View finder 35mm

[briciolo01]

Hi , this is my first post.
I use a great Kiev 4 with a J8M and I would like to buy a Jupiter 12.
Is it normal take photos without a viewfinder for 35mm lens? The parallax error for the Kiev 4 is increased with this accessory?Sorry for my English and thanks for all...
Lorenzo🙂 🙂

 

[TVphotog]

If it is a critical shot, I will use the viewfinder. If not, then I just 'wing' it. I am used to shooting with a wide angle alot, so I may be different than most. The main lens that I use on my Nikon F3 is a 24mm lens. The lens on my TV camera starts at 7.6 which is about a 20-24 mm in 35mm. I think that where you are just starting out with the Kiev, I would get the viewfinder. Once you are comfortable with the lens, you will probably use it less and less.

 

[Xmas]

Lorenzo

One can try making a home made viewfinder, if you cannot afford one.

The accessory shoe is nearer the lens axis than the rangefinder/viewfinder, so the parrallax is similar.

Your English is ok, welcome.

Noel

 

[Alfred Rugel]

Lorenzo, I use the J-12 35mm WA with a KMZ (Russian) Viewfinder. Cost $30 USD excellent condition plus shipping on Ebay. Works great for me! Good luck!

 

[briciolo01]

Thanks for the suggestions!Now is time to buy a J-12 and takes pics and pics...
Lorenzo

 

[Xmas]

The J12 typically are 40 GBP, the KMZ multi finders 60GBP...

Noel

 

[wolves3012]

The J12 typically are 40 GBP, the KMZ multi finders 60GBP...

Noel

I did well then - £25 for my J12 (LTM) and £20 for the turret-finder - both are immaculate and the J12 takes wonderful pictures 🙂

 

[Xmas]

Yes well done, hope Lorenzo does as good.

Noel

 

[ruben]

Lorenzo,

I would approach the issue from a totally different angle. The Soviet 35mm viewfinder is an amazing piece, at a ridiculous price for its high quality glass. It will give you such a nice view, that it will be a real pitty not to have it.

Cheers,
Ruben

 

[Xmas]

Lorenzo

Ruben is correct, he did not mention the j12 is cheap and really good. Either or both may have been mistreated.

Noel

 

[vanyagor]

Hi Lorenzo. I always use an external viewfinder. I have several of them:

- Helios viewfinder with brighlines for 35, 85 and 135mm. Those are the smallest and cheapest option I have found. They feel quite sturdy too. Nowadays they sell around 30-40$ on ebay, but I got mine for less when they were still available from distributor. This is the viewfinder I'm using all the time with my J-12 lens.

- turret viewfinders. This is a viewfinder with build in lenses for different focal distances. It is rather heavy and bulky, its quality is great though. Those usually cost around 70$

- another type of viewfinder that I have is Walz viewfinder with adjustable frame border (you can rotate the ring and the black border is expanding or contracting to change field of view. It also has parallax correction. I like this one a lot! But those are really rare. There is a similar Leica viewfinder as far as I remember, but it costs a lot. It has similar size as the turret viewfinder. The advanatage is that there are intermediate field of view sizes, not only the common 35,85,135mm ones.

I haven't tried FSU dedicated 35mm viewfinders, people say they are good.

 

[briciolo01]

Thanks,my friends...

Lorenzo.

 

[jaypolaski]

This thread came at just the right time. I managed to pick up a J 12 for my Kiev 4a on the bay for about USD $20 after shipping and was wondering which way to go for a finder. I've been watching the Helios finders and at least for now, this looks like my best option.

 

[payasam]

I've become a votary of the permanently mounted accessory finder with multiple focal lengths. I find my turret finder (made in Liechtenstein for an Argus model) a good deal better at the 50 mm setting than my Zorki's finder. When I still had a IIIc, a VIOOH was on it always.