Which rangefinder to get for 35mm lens

[Gzisis89]

Hello to the team, i use the last 6 months a canon p with a 50mm 1.8. i really love this camera and the fact i can shoot with the both eyes open and focus so easy and see the 50 framelines wearing my glasses. The problem is i am starting to like the 35mm idea a lot and on the canon p i can not see the framelines of the 35mm without moving my eye and my camera around which is very contra productive for street photography and also makes the rangefinder idea not so nice if i cant se outside of my frame. Which camera would you suggest where i can see the 35mm framelines, with both eyes open wearing my glasses ? If i could save the leica money for a car that i am starting to need and not just want it would be a nice plus.

 

[Freakscene]

A Leica M with a 0.58 viewfinder is the best camera for the 35mm framelines.

No camera that lets you see the 35mm framelines is very good for shooting with both eyes open because the magnification needs to be low. The further you get from a 1.0x viewfinder the harder it is to shoot with both eyes open.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

^^^ what he said. The difference in field of view from a "normal" to a wide like a 35mm isn't something that your brain is going to like dealing with.
Since you won't be doing the both eyes open thing and you wear glasses anyway, save your money, keep your Canon and find a 35mm or even 28mm accessory viewfinder. If you get the 28, you can add some frame lines as a bit of a kludge with a silver marker, or something like a highlighter. Get creative.
Phil

 

[WoodallP]

Hello to the team, i use the last 6 months a canon p with a 50mm 1.8. i really love this camera and the fact i can shoot with the both eyes open and focus so easy and see the 50 framelines wearing my glasses. The problem is i am starting to like the 35mm idea a lot and on the canon p i can not see the framelines of the 35mm without moving my eye and my camera around which is very contra productive for street photography and also makes the rangefinder idea not so nice if i cant se outside of my frame. Which camera would you suggest where i can see the 35mm framelines, with both eyes open wearing my glasses ? If i could save the leica money for a car that i am starting to need and not just want it would be a nice plus.

A Canon VI-L (or VI-T) would give you all the feel of the P with a few perks. It has separate 35mm and 50mm modes (plus a 1.5x). I must be honest the 35mm mode is still tricky with glasses and is probably no different to the full VF on the P. The higher mags are nice though.

 

[splitimageview]

Nikon S3 has 1:1 with 35mm frame lines (not sure but it may be the only such camera.) So it fits the eyes open criteria but there is little area outside the frame.

What you want for street is an external vf for the P.

Light Lens Lab SBLOO Silver 35mm Bright Line Viewfinder NEW

The Light Lens Lab 35mm Bright Line Viewfinder is designed after the Leica SBLOO viewfinder for 35mm M Lenses.

www.popflash.com

 

[rfaspen]

Both eye focusing/ framing is the holdup here. Otherwise there are cameras out there that can offer view of 35 frame lines even with glasses
Bessa R4A for sure. I seem to remember the Zeiss Ikon ZM had a nice large viewfinder.....and I'm sure there are others.
The suggestion of an external VF is a good one. I have several. I last used one on my MDa (28mm lens/VF) and it was great.

 

[38Deardorff]

^^^ what he said. The difference in field of view from a "normal" to a wide like a 35mm isn't something that your brain is going to like dealing with.
Since you won't be doing the both eyes open thing and you wear glasses anyway, save your money, keep your Canon and find a 35mm or even 28mm accessory viewfinder. If you get the 28, you can add some frame lines as a bit of a kludge with a silver marker, or something like a highlighter. Get creative.
Phil

Even with a Leica M, the accessory finder is a boon for street shooting. ISO 400 film, & zone focusing make it a great point & shoot.
As for what the brain likes.... for those of us who more often use 35mm....a 50 "isn't something your brain is going to like dealing with."

 

[Godfrey]

A Leica M with a 0.58 viewfinder is the best camera for the 35mm framelines.

No camera that lets you see the 35mm framelines is very good for shooting with both eyes open because the magnification needs to be low. The further you get from a 1.0x viewfinder the harder it is to shoot with both eyes open.

I prefer the 0.72x magnification finder over the 0.58x magnification: it maximizes what the viewfinder displays with my glasses on and keeps it within the range that I can open both eyes and coalesce the images cleanly, and keeps the rangefinder patch a reasonable size. I can't see the framelines for a 28mm lens on this magnification without moving my head and eye around, so I use an external finder for that. The 0.85x finder on my M6TTL shows 35mm frame lines, but they become like the 28mm framelines on the 0.72x finder ... a little difficult to see to the point that I often fit an accessory finder.

For me, the 0.58x finder is really best for use with 28 and 24mm lenses. The RF patch is a little too small for critical focusing with 75 to 135mm lenses, for my eyes.

It must also be said: I consider all RF/viewfinder cameras' framing accuracy to be approximate. EVF and SLR cameras with 100% coverage viewfinders are FAR more accurate in terms of framing.

G

 

[Formerly presspass]

The .58 Leicas work well for 35mm lenses. Since they do not accommodate 135s due to the short rangefinder base, there are no 135 frame lines, leaving the 35 as the only frame lines visible. That said, the Zeiss Ikon ZI has a wonderful finder - better than any of my Leicas except the M3 and better that the Voightlander R2 or R4. You can always use an auxiliary finder - Voightlander, Leica, and Zeiss have all made them and they work well. With zone focusing, a film or digital rangefinder is quicker than autofocus.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I used M4-2 without cluttering 28/75. Mostly with 35. On streets.
Goggled for 50mm 35 lens was also very helpful on streets.

Proof is here: Pictures of Canada taken by Canadian Leica.

 

[Bill Blackwell]

A Leica M with a 0.58 viewfinder is the best camera for the 35mm framelines. ...

+1.
You'd most likely be looking for an M6TTL with a .58 finder, but it'll be hard to find. Shooting with any M camera with a .72 finder (M2, M4, M4-2, M4-P, M6, M6TTL, M7, MP, MA) you will not be able to see the 35mm framelines 100%. I wear glasses and have to look around in the finder when shooting a 35mm lens. You get used to it. There is also the 35mm finder option.

 

[bwcolor]

Voigtlander Bessa R4A/R4M aren’t sexy but great for wide angle in the viewfinder..to include 21mm. The Zeiss Ikon ZM has the best 35mm viewfinder and is easier to see 35mm frame lines while wearing glasses vs .72 Leica M. 0.58 Leica M is perfect for 35mm, but there aren’t a lot of them out there. Those are the three that I have..and will soon be selling to fund other cameras.

 

[Jamie Pillers]

One more vote for the Zeiss Ikon ZM.

 

[38Deardorff]

" If i could save the leica money for a car that i am starting to need and not just want it would be a nice plus."

....an auxilliary finder will do that for you & it's a small price to pay to find out if like others....you become an aficionado.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Even with a Leica M, the accessory finder is a boon for street shooting. ISO 400 film, & zone focusing make it a great point & shoot.
As for what the brain likes.... for those of us who more often use 35mm....a 50 "isn't something your brain is going to like dealing with."

Do you compose with both eyes open using a low magnification finder with a 35mm field of view?
Phil

 

[38Deardorff]

Do you compose with both eyes open using a low magnification finder with a 35mm field of view?
Phil

I'm a left eye shooter.... so in fact using the centrally located accessory finder lets me have both eyes on the scene
Also I've used M2 & M4 for so long the 0.72 is fixed in my mind. I also always used the 28 aux finder when i worked with the M6 & MP .....easier for me to frame instead of peering around the edges.

 

[Godfrey]

+1.
You'd most likely be looking for an M6TTL with a .58 finder, but it'll be hard to find. Shooting with any M camera with a .72 finder (M2, M4, M4-2, M4-P, M6, M6TTL, M7, MP, MA) you will not be able to see the 35mm framelines 100%. I wear glasses and have to look around in the finder when shooting a 35mm lens. You get used to it. There is also the 35mm finder option.

Must be a matter of your vision/glasses, the shape of your nose, etc etc.
Wearing my glasses, I can see the whole field with 35mm framelines and 0.72x finder; without glasses, I can see the whole 28mm frame lines (but it is too blurry).

I'm a right eye viewer. A curious detail is that, with a 0.72x viewfinder and 35mm framelines displayed, if I open both eyes and look through the viewfinder with my left eye, it is far easier to see the framelines. Funny stuff...

G

 

[Rayt]

I did like using a 35mm with an .85x M6TTL I bought to properly focus a Noctilux. When I traveled with two cameras and instead of reloading the .72x body I would switch lenses to finish off the .85x camera. I discovered I preferred the higher magnification. I don’t wear glasses so could see the framelines just barely. That was the reason why I sold the .58x MP now with great regret because it was only good for an 28mm when I needed an external finder anyway for my preferred 24mm. Selling any Leica is a mistake because now I prefer the 28mm over a 35mm and a .58x MP is seemingly unobtainable.

 

[Pioneer]

Myy Zeiss Ikon ZM works great for 35mm but I shoot with my 28mm far more often than I use the 35 because that viewfinder is a perfect fit for that lens.

 

[Gzisis89]

Thank you all for your beautiful answers. I went to a the leica store near me and tried the 0.72 viewfinder and it was definitely better than the 1.0 of the canon p but i think the 0.58 would be the best option for me. Sadly they didnt have any camera with that magnification to try. That made me think of the hexar af. Thats a total different camera of course but i read it has 0.58 magnification. Has anyone used it ? How is the experience of it ?