Tewe finder

If I'm not mistaken the vintage (screw mount era) Canon rangefinder accessory finder works the same way as the Tewe, so perhaps this is where they got the idea. The Canon finder dates from the early fifties -- perhaps earlier, not sure. I own a Canon unit and it is a superb piece.

I've always wanted a Tewe however, and perhaps a Komura 200mm lens to go with it. I've mastered using the 135mm focal length on rangefinders, so I need a real challenge now!
 
John, I like this concept. I just found a Contax takeup spool in the pipe of cameras I'm cleaning up and selling - works nicely in my Kiev 4a.

Unfortunately that is probably the best find in my stack. Most of the rest consists of fixed lens rangefinders in need of work. Good projects but it is taking me way too long to get through.

Edit: To tie this in to the topic at hand, I'm talking with someone here on RFF about buying a Tewe. I don't really need anything as long as 200. The mythical 28-135 would be great but I've yet to see one of them for sale. If they go for more, i'd stick with the 35-200 in a heartbeat.
 
John Camp said:
bottom of it, is made of what looks like a matte steel, is marked in feet at 5, 7, 15 and infinity, and around the eyepiece says, "Ernst Leitz GmbH Wetzlar Germany 13.5 cm." I have no idea of what it's for.

JC
Click to expand...


Sounds lika Leica "SHOOC" finder. -Charlie
 
I had a 35-200 model which I used on a Leica IIIf. I loved the concept, and the quality of construction, but ultimately found it was difficult to use when wearing my glasses. So, I sold it for a surprisingly large amount of money.
 
i have the Nippon Kogaku varifocal Finder, and its very nice indeed. i hear the Tewe and the NK resemble one another.
 
atop my new IIIf
5220082470_df05abecbd_b.jpg
 
In the article referenced by Roger in his first sentence, there are references to blob-on-a-stick markings on the focal length scale. The marks at 38mm and 127mm are for 1/2X and 1X views respectively. Not sure about the mark at 90mm; maybe 3/4X?? Anyway, I have both the Tewe and the Nikon Version 1 finders. The view through my Nikon finder is as stated above. The view through my Tewe finder is slightly smaller than it should be. Close but not exact.
 
Spavinaw said:
In the article referenced by Roger in his first sentence, there are references to blob-on-a-stick markings on the focal length scale. The marks at 38mm and 127mm are for 1/2X and 1X views respectively. Not sure about the mark at 90mm; maybe 3/4X?? Anyway, I have both the Tewe and the Nikon Version 1 finders. The view through my Nikon finder is as stated above. The view through my Tewe finder is slightly smaller than it should be. Close but not exact.
Click to expand...

Fascinating!

Is this from any other source, or pure observation? The latter is normally worth more, but equally, this may be coincidence.

Thanks very much indeed for a lateral (as it were) observation (as it were) on the whole thing -- an incredible example of how much can be forgotten/ ignored/ rediscovered in only 50 years.

Cheers,

R.
 
I already knew what the blob-on-a-stick marks were , but to refresh my memory I Googled "Nikon Varifocal". If you try it, click on the entry "Nikon (Nippon Kogaku K.K.) Finder Group of Accessories for...". Hopefully you will arrive at the section titled "Part 4: Multi-focal length (universal) Nikon Verifocal Finder". If you do not arrive at Part 4 then go to the bottom of the page and click on the forward/backward function as needed to get to Part 4. Once at Part 4, the last sentence in the third paragraph provides the information on these marks.
 
Spavinaw said:
I already knew what the blob-on-a-stick marks were , but to refresh my memory I Googled "Nikon Varifocal". If you try it, click on the entry "Nikon (Nippon Kogaku K.K.) Finder Group of Accessories for...". Hopefully you will arrive at the section titled "Part 4: Multi-focal length (universal) Nikon Verifocal Finder". If you do not arrive at Part 4 then go to the bottom of the page and click on the forward/backward function as needed to get to Part 4. Once at Part 4, the last sentence in the third paragraph provides the information on these marks.
Click to expand...

Thanks very much indeed.

Cheers,

R.
 
Just for the record, a Walz finder that is very similar to the Nikon Varifocal finders sold on eBay on March 11, 2011.
 
FWIW - Steinheil also offered that finder under their own name in the 50s.

Our own Brian Sweeney just cleaned and repaired mine. Thanks again Brian.
 
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