which 25mm viewfinder?

[meandihagee]

what's the difference between the cosina 21/25mm vf and the simple 25mm?

which one do you recommend for more accurate framing?

thanks

 

[Leigh Youdale]

I had the original 25 vf which I sold with the lens after I got an M-mount version. Later I bought the combined 21/25 and I have to say the original 25 vf was much more pleasant to use. I can't comment on the accuracy of framing though as I've used it very little.

 

[presspass]

I have not used the CV 21/25 but the original 25 is just fine. But if you want to be satisfied with either of these, DO NOT look through a Zeiss finder. The only reason I don't use the Zeiss all the time is the very real fear of knocking it off or scratching the glass.

 

[Rob-F]

I have not used the CV 21/25 but the original 25 is just fine. But if you want to be satisfied with either of these, DO NOT look through a Zeiss finder. The only reason I don't use the Zeiss all the time is the very real fear of knocking it off or scratching the glass.

What Presspass said. The Zeiss may spoil you for anything else. However, I do also have the CV 25mm finder, and it's very adequate (and a lot cheaper). The CV is also more relaxing to look through.

 

[sepiareverb]

I like the Leica 18mm VF- lots of room around the framelines (24mm equivalent lines for the M8) and quite accurate with a 24 in my experience.

 

[Photar]

I had the original 25 vf which I sold with the lens after I got an M-mount version. Later I bought the combined 21/25 and I have to say the original 25 vf was much more pleasant to use.

Leigh, could you explain why the original one was more pleasant to use? Do you use the metal version of the 21/25 finder? I just ordered one and therefore would be very much interested in your opinion. I chose this finder exactly for the reason mentioned by sepiareverb: it offers some space around the 25mm framelines. Thanks a lot.

 

[kzphoto]

The only reason I don't use the Zeiss all the time is the very real fear of knocking it off or scratching the glass.

I've dropped the 25mm Zeiss finder twice. Once was in a construction site while shooting architecture, the other was on a carpeted floor. Both times, the glass front element collided with the floor.

Still looks like there isn't a mark on it. They're built like tanks, but they cost an arm and a leg. The paint will wear before the glass does.

 

[Leigh Youdale]

Leigh, could you explain why the original one was more pleasant to use? Do you use the metal version of the 21/25 finder? I just ordered one and therefore would be very much interested in your opinion. I chose this finder exactly for the reason mentioned by sepiareverb: it offers some space around the 25mm framelines. Thanks a lot.

I had the original LTM 25CV when I only had the R3A. The finder was a "conventional" black plastic unit with a bright, clear view and clearly defined framelines.
Then I got the M-mount version of the 25 which came without the viewfinder. As I had already bought the R4A and also a 21mm CV lens I thought the only reason I'd need a viewfinder for those FL's was if I decided to use the R3A body rather than the R4A and so I sold the LTM 25mm lens and viewfinder, and bought the new metal 21/25 viewfinder as a substitute and to cover both lenses.
The 21/25 is a metal "mini" finder and although less bulky than the finder I sold I was a little disappointed that the finder was not as easy to centre (for me anyway) and the dual framelines were a little disconcerting too.
Net result is I don't use the 21/25 VF much, preferring to use the built-in R4A camera viewfinder and keeping on hand the CV 75 and 90 VF's in case I want to use those lenses on the R4A. As I generally tend to shoot wide rather than tele, that doesn't happen very often.
In fact I've demoted the R3A and Nokton 1.4/40 to my "car" camera so I've got one wherever I go in the car without having to think about it. Probably should sell it but .................
Maybe you'll have a different experience with the dual finder. Maybe my expectations needed a slight adjustment too.

 

[jonmanjiro]

I have owned three types of 25mm finders from Zeiss/Cosina.

Zeiss 25/28mm - very bright, solid metal construction, large, minimal distortion, high magnification

Cosina 25mm - bright, flimsy plastic construction, large, slight barrel distortion, high magnification

Cosina 21/25mm - very bright (on par with the Zeiss finder), solid metal construction, compact, some barrel distortion but not so bad that I have trouble framing, lower magnification than the above two finders

I still have and love the Cosina 21/25mm finder. I like the solid metal construction, prefer the trade off for smaller size at the expense of more barrel distortion and lower magnification. Plus the 21/2.5mm frame line combo is useful for me. YMMV.

They all work just fine for framing.

 

[meandihagee]

the metal 21/25 looks definitely cooler and better built. but i guess the dual frame lines might be confusing. maybe the plastic 25mm works better, at least if you really need to be accurate with a 25mm, like my case.

do they have other marks for parallax?