Making the D2 work for me (was "D3 a photojournalist's camera?)

[bluzdoctor]

As the topic has changed from "Is the Digilux 3 a photojournalist's Camera?" to making the Digilux 2 workable for wide-angle black and white documentary photojournalism (see definition in previous thread), I have moved it here.....

My question was:

Has anyone used an external viewfinder on their D2? The EV seems to me to have a lag in timing. And if you use an external finder, how do you deal with focusing?

I emailed Stephen Gandy and he recommends the 28mm-35mm MiniFinder, as I will be using the D2 at 35mm and wider 95% of the time. I wear eyeglasses, so it would have to be a "high level" finder.

Thanks for all your help and feedback. I really like the images from the D2 so far and the pop-up and tilt flash is very useful for my style of shooting.

I sent for the SanDisk Extreme 2gb card and a Heliopan 69mm UV filter.

[jaapv]

I am not sure an external viewfinder is compatible with the flash - as soon as something is mounted in the hot shoe it blocks the pop-up flash. Try to get used to the EVF. Used in the manual mode with central enlargment it is quite a useful tool.

[audidudi]

Originally Posted by bluzdoctor

I emailed Stephen Gandy and he recommends the 28mm-35mm MiniFinder, as I will be using the D2 at 35mm and wider 95% of the time. I wear eyeglasses, so it would have to be a "high level" finder.

The Voigtlander mini-finders Gandy sells are tempting but alas, they designed for 3:2 format cameras and your D2 is a 4:3 format camera, which means the brightlines will be for the wrong format.

A better choice, IMO, would be the Ricoh GV-1 finder for their GR Digital camera. It was designed around the GRD's 4:3 format and has brightlines for 21 and 28mm ... a bit wider than your preference, but at least the framing will be correct. Perhaps there are other 4:3 format finders available as well?

[wparsonsgisnet]

Joel, I use the Voigtlander 28mm finder, which is inexpensive and bright.

This solves the lag problem for me.

If there is time to focus with the EVF, I then use the finder for composition. If the selected lens length is greater then 28, I estimate.

When focusing movement, I zone focus and use a lens length wider than the desired subject area, and click away using the finder.

[ron110n]

Originally Posted by bluzdoctor

I emailed Stephen Gandy and he recommends the 28mm-35mm MiniFinder.

Hello Joel,
I have a Voightlander 28/35 MiniFinder. You can see it on my avitar mounted on an M3.
I'm sorry but I have to give it an F. It is very bright, clear and with a paralax line and I give an A for that.

The issue it the 35mm frame. On certain angle with the light, I can't see the frame "at all". No issue with the 28mm frame. I need the 35mm frame the most so I bought a Leitz 35mm finder. I only use the 28/35 finder for my 28mm lens since the 35mm frameline is next thing to useless.

Just letting you know...
-Ron

[bluzdoctor]

So, it seems the only option is to use the Ricoh 21mm-28mm 4:3 format finder if I want it to be a correct format. Are there any other 4:3 format finders out there (specifically 35mm equivalent)???