Which M has the best VF?

[time]

There are many different viewfinders in the M's from M3 to M9. Moreover, we have the ZI and the Bessa VFs.

Which M VF is the best for your use?

 

[Benjamin]

The M2 finder is the best compromise available to my mind.

Simple frame set, non-flare RF patch, decently sized bright lines. My sample is also nice and bright.

The finder of the M4-2/M4-P/M6 is a bit of a joke by comparision.

I've no real world experience of the ZM's finder but it sounds pretty sweet.

 

[ruby.monkey]

The R3 is excellent, but for me the M3 wins out - 50mm is my favourite walkabout focal length and love the M3 finder's magnification and big, thick 50mm frameline.

 

[degruyl]

Not voting: I have only experience with the M6 and the Bessa VFs.

I would posit that the viewfinder for the Mamiya 7 is better than all of these, though. For me, at least.

What I want is: 3 point (< * >) meter indication on the bottom center, with aperture and speed indications on the right and left side. A speed indication with lighted and flashing indications of the current and suggested speeds works fine, too. Aperture indication does not appear to be shown in any viewfinder for a rangefinder, but was standard for decades on SLR cameras.

As far as the VF, itself, I do not have any issue with multiple framelines. I do prefer parallax correction, of course. The M6 flare issue and the Bessa "I can't read the speed" issue make them both a bit dodgy for me. Yeah, I use them, but they can't be "best" with problems like that.

 

[morback]

Edit: best for what kind of use? Manual? AP? Eye-relief? Long focals? Wide? Focusing patch?

The viewfinder of the M5 looks pretty sweet...Would love to try one. Looks like a really sweet mid step between manual and AP.

After using the Mamiya6 for years and trying out the ZM I was shocked by the difference. Much brighter and bigger than the Mamiya. Love the one frame lines visible for 50mm. Now the shutter speeds on the far left is another story...I personally don't care about these numbers, I never look at them, only adjust for over or under exposure.

I would love for the ZM to have the manual exposure just like the M6 or even the Olympus OM2. I love analog needles 🙂

 

[maddoc]

M4-P for general use and M3 for 50mm if not wearing eye-glasses.

 

[like2fiddle]

I can't vote on this one as I have only ever owned or used an M6, M2, R3, and R2. Of these 4, no questions - the M2 wins easily. But... I would like to look through the M3 and ZM viewfinders as it seems that most everyone who has used one has liked it.

 

[time]

So far, I see M3 VF wins many hearts here...

 

[Gary Sandhu]

My preferences:
M3 for 50 and 90
MP .72 for 35
and hexar rf for 28

 

[BTMarcais]

What I want is: 3 point (< * >) meter indication on the bottom center, with aperture and speed indications on the right and left side. A speed indication with lighted and flashing indications of the current and suggested speeds works fine, too. Aperture indication does not appear to be shown in any viewfinder for a rangefinder, but was standard for decades on SLR cameras.

There's no linkage between the aperture on the lens and the camera body on M-mount rangefinders (or even on the Contax G's for that matter), so there's no way for the camera to know what aperture you're set at, and no way to really display aperture in the VF.


FWIW, even with glasses I prefer the finder of my M3. The M6TTL .85x I have is nice, but the occasional flaring is annoying, and never happens on the M3.

-Brian

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

The only vote for R4 is mine: I gave it just because there's no other viewfinder like that for shooting real wide without external finders. And I do focus perfectly a fast 1.4 normal with it too, so quickly...

Well done!

 

[BillP]

Yet another incomplete and therefore meaningless poll...

Yet another incomplete and therefore meaningless poll...

M2.

Regards.

Bill

 

[coelacanth]

Although I don't wear glasses, I actually find .72 finder "better" for 50mm use because I don't really have to squeeze my face into VF much to see the whole frame plus good area outside of it. It's maybe also because I'm a left eye shooter.

When I need to focus precisely, I can take my time to do it fine with .72 finder. Most of time I do scale focusing or a quick one through VF.

I like my MP finder because it's been modified to bring up 50mm and 35mm framelines all by themselves. I wouldn't like MP's as much if it was a regular one with 135 and 75 showing up.

So within unmodified finders, M2's is the best for me.

 

[chenzhaohy]

The viewfinder of Hassel XPan is amazing. I fell like it's better build than Leica.

 

[ferider]

The only vote for R4 is mine: I gave it just because there's no other viewfinder like that for shooting real wide without external finders. And I do focus perfectly a fast 1.4 normal with it too, so quickly...

Well done!

The same is true for M3 & 90/135mm. Which is why I voted for M3 🙂

 

[johannielscom]

To the OP: I am eagerly awaiting your first substantial post on RFF, these polls we've all had several times already here. Just do a search on Google and you'll find threads full of stuff like this, the best VF, how many Leica M's, etc.

Enjoy the read, and give the rest of us something worthwhile to read as well!?

 

[joebt]

Easy Decision For Me

Easy Decision For Me

I have an M3, M6TTL 0.72, & M6TTL 0.85--I have tried a magnifier on the 0.72 and the 0.85 but the M3 beats them both. I like the magnification and the flare proof patch. The M3 is the best in my opinion, and i do use 35mm F/1.2 with it as well.

 

[KoNickon]

Hey Johan (CLE-RF), don't be so hard on the guy. Anyway, I'm surprised you didn't nominate the CLE, which has the best 28mm framelines of all, even better than the Hexar. It, and the M3, are the best as far as I'm concerned.

 

[time]

To the OP: I am eagerly awaiting your first substantial post on RFF, these polls we've all had several times already here. Just do a search on Google and you'll find threads full of stuff like this, the best VF, how many Leica M's, etc.

Enjoy the read, and give the rest of us something worthwhile to read as well!?

Sorry. I will do searching from now then.

I find the M3 VF with 50mm and 35mm better (specially at night) in use than the newer Ms (M7,M8 and MP). So I just wondered people here also share the same experience.

 

[fbf]

I vote for m3. There is no contest.
M2 is close 2nd only because the framlines are simple and accurate.