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viewfinders for 21mm and 24mm


kengai

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Some get away without an accessory VF and just compose using the whole VF view.  I will do it if I have to but personally prefer an accessory VF.

 

You have two options:

1. Leica, Zeiss, or Voigtlander accessory optical viewfinders (OVF). They only help you with framing. I really like the Leica OVFs and I think they are more accurate for framing WA lenses, but there has been heated discussion here over the relative pros and cons of the various brands (just do a quick search).  You need to focus through the camera's own internal OVF and frame through the accessory OVF that slots into the camera's hotshoe.

 

2. As you have an M240 the Leica or Olympus (cheaper)  VF-2 electronic viewfinder (EVF) is the other option.  It is accurate for framing as you see the image off the sensor, and it gives a range of extra information such as focusing, exposure, histogram, horizon, etc. The resolution is adequate at best and is is slow and laggy, especially when it blacks out for a second or so after taking an exposure, and another source of power drain on the battery.  Apart from my usual M lenses, I took my 24-90 Vario-Elmarit-R with EVF on the M240 and it performed remarkably well. However this was slower more deliberate landscape photography where the speed of the EVF was not an issue.

 

I use accessory EVF or OVF, or both depending on what I'm doing or my mood.  The EVF is now certainly the cheaper and more accurate option but those big bright optical VF's are a delight to use.

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My 24mm Elmarit ASPH is perfectly good on an M through its OVF. When you print 16 x 24, there is still some cropping even if you tolerate the corner fall off from the lens, so the optical framing loss never bothered me.

 

For my 21mm Elmarit ASPH, I really recommend the SL as a viewfinder. Not only do you get good framing, but focus point can be selected. The add-on VF for M don't allow you to do that.

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I started a similar thread on the topic last year when I was shopping for a 21mm lens to be used on an M9M. After trying them, none are precision devices and considering that future M iterations are likely to offer state-of-the-art EVFs (for a change), these relics of a bygone age will not hold their values. The Leica versions are really expensive but nice and more accurate. But for the money, a new CV or used Zeiss is the better buy. The Zeiss is wonderfully bright while the tiny, round CV cool looking (if that matters).

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I've used the Voigtlander 21 f4 on my M9 for several years, and have been very pleased with it. I hadn't used a 21 enough to justify Leica prices, and doubt if I would notice much difference for my uses. However, using the accessory finder is rather clumsy compared to an SLR.

After getting a Sony A7 I've taken to using it for my old ultra-wide SLR lenses (such as Leica R 24 and Pentax-M 20 f4). I still prefer a Leica M for 35 - 90, but not ultrawide or long lenses.

Of course the Leica SL would also be a great option, but not for my retirement budget.

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I started a similar thread on the topic last year when I was shopping for a 21mm lens to be used on an M9M. After trying them, none are precision devices and considering that future M iterations are likely to offer state-of-the-art EVFs (for a change), these relics of a bygone age will not hold their values. The Leica versions are really expensive but nice and more accurate. But for the money, a new CV or used Zeiss is the better buy. The Zeiss is wonderfully bright while the tiny, round CV cool looking (if that matters).

 

what is the CV? Thank you.

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Are you intending to use 21 and 24?  If so then Leica made a 21-24-28 zoom finder that's not much larger than a single one, and accepts corrective diopters.  But since you specified M-P 240 as your camera, I would suggest finding the Olympus version of the Leica EVF.  The framing is a lot more accurate than any optical accessory finder, it works with any focal length, and there's nothing stopping you from using it just like an accessory finder, that is, for composition after focusing with the rangefinder. 

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I am a huge fan of the round CV 21/25 cheap bright and IMO much better than the latest Leica, I spent some time comparing and apart from the latest Leica being a little better at keeping the white frame visible at all angles and lights it's worse for flare and not as clear or bright as the CV, this covers 21 and 24 really well

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When I bought the 24 Elmarit-M I added the Leica 24mm metal finder.  It is an elegant finder, but very pricey compared to the alternatives and the etched framelines would wash out in some lighting conditions. When I got the 21 Elmarit-M I picked up a used "Frankenfinder" for much less than I paid for the 24mm Leica finder.

 

The much maligned "Frankenfinder" is a marvel.  It provides 16, 18, 21, 24 and 28 framelines which are (manually) parallax corrected for focus distance.  Moreover the framelines are not etched, but illuminated by a window (like those of the Ms prior to the current generation) making the framelines less subject to washing out. 

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Are you intending to use 21 and 24?  If so then Leica made a 21-24-28 zoom finder that's not much larger than a single one, and accepts corrective diopters.  But since you specified M-P 240 as your camera, I would suggest finding the Olympus version of the Leica EVF.  The framing is a lot more accurate than any optical accessory finder, it works with any focal length, and there's nothing stopping you from using it just like an accessory finder, that is, for composition after focusing with the rangefinder. 

 

 

If it has not been improved,  it is the worst Leica product I ever bought.  No BL , no way to center your eye which you must do to use the edges accurately.  I use mine for a paperweight.

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When I bought the 24 Elmarit-M I added the Leica 24mm metal finder.  It is an elegant finder, but very pricey compared to the alternatives and the etched framelines would wash out in some lighting conditions. When I got the 21 Elmarit-M I picked up a used "Frankenfinder" for much less than I paid for the 24mm Leica finder.

 

The much maligned "Frankenfinder" is a marvel.  It provides 16, 18, 21, 24 and 28 framelines which are (manually) parallax corrected for focus distance.  Moreover the framelines are not etched, but illuminated by a window (like those of the Ms prior to the current generation) making the framelines less subject to washing out. 

 

What is the Frankenfinder?

Regards.

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If it has not been improved,  it is the worst Leica product I ever bought.  No BL , no way to center your eye which you must do to use the edges accurately.  I use mine for a paperweight.

You are quite right in you assessment. Actually you missed out on the variable build quality- the foot tends to work loose. Still, it is surprisingly nice to use.

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I have the 21-24-28 VF and it is not very good, sharp only at one focal length. The Frankenfinder is much better, but it is huge. I have a Voigtlander Zoom finder that is good but it has 25mm rather than 24mm. While they are expensive an individual finder seems to be the best option. If you can, look at Zeiss and Voigtlander models as well as the Leica ones before purchase. You may get the same quality for less money.

 

William

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