Leica LTM Using a 3.5cm Summaron on my IIIg

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
lxmike said:
how do you find the SBLOO, does it have brightlines
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It is nice and it has brightlines, but too overpriced.

I went through a phase where I used it on my M3 in conjunction with the 35mm Summicron lens ala Alfred Eisenstaedt but prefer physically smaller 35mm finders on Barnacks like the Canon 35mm VF and the Acall /Komura ones and the Rostock FSU ones of course, for a slightly bigger view.
 
I would quite recommend the modern (Cosina) Voigtländer 35mm finder. The exact same size and shape as the vintage Canon chrome finder pictured above but with terrific brightlines and overall an even better viewing image than the one of the expensive and huge Leitz SBLOO finder.
 
Highway 61 said:
I would quite recommend the modern (Cosina) Voigtländer 35mm finder. The exact same size and shape as the vintage Canon chrome finder pictured above but with terrific brightlines and overall an even better viewing image than the one of the expensive and huge Leitz SBLOO finder.
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I've got both the SBLOO and the new metal Voigtlander finder. The Voigtlander now lives on my black iii. It's a terrific finder; bright and clear with good eye point (much better than the mini finder). I consider it easily as good as the SBLOO which i use on my M4 for quick shooting.
 
xayraa33 said:
Hehe, back in the early 1990s I made a 35mm VF from the optical VF from a broken Olympus XA1 camera.

I hand filed the case and foot from a solid block of brass, as back then I still had the patience of Job.
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unfortunately l lack the skills and the patience:D
 
lxmike said:
unfortunately l lack the skills and the patience:D
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That is OK, 40 CDN dollars will get you a better ready-made VF in the end.

The making of a homemade viewfinder presupposes many factors, like a donor VF glass from a suitable broken camera and free time and the proper tools with a modicum of handicraft skills and a naive desire for a low grade challenge.
 
The SBLOO is enormous even on a iiig and especially the earlier LTM cameras. That black Canon finder above looks nice and compact and the Voigtlander is probably the way to go. My SBLOO sits on the shelf.
 
xayraa33 said:
That is OK, 40 CDN dollars will get you a better ready-made VF in the end.

The making of a homemade viewfinder presupposes many factors, like a donor VF glass from a suitable broken camera and free time and the proper tools with a modicum of handicraft skills and a naive desire for a low grade challenge.
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a 35mm finder is now o my wants list:)
 
Richard G said:
The SBLOO is enormous even on a iiig and especially the earlier LTM cameras. That black Canon finder above looks nice and compact and the Voigtlander is probably the way to go. My SBLOO sits on the shelf.
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l will see how ; get on guess mating my framing, mind you that will have to wait until Monday, as l missed the postman this morning, l am sure they wait until l pop out for a minute:bang:
 
The Canon Sure Shot Owl option is home-made but does not require you to file down blocks of brass. The cameras can be bought cheaply on Ebay and are easy to disassemble to extract the viewfinder optics. The optics are then dropped into the Shapeways 3-D printed bottom part (which also has the cold shoe mount). A Shapeways cap completes the assembly. It works really well! Search '35mm Viewfinders and old eyes' (this forum) for a more detailed discussion.
 
jcb4718 said:
The Canon Sure Shot Owl option is home-made but does not require you to file down blocks of brass. The cameras can be bought cheaply on Ebay and are easy to disassemble to extract the viewfinder optics. The optics are then dropped into the Shapeways 3-D printed bottom part (which also has the cold shoe mount). A Shapeways cap completes the assembly. It works really well! Search '35mm Viewfinders and old eyes' (this forum) for a more detailed discussion.
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many thanks this is very helpful:)
 
Mike, you’ve picked a good combo for a vintage film setup. It’s what I chose back in 1971 for an around the world trip. Back then I only paid $125 for the 3g with f/3.5 5cm Elmar. Managed to pick up the Summaron 3.5 and Elmar 9 cm to round things out. There’s a few images from that trip in my gallery here on RFF, must get around to posting a few more. Sure wish I’d had fast colour film back then, 80asa down a dark back alley with slow glass didn’t always work. Would have been smart to stick with tri-x, ah four decades of hindsight.

I never bothered with a hood for the Summaron, my copy didn’t seem to need it. Had the clunky Leica finder mentioned above and felt it spoiled the lines of the camera. Am now using the excellent Cosina Voigtlander metal finder.

Have fun with the 3g, there’s something special about using the tools of yesteryear to make images today. Have been giving mine some use lately and have several rolls of tri-x ready to dunk.

Cheers, Glenn
 
Glenn2 said:
Mike, you’ve picked a good combo for a vintage film setup. It’s what I chose back in 1971 for an around the world trip. Back then I only paid $125 for the 3g with f/3.5 5cm Elmar. Managed to pick up the Summaron 3.5 and Elmar 9 cm to round things out. There’s a few images from that trip in my gallery here on RFF, must get around to posting a few more. Sure wish I’d had fast colour film back then, 80asa down a dark back alley with slow glass didn’t always work. Would have been smart to stick with tri-x, ah four decades of hindsight.

I never bothered with a hood for the Summaron, my copy didn’t seem to need it. Had the clunky Leica finder mentioned above and felt it spoiled the lines of the camera. Am now using the excellent Cosina Voigtlander metal finder.

Have fun with the 3g, there’s something special about using the tools of yesteryear to make images today. Have been giving mine some use lately and have several rolls of tri-x ready to dunk.

Cheers, Glenn
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thanks Glenn, l have had the IIIg for a while and l must admit its taken back seat lately as l have been using my IIIc stepper, l like your philosophy of tools of yesterday making images today, might have to grab a cv finder:D
 
lxmike said:
nice images, photograpghy must give you a lot of comfort and support not to mention challenges
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Thank you :)
It keeps me occupied, if that's what you mean :)
Photography has become a passion of mine over the past 10 years, and is a creative outlet and a way for me to focus my energy on something other than my condition.
 
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