Which viewfinder on top 35mm cameras?

+1 Not only good manners, but ability to state a clear question, independent of language ability. BTW, OP is fluent enough in Ennglish to know the word asshole.


That is not an English word*... Perhaps it is an Americanism?


Regards, David


* As any fule kno, which is an English joke...
 
Which one would you recommend? I think i would like to shoot like this but i do wonder about a few things: how do you focus correctly? Can you shoot in rain? Doesnt really seem like it.

Your question is vague, but if you are asking about using shoe mount accessory finders on rangefinder cameras (like the one below), you would only need/want one if the built in finder isn't suitable for the lens you have, or if the camera has no built in finder (Leica I, Voigtlander Bessa T and Bessa L) .
For example the built in finder on the Zorki 4 below is designed for a 50mm lens, so when using a 35mm you need an accessory finder that shows the 35mm FOV. In use, you focus with the built in rangefinder, then compose with the accessory finder.

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Papo, I'm reading this as you are asking about what style of finder to use.



First off, you can get either a finder dedicated to one focal length, or one that has multiple focal lengths.


The dedicated ones are simple, and compact, but need to be changed when you change lenses. They come in cylindrical or bullet style, and an Albada type which can fold up.



The multi-focal ones come in three styles: turret, multi frame, and zoom.



The turret finder is like a bunch of dedicated finders in one package, and you rotate into view the one you need for whatever focal length you are using. They're kind of bulky, with not a very large eyepiece.



The multi-frame is a cross between a turret, and a zoom finder, as it usually has one optic with select-able frames to show the different FOV view for each focal length. Biggest drawback is the image stays the same size, with some models actually reducing the image size shown (by cropping) instead of just projecting frame lines. It's usually just as big as a turret finder.



A zoom finder will actually change the image size as you select your focal length. They are sometimes more compact than the turret or multi-frame finders, but because of their construction were more expensive, and continue to be because not many manufacturers made them. Nikon seems to be the one that most prefer of this type, but Tewe made an almost exact copy that costs less on average.
 
. . . Nikon seems to be the one that most prefer of this type, but Tewe made an almost exact copy that costs less on average.

Which was the copy? I traced the Tewe back to 1952 (BJP Almanac 1953).

They're so similar that I wonder if the Nikon wasn't licensed (or conceivably just ripped off) from Tewe.

To the OP: what camera? What focal length(s)? And what difference does rain make? As someone else said, everything can get wet in the rain. You focus with the RF and then switch to the VF for framing.

Cheers,

R.
 
Which was the copy? I traced the Tewe back to 1952 (BJP Almanac 1953).

They're so similar that I wonder if the Nikon wasn't licensed (or conceivably just ripped off) from Tewe.

To the OP: what camera? What focal length(s)? And what difference does rain make? As someone else said, everything can get wet in the rain. You focus with the RF and then switch to the VF for framing.

Cheers,

R.

Now that you mention it...

I couldn't find what year my Zoomfinder came out, but the book I referenced (by Peter Braczko) shows two different designs, and one of them looks just like the Tewe, Roger. I'll have to dig further (moving things around in here, so everything is either in a box, or a pile).

PF
 
Have you even read what i wrote? Do you reply to everyone like this? Dont be an asshole, its self-explanatory and obvious i am asking other forum users (excluding yourself of course).

I guess it's really not important to try to help clarify this person's questions after all.

G
 
I guess it's really not important to try to help clarify this person's questions after all.

G

Dear Godfrey,

He certainly doesn't seem to want help badly enough to clarify what he's asking for. Maybe he'd be better off in a mind-reading forum.

Cheers,

R.
 
Now that you mention it...

I couldn't find what year my Zoomfinder came out, but the book I referenced (by Peter Braczko) shows two different designs, and one of them looks just like the Tewe, Roger. I'll have to dig further (moving things around in here, so everything is either in a box, or a pile).

PF

Without a moment's disrespect to Nikon, in 1952 I'd back the likelihood of a Japanese copy of a German design against the likelihood of a German copy of a Japanese design.

Cheers,

R.
 
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