooting a 28mm with these inner pieces of dotted frame. I couldn't get a snappy mind picture of the image.
So the VC 21/25 is out of the question, the Leica 18mm also I think.
Maybe the Zeiss...
or the plastic Leica that seems to be affordable.
The new metal one costs like a lens....

 

[Archlich]

The Panasonic DMW-VF1 is what I ended up with when I had the ZM25. Originally made for the LX3, it's pretty good - uncluttered, very close to the CV metal finders but the build is a tad lighter. Used, the price can be reasonable as well.

 

[sanmich]

deleted....

 

[ruby.monkey]

I have the plastic VC 25mm finder. Has just the 3:2-ratio frame line with a dotted line for close-range parallax correction. It's a bit of a squeeze with spectacles but otherwise an excellent finder.