Jos Posted February 23, 2009 Share #1 Posted February 23, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have original d-lux4 viewfinder, I am very disappointed. Vertical lines are o.k, horizontal lines are not accurate. D-lux4 viewfinder is defective and it is not suitable for precise work. Attention ! ! ! ! Picture in viewfinder is different from LCD ! ! ! ! ! I checked five viewfinders, all viewfinders are bad ! ! ! ! :mad: but..... with camera I am satisfied ! ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 23, 2009 Posted February 23, 2009 Hi Jos, Take a look here Attention ! ! ! Original D-LUX4 viewfinder - expensive decoration ! ! ! !. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
andybarton Posted February 23, 2009 Share #2 Posted February 23, 2009 At what lens setting were you using the viewfinder? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jos Posted February 23, 2009 Author Share #3 Posted February 23, 2009 24 mm...... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 23, 2009 Share #4 Posted February 23, 2009 And how inaccurate are the horizontal guides? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted February 23, 2009 Share #5 Posted February 23, 2009 Welcome to the forum, Jos. I'm sorry to hear of the problem. You are setting the camera to 3:2 when using the finder, aren't you? To follow on Andy's question, what discrepancy are you getting (finder shows more than camera sees, or finder doesn't include top and bottom of image) and in what magnitude? I've found the Leica viewfinder quite accurate enough, but I may not be using it the way you are. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbo035 Posted February 23, 2009 Share #6 Posted February 23, 2009 Howard asked "You are setting the camera to 3:2 when using the finder, aren't you?" Very glad this point has been brought up; as I shall shortly be getting a viewfinder for my D-Lux 4, but not necessarily the "proper" one which I consider far too expensive, so considering alternatives discussed in other threads, e.g. the Voigtlander V25B - which prevents the flash unit from rising. Also the Viewfinder is conspicuous by its absence in the 95 page Instruction Book that came with the camera. Leica's omission, as well as not telling us to use it with the aspect ratio set to 3:2 seems inexplicable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jos Posted February 23, 2009 Author Share #7 Posted February 23, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I used aspect ratio 3:2, of course.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
m6goesch Posted February 24, 2009 Share #8 Posted February 24, 2009 My D-Lux finder is accurate enough, dunno what your problem is.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted February 24, 2009 Share #9 Posted February 24, 2009 And M6, Jos hasn't responded to Andy's and my question of what kind of inaccuracy he's finding. I think we need more information to be helpful, Jos. Can you post an example or two? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted February 24, 2009 Share #10 Posted February 24, 2009 jimbo-- I hadn't noticed the viewfinder's absence from the manual. Thanks for mentioning that! What's doubly odd is that the D-Lux 4 grip comes with an instruction sheet (!), and the finder doesn't (?). No matter. In my experience they both work fine but leave me one question: The D-Lux 4 finder has an outer frame and an inner one. (Image at http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/77658-bad-news-here-again-3.html#post810442.) From what I can see, the inner frame matches the view of the camera's 24mm focal length, but I can't figure out what the external frame is for. At first I thought the inner frame might be for the M8's crop factor, but then it seems that it actually matches the D-Lux 4's image. Just decoration as Jos suggested? It gives a small view outside the actual image, just like the built-in finder on the M8, and tends to make you keep your eye centered. Is that its purpose? Any insight appreciated. Thanks! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
anderswi Posted February 24, 2009 Share #11 Posted February 24, 2009 jimbo--I hadn't noticed the viewfinder's absence from the manual. Thanks for mentioning that! What's doubly odd is that the D-Lux 4 grip comes with an instruction sheet (!), and the finder doesn't (?). No matter. In my experience they both work fine but leave me one question: The D-Lux 4 finder has an outer frame and an inner one. (Image at http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/77658-bad-news-here-again-3.html#post810442.) From what I can see, the inner frame matches the view of the camera's 24mm focal length, but I can't figure out what the external frame is for. At first I thought the inner frame might be for the M8's crop factor, but then it seems that it actually matches the D-Lux 4's image. Just decoration as Jos suggested? It gives a small view outside the actual image, just like the built-in finder on the M8, and tends to make you keep your eye centered. Is that its purpose? Any insight appreciated. Thanks! The picture speaks for itself! Good luck! Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/77613-attention-original-d-lux4-viewfinder-expensive-decoration/?do=findComment&comment=818895'>More sharing options...
Jos Posted February 24, 2009 Author Share #12 Posted February 24, 2009 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbo035 Posted February 24, 2009 Share #13 Posted February 24, 2009 The best part of £200 for a "allegedly" inaccurate viewfinder ? (I say allegedly in case a Leica spokesperson comes in with their pennyworth). Have been checking the Ricoh GV-1 (down to £80 at Ffordes just now) off-set so likely not to obstruct the D-lux 4 flash, with 21 and 28mm frames. On a LX3 forum, someone's even suggesting the Voigtlander V21B (as opposed to their 25mm framed V25B), at Micah Walter - Photojournalist, Writer and Consultant V21B and V25B currently £134.99 each at Ffordes, btw. NB as already mentioned elsewhere, the Voigtlanders obstruct the flash unit.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 24, 2009 Share #14 Posted February 24, 2009 OK, this might sound like a stupid response, but the viewfinder IS in the hotshoe completely, isn't it? I don't suppose it has an adjustment screw in the top or the bottom by any chance? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jos Posted February 24, 2009 Author Share #15 Posted February 24, 2009 I want to try this viewfinder ( M8 24mm viewfinder) : Leica Camera AG - Photography - NEW: LEICA VIEWFINDER M for 21 & 24 mm lenses BUT ! ! It is VERY EXPENSIVE ! ! (650 EUR) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 24, 2009 Share #16 Posted February 24, 2009 Go to a Leica dealer and ask to try one out. The cost of the M viewfinder must be pretty close to what you paid for the camera, though. Another stupid question. Are you looking through the viewfinder "straight"? If you are looking slightly upwards, the framelines will be too high - as you describe in your scan above. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpattinson Posted February 24, 2009 Share #17 Posted February 24, 2009 Uh - maybe a dumb question - but this isn't just parallax error is it? I mean, you are comparing VF and screen coverage at say 2+ meters distance right? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted February 24, 2009 Share #18 Posted February 24, 2009 Nothing wrong with the viewfinder imo. It is as accurate as a hotshoe-mounted finder can be, which translates as reasonably accurate. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted February 24, 2009 Share #19 Posted February 24, 2009 D-lux4 viewfinder is defective and it is not suitable for precise work. ...this is the bit I am struggling with. I would not expect any hotshoe mounted viewfinder to be 100% accurate. The LCD is WYSIWYG, of course, but the viewfinder is by definition a compromise. You can't have the close-focus correction of the M viewfinder, and guidelines can only ever be just that - guides. I use the SBOOI on mine and have conducted informal "tests" to work out the FOV in comparison. It is "close enough". BUT if I wanted to do something particularly critical I would switch on the LCD - horses for courses. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
m6goesch Posted February 24, 2009 Share #20 Posted February 24, 2009 I just checked my finder again at infinity and i can't believe it.... Seems like Jos is right! I got exactly the same result! O__O Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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