Weird idea, or not...

[dreilly]

What if you took the "eye" optic from the 35mm 3.5 Summaron set of "goggles" and fastened it to the front of the Zorki 4K finder...would you then have a useable 35mm finder?

For those who are looking at the screen cross-eyed, Summaron lenses had a type of glasses on them for use on the Leica M3, since it had no 35mm frame lines. The M3 had a .92x (?) VF, not too different from the 4K's 1x.

What say ye?

doug

 

[kiev4a]

Seems like attaching the goggles to a 4K would be a project -- especially considering they are worth more than the camera. A shoe finder is a lot easier, although there are the obvious paralax issues.

 

[wlewisiii]

I think you might be better off learning what the optics of the goggles are and duplicating them with offtheshelf lenses. Perhaps you could make something that fit off of the accessory shoe?

William

 

[taffer]

Hmmm, it could work, I guess. The only 'problem' is that probably the googles ain't cheap... You should also check if the RF patch would be well visible and check if it still measures distances properly...

Maybe you could do a test with some kind of homebrew 'finder reducer' before trying with a real pair of Summaron googles.

They are fixed to the lens on the Summaron so they stay pretty well in place, but how would you attach them to the Zorki ?

Just thinking on some issues that you may find while on the way 🙂

 

[zuikologist]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but I have been thinking of buying/constructing a sports finder for a Zorki, for use with a J12 - a wire frame type to go in the accessory shoe. It should be quicker an easier than using the conventional finder, but framing is perhaps less accurate. Any pointers as to where to buy one (inexpensively!) appreciated, otherwise the wire cutters will be out over the weekend.

 

[dreilly]

I was going to look for a trashed pair of Summaron goggles for cheap somewhere, take out just the VF part in the metal frame, and "attach" it to the front. How, I'm not sure. Blowtorch?

Well, a fanciful idea anyway.

 

[laptoprob]

Anything is possible, but these goggles are made for Leica M distance to the lens. If that distance is off, the fielf of view is off. Not to mention a rangefinder (patch). Why try all this with a Zorki 4?

Intrigued but puzzled!

Rob

 

[jdos2]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but I have been thinking of buying/constructing a sports finder for a Zorki, for use with a J12 - a wire frame type to go in the accessory shoe. It should be quicker an easier than using the conventional finder, but framing is perhaps less accurate. Any pointers as to where to buy one (inexpensively!) appreciated, otherwise the wire cutters will be out over the weekend.

Just buy a sports finder for a 6x9 camera. The "100" should be really close. I got the one I use on the Universal for $20.

JD

 

[RichardS]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but I have been thinking of buying/constructing a sports finder for a Zorki, for use with a J12 - a wire frame type to go in the accessory shoe. It should be quicker an easier than using the conventional finder, but framing is perhaps less accurate. Any pointers as to where to buy one (inexpensively!) appreciated, otherwise the wire cutters will be out over the weekend.

Now if you can come up with a 4x5 inch holder for the back you'll have invented the Speed Graphic all over again, or at least the Crown Graphic.

Dick

 

[photodog]

It would be easier to purchase a Russian 35mm finder for $25-30 on the internet.

 

[captainslack]

You might try PM'ing Roger Hicks. I was reading an article he wrote on the Leica Spectacles in some English photography magazine I flipped through the other day. He might have some pointers.

 

[ddutchison]

I'm not sure the range finder would still work accurately. All the goggled 35 lenses had different focusing cams from the regular 35's to correct for the changes made to the RF system by the goggles.

 

[taffer]

Doug, I made a simple test yesterday night, placing one of my 'homemade' wide angle finders just in front of the front VF window indeed makes the field of view wider, but focusing is a pain. I'm not even sure if the RF would measure right, but each time I slightly moved the camera, the RF patch did a funny 'dance' that drived me crazy 🙂

Maybe you could consider investing in a CV 28/35 minifinder if you want something small. Anyway, as it's said above, the Russian 35mm finder is very good, and dirt cheap.

 

[dreilly]

Shucks, that seems to make sense to me...it'll mess up the focusing. I'd have to put the matching lens over the rangefinder window and then it still might be messed up. Well, it was an idea that got some ideas flowing. If there' s a 35 finder on top, there's not much room for a VC meter. (This is all GAS daydreaming here, BTW, safer than the real thing). Both mounted on a double-shoe adapter and it's starting to look like a one-man band minus the casio keyboard.

Well, thanks for the thoughts. Maybe I'll check into the 35 finder.

 

[darkkavenger]

totally out of topic, but what kind of Flexaret do you own, Dreilly ? I've three of them and they are wonderful!! 😀

 

[dreilly]

darkavenger,
It's a Flexaret VII I picked up in Slovakia when I lived there. It's a bit quirky mechanically...the shutter doesn't always fire, and I have to use the double-exposure cocking lever to reset it. But I still love it! I took it through Turkey and shot slides using sunny 16...and they came out great.

 

[darkkavenger]

I've got a IIIb a IVb and at VII ... the IVb needs to be disassembled, the IIIb works perfectly even if one of the blades on the leaf shutter always remains in place. I was afraid I'd mess my portrait rolls when I was on holidays, and I was wrong. The VII decided to be a bit quirky like yours not long ago. But still I love it 😀

 

[ddutchison]

... If there' s a 35 finder on top, there's not much room for a VC meter. (This is all GAS daydreaming here,...

Ah well, if it's a GAS issue, needing to have both would be a perfect excuse to purchase a Voigtlander double accessory shoe from Cameraquest. 😉

 

[cacs88]

I have a Zorki-1 that has a 35mm-finder "mono-goggle" glued to the viewfinder window at the front. Since a Zorki-1 has a separate rangefinder window, the rf window does not have to be modified.

The modification is a home-made job and I got the camera from Oleg.

henry

 

[Justin Low]

WRT to the sports finder, perhaps you could come up with a homebrew version of the Ikodot.