Roger Vadim
Well-known
I have to commit: I love external viewfinders!
The process of focusing with the RF and recomposing using the ext VF does make me a better photographer (I have to admit) - it is as if the technical side is being left at stage 1 (focusing, aperture etc.) and then the magic of the framing can take place. I wonder if some of the FCB shots had to do with that...
I even thought of sticking one on my beloved Nikon SLR's (although one thing which improved my vision is to have a totally uncluttered P screen installed in My F3 - massive difference, no circle in the middle, no splitscreen, 100% VF very bright - great!)
I must say that I don't own a Leica or similar camera with a decent RF - main shooter is a Kiev4 with T* CZ Sonnar, known for its pathetic and dark VF - although the patch works great - and a couple of japanese fixed RF's, Oly SP and RC and Yashica GS, all of them with quite small and cluttered VFs.
How about you, or you leica users out there: do you also like the pure view, having just a frame to compose, and no distraction?
Cheers, Michael
Btw: looking for a Leitz 50mm finder, one of those beautifull SBOII 5cm for a decent price in Europe...
The process of focusing with the RF and recomposing using the ext VF does make me a better photographer (I have to admit) - it is as if the technical side is being left at stage 1 (focusing, aperture etc.) and then the magic of the framing can take place. I wonder if some of the FCB shots had to do with that...
I even thought of sticking one on my beloved Nikon SLR's (although one thing which improved my vision is to have a totally uncluttered P screen installed in My F3 - massive difference, no circle in the middle, no splitscreen, 100% VF very bright - great!)
I must say that I don't own a Leica or similar camera with a decent RF - main shooter is a Kiev4 with T* CZ Sonnar, known for its pathetic and dark VF - although the patch works great - and a couple of japanese fixed RF's, Oly SP and RC and Yashica GS, all of them with quite small and cluttered VFs.
How about you, or you leica users out there: do you also like the pure view, having just a frame to compose, and no distraction?
Cheers, Michael
Btw: looking for a Leitz 50mm finder, one of those beautifull SBOII 5cm for a decent price in Europe...
petronius
Mentor
I started to use a VIOOH on my Zorki 1 some time ago and I love it. On the Kiev I use a Altix finder for 35 and 50mm. I use the rangefinders only for focussing since then.
(I started photographing 30 years ago with a Porst FX3 SLR that had a complete empty screen; dark, but nothing but the picture!)
(I started photographing 30 years ago with a Porst FX3 SLR that had a complete empty screen; dark, but nothing but the picture!)
payasam
a.k.a. Mukul Dube
Petronius, I used a VIOOH on my IIIc, with all the lenses I had. The 50mm view was far better than that of the finder in the body. For my Zorki 1C I had a turret finder made for some Argus model. Same reasoning. With my M3 I used a SBLOO. Now I have an M2, whose finder has frames for all the lenses I own. I can think of no reason to use an accessory finder. A "pure view" is achieved simply by mentally shutting out the R/F patch.
Spider67
Well-known
There is a wonderful external VF the old Voigtländer Kontur! You shoot with both eyes open otherwise you just see a black rfectangle with framelines. It's great on my IIIc ....not that great with my Kiev on short distances. And the VC 21mm VF which is really very bright.
vrgard
Well-known
I, too, like the old Kontur finder. Sorta hard to describe but very easy to use. And particularly useful for us left-eye dominant shooters who normally have the camera blocking our right eye. I find the Kontur works best with my dominant eye looking past the Kontur and my other eye using it to provide the framelines. Here's a link to Cameraquest's finder page which describes and shows the Kontur about half way down the page:
http://www.cameraquest.com/leicafin.htm
peterm1
Mentor
I agree about loving external finders. I dont know why in my case - maybe its just that I enjoy gadgets. In fact I had started a small collection of them - only to stop when I realised how expensive some are.
In some cases even though they may not strictly be required, they also be justified as they provide a better view - eg as with the LTM cameras where the built in finder is pretty rudimentary.
But I also like using them even when I do not need to for any reason - check out my picture.
Luddite Frank
Well-known
My main user camera is a Leica III ( two to six rolls / week ).
I find myself shooting ANYTHING but the "standard" 50mm lens over the last six months or so, most often using a 35mm wide-angle.
So, I need an external finder most of the time.
I have tried the Leitz VIOOH ( Imarect ), but found it "squinty" at longer focal legnths.
I have become very comfortable with the Nikon "Varifocal" and Tewe "Poly-focus" finders, which maintain a constant size image in the VF, functioning like a "zoom" lens on an SLR.
My [minor] complaints about external finders are: the bulk, the additional fiddling (dialing in frame-size, distance adj for parallax, etc), additional time spent focusing / framing....
Oh well....
I would like to try some of the various multi-focal bright-line finders.... have to get myself to one of the "Second Sunday" camera shows in Wayne, NJ, and see if Ican try a couple different types.
Being a serious "GAS-aholic ", I like to have the "appropriate" finder for a given camera, and need to find some external finders for my Contax IIIa andmy Voigtlander Promient I.
But, my "go-to" ext finder is my Nikon "Varifocal" (for the S rangefinders), which I got "by accident" when I was chasing a Chinon Super-Rokkor 135 lens on e-bay. I wasn't paying attention to the finder that was being included... what a pleasant surprise when I opened the package !!!! ( Of course, I then had to go find the appropriate Minolta finder for the lens...
)
I haven't thought about using the external finder instead of the built-in finder when shooting the 50 mm prime-lens.... maybe I'll give it a try.
Regards,
Luddite Frank
I find myself shooting ANYTHING but the "standard" 50mm lens over the last six months or so, most often using a 35mm wide-angle.
So, I need an external finder most of the time.
I have tried the Leitz VIOOH ( Imarect ), but found it "squinty" at longer focal legnths.
I have become very comfortable with the Nikon "Varifocal" and Tewe "Poly-focus" finders, which maintain a constant size image in the VF, functioning like a "zoom" lens on an SLR.
My [minor] complaints about external finders are: the bulk, the additional fiddling (dialing in frame-size, distance adj for parallax, etc), additional time spent focusing / framing....
Oh well....
I would like to try some of the various multi-focal bright-line finders.... have to get myself to one of the "Second Sunday" camera shows in Wayne, NJ, and see if Ican try a couple different types.
Being a serious "GAS-aholic ", I like to have the "appropriate" finder for a given camera, and need to find some external finders for my Contax IIIa andmy Voigtlander Promient I.
But, my "go-to" ext finder is my Nikon "Varifocal" (for the S rangefinders), which I got "by accident" when I was chasing a Chinon Super-Rokkor 135 lens on e-bay. I wasn't paying attention to the finder that was being included... what a pleasant surprise when I opened the package !!!! ( Of course, I then had to go find the appropriate Minolta finder for the lens...
)I haven't thought about using the external finder instead of the built-in finder when shooting the 50 mm prime-lens.... maybe I'll give it a try.
Regards,
Luddite Frank
pvdhaar
Peter
My RF is a Bessa-T, so external finders is the way to go..
I really do prefer fixed focal length finders though, the main reason being one of weight and balance. When I've got the 25/4 or 50/2 mounted with the appropriate finders, the Bessa balances perfectly. But the 35/2.5, I haven't covered yet with a dedicated finder; I'm forced to use a 35-135 zoom finder. It makes the camera so top heavy that it topples over backwards on the strap.. a real drag when you're walking around.
I really do prefer fixed focal length finders though, the main reason being one of weight and balance. When I've got the 25/4 or 50/2 mounted with the appropriate finders, the Bessa balances perfectly. But the 35/2.5, I haven't covered yet with a dedicated finder; I'm forced to use a 35-135 zoom finder. It makes the camera so top heavy that it topples over backwards on the strap.. a real drag when you're walking around.
Jan Van Laethem
Nikkor. What else?
After using Nikon and Canon 35-135mm finders, I have almost completely adopted the single focal length external viewfinders. I have the 21mm VC that came with the Skopar 21mm f/4, a 35mm Voigtlander that I use with the Nikkor 3.5cm f/1.8 and am about to purchase a 10.5cm Nikkor with dedicated 10.5cm viewfinder.
As mentionned in previous posts, the 35-135mm finders are quite bulky and add extra weight. They are great when you change lenses often, but I tend to shoot more with one focal length during a shoot. If I need two different focal lenghts, I actually prefer to use two camera bodies.
I also have the Kontur finder and it is a great concept, although I struggle a bit when light levels are not so bright.
"The process of focusing with the RF and recomposing using the ext VF does make me a better photographer (I have to admit) - it is as if the technical side is being left at stage 1 (focusing, aperture etc.) and then the magic of the framing can take place."
I couldn't have phrased it better myself, this is exactly why I like them so much. I have the 50mm VC finder on my wish list, even if all my rangefinders have viewfinders that cover this focal length.
Thanks for the tip about the P screen for the F3, I should try that as well.
As mentionned in previous posts, the 35-135mm finders are quite bulky and add extra weight. They are great when you change lenses often, but I tend to shoot more with one focal length during a shoot. If I need two different focal lenghts, I actually prefer to use two camera bodies.
I also have the Kontur finder and it is a great concept, although I struggle a bit when light levels are not so bright.
"The process of focusing with the RF and recomposing using the ext VF does make me a better photographer (I have to admit) - it is as if the technical side is being left at stage 1 (focusing, aperture etc.) and then the magic of the framing can take place."
I couldn't have phrased it better myself, this is exactly why I like them so much. I have the 50mm VC finder on my wish list, even if all my rangefinders have viewfinders that cover this focal length.
Thanks for the tip about the P screen for the F3, I should try that as well.
Roger Vadim
Well-known
Wow, my old threat appears again...
I still need a decent 50mm finder - I am using a Russian 35 mm finder with some blackboard glued onto it, very roughly 50mm vision...
Anybody using a wireframe finder on their 35's ? composing would be like Albrecht Durers famous etching:
No need to comment that, eh?
Cheers, keep it coming
I still need a decent 50mm finder - I am using a Russian 35 mm finder with some blackboard glued onto it, very roughly 50mm vision...
Anybody using a wireframe finder on their 35's ? composing would be like Albrecht Durers famous etching:
No need to comment that, eh?
Cheers, keep it coming