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21mm Viewfinder - Leica or Zeiss


Guest willjanurgucken2000

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Hello,

 

After using the Frankenfinder, the "older" Leica 21mm finder (plastic) and the Zeiss 21 finder, i must say that the Clearest and "largest image" of the three is the Zeiss.

 

The universal wideangle finder, comes second with a nice rubber eyepiece which works well against glasses.

 

Hope this was helpful.

 

best,

Are

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I love the crystal clear bright view with the Zeiss VF which I use for the 21mm Lux. It seems to amplify any available lightThe recessed eyepiece also doesn't get as dirty. And it's much cheaper

 

But I wonder whether its FOV is not as well aligned as the Leica VF. I've sometimes felt that the alignment of my images despite taking care withe the FOV of the 21mm Zeiss VF was not right. Perhaps someone could clarify this.

 

Mark

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I love the crystal clear bright view with the Zeiss VF which I use for the 21mm Lux. It seems to amplify any available lightThe recessed eyepiece also doesn't get as dirty. And it's much cheaper

 

But I wonder whether its FOV is not as well aligned as the Leica VF. I've sometimes felt that the alignment of my images despite taking care withe the FOV of the 21mm Zeiss VF was not right. Perhaps someone could clarify this.

 

Mark

[serious alert]

If you have a film M remove back door (it should unclip) and pressure sensitive tape grease proof paper to film gate, attach baseplate mount camera on tripod or clamp and compare greaseproof image with finder image.

[/serious alert]

They must have thought your finder was a CV finder.

 

Noel

Edited by Xmas
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The Zeiss 21mm VF is absolutely terrific. Unlike the Leica, it is full metal construction. It is also quite a bit brighter than the M9's VF. I owned the new metal CV 15mm VF, which was nice. It didn't increase available light, however.

Rich

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"But I wonder whether its FOV is not as well aligned as the Leica VF. I've sometimes felt that the alignment of my images despite taking care withe the FOV of the 21mm Zeiss VF was not right. Perhaps someone could clarify this."

 

I've tried to explain the problem on another Forum but the 'experts' wouldn't listen.

1. The Leica M hot shoe is not aligned with the center-line of the lens mount.

2. Leica M 21mm finders are off set to account for that fact.

3. Zeiss finders are not offset.

4.When a Zeiss finder is used on a Leica M with 21mm lens, a slight rotation about the vertical axis is introduced and can be readily noticeable in many cases.

5.My 21mm Leica f2.8 ASPH came with a Leitz marked plastic 21mm finder with locking lever.

6.The plastic finder just did not look very sturdy and I purchased the Zeiss 21mm metal finder, a work of art. My first use of the Zeiss finder yielded photographs that while not of architectural straight lines, still looked awkward. Continued use led me to look at the finders and find the offset of the Leitz finder and the fact that the M shoe was not inline with the lens center-line.

6. I subsequently found a large object with the proportions of the 35mm frame, my 2 car garage door. Shots were taken with the 21mm lens with each finder and when the slides returned it was quite evident that a rotation was taking place with the use of the Zeiss finder.

7 Back to using the Leitz finder which surprisingly is still intact. I won't purchase the new Leica 21mm finder until they do away with the frame lines for the M8.

8. The Zeiss finder is for sale if anyone wants it.-Dick

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I've used only the Leica. I can see the frame lines easily with glasses.

 

The nice thing about the Leica 21mm for glasses wearers is that they have a second set of framelines for M8 users, which you can use with a film camera or M9 as 28mm frame lines (which are hard to see with glasses in the m9 finder).

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...........which one should I get...........

Leica or Leitz finders are very good, there is no such thing as 'the best' finder. 'Zeiss is the brightest', is that important? No, because you have to focus through the cameras finder

and the auxiliary finder is only for composing. The Leica or Leitz finders have an offset to be more 'in line' with the lens, important for better composing. Finally the Zeiis finders are

(in my opinion) very ugly on the elegant Leica cameras.

------------

FrankR

Edited by freusen
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[serious alert]

If you have a film M remove back door (it should unclip) and pressure sensitive tape grease proof paper to film gate, attach baseplate mount camera on tripod or clamp and compare greaseproof image with finder image.

[/serious alert]

They must have thought your finder was a CV finder.

 

Noel

 

No, I have an M9. But thanks for the advice

 

.

 

Mark

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"But I wonder whether its FOV is not as well aligned as the Leica VF. I've sometimes felt that the alignment of my images despite taking care withe the FOV of the 21mm Zeiss VF was not right. Perhaps someone could clarify this."

 

I've tried to explain the problem on another Forum but the 'experts' wouldn't listen.

1. The Leica M hot shoe is not aligned with the center-line of the lens mount.

2. Leica M 21mm finders are off set to account for that fact.

3. Zeiss finders are not offset.

4.When a Zeiss finder is used on a Leica M with 21mm lens, a slight rotation about the vertical axis is introduced and can be readily noticeable in many cases.

5.My 21mm Leica f2.8 ASPH came with a Leitz marked plastic 21mm finder with locking lever.

6.The plastic finder just did not look very sturdy and I purchased the Zeiss 21mm metal finder, a work of art. My first use of the Zeiss finder yielded photographs that while not of architectural straight lines, still looked awkward. Continued use led me to look at the finders and find the offset of the Leitz finder and the fact that the M shoe was not inline with the lens center-line.

6. I subsequently found a large object with the proportions of the 35mm frame, my 2 car garage door. Shots were taken with the 21mm lens with each finder and when the slides returned it was quite evident that a rotation was taking place with the use of the Zeiss finder.

7 Back to using the Leitz finder which surprisingly is still intact. I won't purchase the new Leica 21mm finder until they do away with the frame lines for the M8.

8. The Zeiss finder is for sale if anyone wants it.-Dick

 

Thanks for your comment.

 

I think you're absolutely right about the rotational error, and it certainly would explain the significant compositional problems that occurred despite what I thought what was meticulous framing. These are NOT readily fixed later in LR .

 

I'll see if I can test a 21mm Leica VF from my dealer. If the error is corrected I will replace the Zeiss VF and fully recant my previous positive comment about the Zeiss. Accurate framing (even within the limitations of the M rangefinder) is more important than a bright finder!

 

Mark

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Hi,

 

Entertaining discussion. I am looking for a new 21mm finder too, since my CV 21 finder dropped off a Minolta CLE to disappear underneath the feet of the crowd I was photographing — of course, I had noticed the loss only after 50 meters of moving on while using the second body. However, some attention and a small piece of gaffer tape would have prevented this just like a locking lever. CV finders are great value, and they have the offset foot to centre more or less above the lens.

 

The view through an older Leica finder was not very impressive. The Zeiss I tried sure gave an amazing view, but was about as huge as a widescreen telly, to my taste at least. It also sat on a quite high foot — presumably to go with the Ikon SW body (no rangefinder, lower body built and easier intrusion of the lens into the field of view). Let alone that you may loose the bucks worth three CV finders when you are actually using it and forget the gaffer tape.

 

Cheers,

 

Alexander

Edited by xalo
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Guest Linsengericht

I've tried to explain the problem on another Forum but the 'experts' wouldn't listen.

1. The Leica M hot shoe is not aligned with the center-line of the lens mount.

2. Leica M 21mm finders are off set to account for that fact.

3. Zeiss finders are not offset.

 

Really? The placement of the Leica 21mm finder is the same as the Zeiss:

 

http://de.leica-camera.com/assets/media/img14078.jpg

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Zeiss VF is the best available, in my opinion. It's got a brilliant display, very clear around the frame, no visible distortion and perfectly machined. I found the Leica version very disappointing in comparison. BTW - I don't get the comment about it not sitting in the right place. I look through the VF and what I see is what I get, no question .... and the fit in the shoe is very good, verging on almost too tight. Best VF I've seen on a 35mm system.

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