meandihagee
Well-known
what's the difference between the cosina 21/25mm vf and the simple 25mm?
which one do you recommend for more accurate framing?
thanks
which one do you recommend for more accurate framing?
thanks
Leigh Youdale
Well-known
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
filmshooter
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
Likes Leicas
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
genius and moron
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
Down under
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
Well-known
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
Well-known
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.
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.
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
Well-known
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?
do they have other marks for parallax?