Voigtlander 28mm VF's for GRD

[Avotius]

Howdy again. I have been looking and notice that voigtlander has 3 different finders for 28mm frame lines. I have a grd which I want to stick a viewfinder on top of and the voigtlander's seem to be the best choice in terms of price.

My question is of the three which is the one to have? What im most concerned about is which one has the brightest image, which one will allow me to see a little around the frame lines ala rangefinder viewing, and which one wont stick past the back and front of the camera. Also how are you keeping your viewfinders protected when they are in your camera bag?

That mini 35 28 finder seems neat, but I wear glasses, I dont know if that will mater with any of these, it also seems that it would stick out past the camera a bit, but I dont know if this is unavoidable with any of these. Please dont hesitate to show a pic if you have one of a finder and a grd. That plastic viewfinder seems to be about right, although I would prefer metal, hard to say really. Im up to any other suggestions you might have too.

 

[Bingley]

Avotius -- I have the 28/35 minifinder, wear glasses, and have no problem seeing the 28 mm framelines. It's a great little finder, v. discreet. I haven't used any of the other CV finders, so can't offer a comparison, but as to your question regarding use by glasses wearers the minifinder is no problem, at least for me.

 

[kbg32]

The mini finder is great on the GRD. Keeps the GRD small and unobtrusive.

 

[kalokeri]

There should be no real problem in using the voigtländer minifinder as long as you see framelines with your glasses - never tried myself, can´t help with any experience here. Just keep in mind that the framelines show 2:3 format whereas the sensor in the GRD is 4:3. You can change the format into 2:3 in the menu which I would recomment if using finders build for use with 24*36 format.

P.S. I have the Ricoh-finder. Looks like Cosina builds that one, too. Good quality, brilliant and even 21mm-framelines are visible with glasses.

Thomas

 

[Avotius]

One more thing I noticed, the hot shoe and the lens are not lined up, has anyone ever had a problem with that using a viewfinder?

 

[noimmunity]

I bought the 21/28 finder made for the GRD cuz I couldn't easily get a hold of the CV finders at the time. The mini 28/25 is great for the size; the 28 metal one best for the retro cool look and clear view; the 21/28 best because of the huge extra viewing area and convenience if add the 21 converter.

 

[kalokeri]

Another advantage of the 21/28 finder Ricoh offers: finder and lens are lined up because the finder is put a liitle bit to one side (left or right depends on looking from the front or the back of the camera).

Thomas

 

[sebastel]

looking at the amount of offset the builtin leica M finder has (related to the lens' optical axis), i'd not care at all ...

;-)

cheers,
sebastian

 

[Avotius]

how big in reality is the ricoh and mini 28 35 finder compared to each other? That ricoh finder looks huge on the camera, the mini finder is about 60 dollars more expensive here then the ricoh though but size is an issue, well that and finder brightness which I assume with both is excellent

 

[sebastel]

i cannot comment on this since i own neither.
but, since the accessory shoe size is the same, pictures of the mini finder should help.
;-)

i'm out for the mini finder. best offer i found so far was from singapore.

再见

 

[Andy Aitken]

Well the Ricoh 21/28mm finder is a very, very nice finder and, as stated above, it's the right (4:3) ratio and has the right offset. It's about the same size as the regular plastic CV finders and does make the camera a lot taller. The CV is clearly a LOT smaller and could be handier for that reason but then the 35mm frames are a bit redundant and may be distracting. You could, of course, then use the in-camera 3:2 ratio with the 28/35mm mini-finder.

Psssssst. If you happen to find yourself in Singapore (or perhaps Japan or Hong Kong) the Ricoh finder is about half the EU/US price there.

 

[Avotius]

yes I seemed to fidn that the finder's price here in china is about 100 dollars, I think I might go in that direction and just eat the size problem. Now I need a way to protect the finder while its on the camera in my bag

 

[Captain]

Where can you buy the Ricoh finder? Is it suitable for full frame 35mm?