New style metal Voigtlander finders

Austerby

Austerby

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Just received a 21/25 metal finder from Cameraquest, to complement my s/h Zeiss C-Biogon 21/4.5 from Matsuiaystore.

What a lovely item - redolent of a SBOOI in design and build quality.

Why does anyone pay the extortionate prices asked of the Zeiss and Leica finders?
 
i got the new 21/25 also, to use with a ZM21/2.8.
It is even smaller than the oldest leica metal viewfinder SBKOO.
 
I purchased the Ikon/21mmf/4.5/viewfinder kit. Really great view through the Zeiss, but I doubt that this translates into anything meaningful.
 
Austerby said:
Just received a 21/25 metal finder from Cameraquest, to complement my s/h Zeiss C-Biogon 21/4.5 from Matsuiaystore.

What a lovely item - redolent of a SBOOI in design and build quality.

Why does anyone pay the extortionate prices asked of the Zeiss and Leica finders?
Click to expand...

N-o-s-e relief. I also have the CV 21/25. It sits flush with the back of the camera, so my not-inconsiderable proboscis gets smashed when I position my eye in the VF.
 
I got the Zeiss finder with my ZM 21/4.5. Then again, I bought it used as a set (with the hood too) for a couple hundred less then the lens alone sells for new.
 
is the 21/25 metal better than the plastic 25? some people on rff think the dual one is a bit distractiong. i need it just for the 25...
 
the 21/25 is more distracting than the single line, in my experience, having used the leica 21 VF for a short while.
 
When I was looking for a 21mm VF, I looked through Leica's, Zeiss' and Voigtlander's. The Leica and the Voigtlander seemed very similar to me, but the Zeiss.. it's just in another level!! But as I didn't have that much dough to spend on a viewfinder, I went with Voigtlander's.
 
I love the small size of my metal CV 21/25mm finder. The double 21mm and 25mm frame lines don't bother me, and after directly comparing the finder to the Zeiss 21mm finder, I find it just as bright or maybe even a tad brighter. Amazing. The only improvement I would want is to decrease the barrel distortion, but that would no doubt make the optics, and thus the finder, larger.
 
I'm using a plastic Voigtlander 21mm VF with a LTM Voigtlander 15mm on my R-D1 and I'm very happy : quick shoot, perfect frame, close or far from the subject.
I never tried the metal 21/25 VF, but IMO it's too much expensive for (just) a VF… so I don't speak about Leica or Zeiss ones!!!
 
I have the new 12 mm finder and it is a huge improvement over the old "Dollhouse TV" version. The protrusion on the side also protects the front glass. the old big one always falls on the front element and crunches it! Smaller magnification, but worth it. You can leave it on the body and stick it in the shoulderbag, without fear of having being lnocked off. Probably will add the 15 and 21/25 later.
 
Leica finders you pay for a brand name, not worth it IMO.
Zeiss finders on the other hand... look through one and you'll see why the price is justified compared to the cheaper VC ones.
 
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