Which finder for my 28/3.5?

[Bingley]

I recently acquired a CV 28/3.5 to round out my P-based (no pun intended) travel kit (which also includes Canon 50/1.8, Skopar classic 35, and Oly XA for backup/stealth). Now: which external viewfinder should I get? The affordable choices appear to be the metal CV 28mm brightline, or the mini-brightline 35/28. I've never used an external viewfinder, so this is new territory for me. I also wear glasses, if that makes a difference. Any recommendations/advice on a viewfinder choice? Thanks much!

 

[dostacos]

Have you tried the 28 lens with the 35MM framelines?

I have the new style 28MM and it is a nice finder, the 28/35 looks smaller so you will have a smaller profile with the camera.

If you are in the Los Angeles area I will gladly loan you my 28 finder to play with as I won't be using it much on the R4M 😉

 

[Rob-F]

What a coincidence, I'm researching the same question. I'm setting up a Leica IIIc outfit to include the CV 28 and 35mm lenses. The 28/35 would seem the logical choice, but there is another thread here in which a poster said that he can't see the 28mm frame with glasses on. Stephen Gandy wrote on Cameraquest that the 35mm CV finder has very good eye relief, so I'm condidering getting it Since I wear glasses. The 28/35 would be great, saving me from having to switch to my 28mm finder; but not so great if I can't see the 28mm frameline! I emailed Stephen to ask how great a problem this really is; but he just said it depends on individual eyesight, etc. So I think I would go for a finder that does a great job of one thing, rather than one that does a bad job of one thing and OK on the other.

 

[Bingley]

Dan -- Thanks much for the loan offer. I'm in Sacramento so it may not work out. I will try out the 28 lens w/ the 35 mm framelines (on both the P and the 7), but the glasses thing... I dunno.

Rob -- Good thought on the single-purpose 28mm finder.

Thanks to you both.

 

[biomed]

I have heard the 28/35 finder may be difficult to use for glasses wearers. I would the CV 28 finder would be a better choice. I have the CV metal 35 brightline finder and it is superb.