leica viewfinder 21-28 mm

[Fokalfissur]

I've got an M8 with the voigtländer 15mm which shipped with a 15mm viewfinder. I've marked the lines with a pen what works out well but I don't like the finder on when using my other lens. And taking the finder on and off is tough as it is stuck very firmly. It's almost raping the camera…

As I plan to by a 21mm lens and came across the leica 21-28 viewfinder I wonder if this is the solution. The wheel should make the switching easy.

Any experiences with that finder?
Thanks, Sven.

[jaapv]

It is nice and clear, but the framing is not very exact. I like using it. A common complaint is the shoe working loose, but that should not deter you from buying; A competent repairman can easily and cheaply fix that.

[vanhulsenbeek]

Originally Posted by Fokalfissur

......................
As I plan to by a 21mm lens and came across the leica 21-28 viewfinder I wonder if this is the solution. The wheel should make the switching easy. Any experiences with that finder?
Thanks, Sven.

I have the Leica 21-28 but I prefer the Ricoh 21-28, which also works well:

Look at the bottom of this page: Ricoh GR-Digital Review: 2. Body & Design: Digital Photography Review

It also is (a lot) cheaper!

I have the Leica 21-28 finder, but don't really like it. With my eyeglasses, it is difficult to use, and the framing is not precise. I also have a Zeiss 21mm viewfinder which is much much better in my opinion.

[k_g_wolf]

I tried a RICOH- finder and found, the base is positioned differently from LEICA- finders.
The angle of your view might not be a problem with a w/a-lens, but it covers the speeddial and makes cameracontrol not easier.

In >>A<< mode, it´s perhaps o.k. but for manual operation it is a nuicance. I was planning to use it with an M6 and sold it again ...


Best

[farnz]

Originally Posted by Fokalfissur

I've got an M8 with the voigtländer 15mm which shipped with a 15mm viewfinder. I've marked the lines with a pen what works out well but I don't like the finder on when using my other lens. And taking the finder on and off is tough as it is stuck very firmly. It's almost raping the camera…

Sven,

I use the 15mm CV finder too but I don't it particularly difficult to put on or take off. The early M8 hotshoes were notoriously tight so I suggest lubricating the hotshoe mount and the finder foot by rubbing the contacting parts with the (graphite) lead of a black pencil for a while to see if that makes it easier. The softer the pencil the better and no less than, say, 2B. (Make sure to clean away any graphite dust that's left over because it's carbon and therefore conducts electricity.)

Pete.

[Skippy Sanchez]

Having lost one CV 28mm finder during the scrum of a G.W. Bush event, I now put a strip of gaffer tape across the back of the replacement.

I use the CV 28 finder for the 21 lens, a CV 21 finder for the CV15 lens and the CV15 finder collects dust unless I use the 15 on my MP, or until I get a CV12, which is doubtful.

Every time a finder goes into a hot shoe it gets taped down. I can re-use a little strip of gaffer tape -- which i stick across the top of the finder when not in use -- 8 or 10 times before I need a new strip.

[Fokalfissur]

As nobody has the same problem with too firmly sticking viewfinder I guess it may wear out after more use. Both the camera (M8.2) and the 15mm are new.

With the lens I got two problems: Framing (without finder) and "falling verticals". So I'm thinking of a spirit level, too. If I get a two-shoe adapter the fixing problem moves from the finder to adapter. Are there any alternatives to the "thumps up"?

Originally Posted by vanhulsenbeek

I have the Leica 21-28 but I prefer the Ricoh 21-28, which also works well:

It also is (a lot) cheaper!

I haven't heard of that solution. Will try it in the camera shop.

thanks,
Sven

[gravastar]

I have the 21-24-28 viewfinder and very rarely use it. On an early M8 I had the problem of a very tight shoe - used used a spot of ptfe loaded oil to help with that. The screw down foot clamp will scratch the top of the camera shoe. The two biggest problems I found were inaccurate framing and focus change as you switched the field of view. The framing depended on eye position, you have to get it dead central and the frame edges were not clearly defined. My eyes have limited accommodation and I found the strength of the diopter correction lens needed changed with focal length selected. If your eyes are able to focus from close to far distances easily then you may not notice this problem. I tried several viewfinders in a dealers and all suffered from this to some extent. I now use separate viewfinders or the "Frankenfinder" for the Wide Angle Tri Elmar.

Bob.

[ljclark]

Originally Posted by k_g_wolf

I tried a RICOH- finder and found, the base is positioned differently from LEICA- finders.
The angle of your view might not be a problem with a w/a-lens, but it covers the speeddial and makes camera control not easier.

Even though fairly expensive (it looks a lot like the Cosina/Voigtlander finders -- but there are 5 lens elements) I decided to give the Ricoh 21-28 a try.

No chance for field tests yet, but if the framing in half-way decent, I may pull off the shoe (easy to do), do a little filing, and re-attach the shoe with just 2 of the 4 mounting screws so that the shoe is on the viewfinder centerline.

[positivibes]

I use the 21-28 Leica finder for my CV 15 on my M8 and for my 24 on M6. The framing for the CV ist tight so you get more things on the picture than you see trough the finder.

[jaapv]

I find that is dependent on the way you look for the thing. It is inexact enough to let you move your eye around a bit and get the whole picture.

[malland]

Originally Posted by Fokalfissur

I've got an M8 with the voigtländer 15mm which shipped with a 15mm viewfinder. I've marked the lines with a pen what works out well ...

Hej, Sven:

Do you mean that you marked the lines for a 21mm frame? If so, how did you locate this frame on the finder.

I'm about to get the CV15 for an M8.2 that should arrive tomorrow but don't want to buy a 21mm finder because I have two in Bangkok, but won't get there until May and need a temporary solution. Is it possible to to frame with the outside of the frame of the M8 viewfinder?

—Mitch/Paris
Bangkok Hysteria©: Book Project - a set on Flickr

[Fokalfissur]

Originally Posted by malland

Hej, Sven:

Do you mean that you marked the lines for a 21mm frame? If so, how did you locate this frame on the finder.

I'm about to get the CV15 for an M8.2 that should arrive tomorrow but don't want to buy a 21mm finder because I have two in Bangkok, but won't get there until May and need a temporary solution. Is it possible to to frame with the outside of the frame of the M8 viewfinder?
]

What I've done: Tripod at home. Aim at your taget at your prefered distance (of cause you can mark multiple distances). I have teathered my laptop (apple/apperture) to not move the tripod and have quick results (teathering with aperture let you just shoot the picture, you cannot change any settings, but that is not necessary). Move the tripod until you have some marks exacly in the corners or take a shot of eg. a cupboard and place your own marks. Try until it fits than look through the finder and push a dot on the other side of the finder (towards the object). I took a non-permanent, water soluble marker and I have to repeat this procedure after cleaning the finder or shooting in the rain.

[Philippe D.]

Hi Sven,

Originally Posted by Fokalfissur

As nobody has the same problem with too firmly sticking viewfinder I guess it may wear out after more use.

I had the opposite problem, a too loose finder, always willing to live his own life...
The Leica 21-24-28 finder is no bad, but it is bulky. If you need only one focal length, the Leitz SBKOO/12002 is good, metal body and small. The Zeiss is the best, but quite big and... very expensive.

Are there any alternatives to the "thumps up"?

Yes, have a look here:
http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-...tml#post731852
(and the illustration @ Post #19)

[malland]

Originally Posted by Fokalfissur

What I've done: Tripod at home. Aim at your taget at your prefered distance (of cause you can mark multiple distances). I have teathered my laptop (apple/apperture) to not move the tripod and have quick results (teathering with aperture let you just shoot the picture, you cannot change any settings, but that is not necessary). Move the tripod until you have some marks exacly in the corners or take a shot of eg. a cupboard and place your own marks. Try until it fits than look through the finder and push a dot on the other side of the finder (towards the object). I took a non-permanent, water soluble marker and I have to repeat this procedure after cleaning the finder or shooting in the rain.

Tack så mycket, Sven.

—Mitch/Paris
Bangkok Hysteria©: Book Project - a set on Flickr

[vikasmg]

Originally Posted by Fokalfissur

I've got an M8 with the voigtländer 15mm which shipped with a 15mm viewfinder. I've marked the lines with a pen what works out well but I don't like the finder on when using my other lens. And taking the finder on and off is tough as it is stuck very firmly. It's almost raping the camera…

As I plan to by a 21mm lens and came across the leica 21-28 viewfinder I wonder if this is the solution. The wheel should make the switching easy.

Any experiences with that finder?
Thanks, Sven.

The framing is not very exact but to me it's the best option available. That big black finder that supposedly goes with the WATE lens is a terrible thing :-(

Once you get used to it it isn't nearly as bad as it feels at first :-)

[farnz]

Originally Posted by Fokalfissur

What I've done: Tripod at home. Aim at your taget at your prefered distance (of cause you can mark multiple distances). I have teathered my laptop (apple/apperture) to not move the tripod and have quick results (teathering with aperture let you just shoot the picture, you cannot change any settings, but that is not necessary). Move the tripod until you have some marks exacly in the corners or take a shot of eg. a cupboard and place your own marks. Try until it fits than look through the finder and push a dot on the other side of the finder (towards the object). I took a non-permanent, water soluble marker and I have to repeat this procedure after cleaning the finder or shooting in the rain.

I've done the same but I put a dot in each corner, used 1 mm masking tape (from that online auction site) to partly join the dots and then wiped the dots away.

You need to allow for curvature of the front element so as to get the lines straight through the viewfinder but I did this over a year ago and haven't needed to replace it despite rain and being pulled in and out of its bag.

Pete.

[Fokalfissur]

Originally Posted by Philippe D.

Hi Sven,I had the opposite problem, a too loose finder, always willing to live his own life...
The Leica 21-24-28 finder is no bad, but it is bulky. If you need only one focal length, the Leitz SBKOO/12002 is good, metal body and small. The Zeiss is the best, but quite big and... very expensive.
Yes, have a look here:
http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-...tml#post731852
(and the illustration @ Post #19)

Thanks, but I was looking for alternative two shoe thumps up. I am no really interested in the thumbs-up-part, I just wonder if a spirit level helpful is helpful for shooting with the 15mm. If yes it seems easiest to fit it together with the viewfinder. Right now I take quite a lot of my 15mm shots with the camera on my belly.

[Fokalfissur]

Originally Posted by farnz

I've done the same but I put a dot in each corner, used 1 mm masking tape (from that online auction site) to partly join the dots and then wiped the dots away.

You need to allow for curvature of the front element so as to get the lines straight through the viewfinder but I did this over a year ago and haven't needed to replace it despite rain and being pulled in and out of its bag.

Pete.

Maybe it is an idea to stick a soft platic foil and mark it permanently (these ones that stick electostatically, you find them often on new electronics to protect the display). The finder view won't make a big difference as I already get headaches when I look through it (the voigtländer 15mm finder).