Per P. Posted February 16, 2010 Share #1 Posted February 16, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi All, I am slowly adding to my collection of Leica equipment and now a 21mm Elmarit is on its way. For those of you using a 21mm with the M9, how essential would you say it is to use an external viewfinder? Essential, important, nice? Thanks as always, Per. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 16, 2010 Posted February 16, 2010 Hi Per P., Take a look here How essential is an external viewfinder for 21mm?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
sspraetz Posted February 16, 2010 Share #2 Posted February 16, 2010 essential. 21mm is a very nice lens used it a lot on the M8 without external VF and missframed much of the snaps (trying to use the whole M8 vf) M9 starts @ 28mm and you can try to frame 24mm (I wouldnt recommend it) but forget anything below that. perhaps you can try framing with the lcd in a hit & miss fashion but if you try an external vf you will wonder how did you live without one. my 2ct. cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
innerimager Posted February 16, 2010 Share #3 Posted February 16, 2010 I agree you need one. I can see guestimating with a 24mm on the M9 but at 21 I definitely want a finder. You didn't ask, but I highly recommend the Zeiss 21mm finder. It's extremely bright and well etched and has almost no distortion. Strange to say it, but it's a pleasure to look through it. It also serves well as a 24 mm finder with just a little experience, others have said they prefer it to the Zeiss 24-25 finder for accuracy, so it's a 21 and 24 which helps justify the cost! best...Peter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
borowiec Posted February 16, 2010 Share #4 Posted February 16, 2010 I have the Voigtlander 21mm viewfinder, which is relatively inexpensive at around $160, and it works very well, has a very bright image with good contrast. Andrew Borowiec Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
noah_addis Posted February 16, 2010 Share #5 Posted February 16, 2010 Well, it depends on if framing and composition are important to you:D I guess if you're shooting architecture or landscapes on a tripod you may not need a finder, since you can check your composition on the LCD. But if you're shooting any kind of moving subject and care about even remotely accurate framing, you definitely need a finder. I also have the voigtlander finder. It was inexpensive, is light weight and optically it's pretty good. Every time a finder conversation comes up I'm going to say the same thing....PLEASE voigtlander make a metal 21mm finder!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillM82 Posted February 16, 2010 Share #6 Posted February 16, 2010 Before I bought it, I thought I could get by with estimating the framelines. I quickly realised I was wrong and bought a second hand Finder. I am now able to correctly frame the shots and no longer hit and miss. I would recommend a finder. Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Per P. Posted February 16, 2010 Author Share #7 Posted February 16, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thank you all. I get the point Noah, I am especially pleased you responded since I remember your considerations about which viewfinder to choose. I will start with the Voigtlaender and see how it goes. ....and I second your wish for a metal version. But then the question is if you may not just as well buy the Zeiss, since I assume the price would get quite a bit higher. KR Per. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
noah_addis Posted February 16, 2010 Share #8 Posted February 16, 2010 .......and I second your wish for a metal version. But then the question is if you may not just as well buy the Zeiss, since I assume the price would get quite a bit higher. KR Per. I'm not sure if it would be all that much higher...the plastic 21mm finder is $128 in the US and the metal 28mm is $159. Even if a metal 21mm finder did cost a bit more, the price would probably not approach the Zeiss or Leica finders. And I prefer the round design of the metal CV finders to the large and boxy Zeiss version, though I've heard the zeiss finders have first-rate optics. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scalleia Posted February 16, 2010 Share #9 Posted February 16, 2010 Well I'll go against the flow a bit and say that I have never used my Ricoh 21mm finder (a nice finder BTW) with my Zeiss 21mm 2.8. Sure to accurately frame you must and so I guess it depends on the type of shots that you take but I find using the finder a bit of a pain next to just estimating the frame lines and if I am way off then taking another shot. Again this may be fine for some landscapes but not for everything I concede. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveYork Posted February 16, 2010 Share #10 Posted February 16, 2010 One of the more easy lens' coverage to guess, because its' field of view is about 90 degrees -- that's one arm at 12 o'clock and the other at 3. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted February 16, 2010 Share #11 Posted February 16, 2010 An external viewfinder is only essential for the 21mm if you want to see what you are photographing, otherwise its totally useless. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anguish Posted February 17, 2010 Share #12 Posted February 17, 2010 I bought one even before I have received a [my] M9 in anticipation of needing it, seriously, for the 21mm. On the M8, I used an external 2.8 cm viewfinder when I needed to be accurate and could put up with the externality b/c guessing in the M8 viewfinder is a little bit tricky. On the M9, without a finder, you clearly would be at the mercy of the elements, so to speak. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott kirkpatrick Posted February 17, 2010 Share #13 Posted February 17, 2010 Essential. I've used the Voightlander 28 metal finder for 21s on the M8 and like it very much. Don't find the CV21 finder as nice. It is more bulky than either the Zeiss or the new Leica low profile 21 finder, which are about equally expensive. I use the new Leica finder since it works with a 21 on both M9 and M8, is very compact but still gives a big view, and is relatively low distortion. scott Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecar Posted February 17, 2010 Share #14 Posted February 17, 2010 Although I'm happy to guesstimate down to 24mm on the M9 and 21mm on the M8, I wouldn't mount a 21mm on the M9 without external finder. I use the CV one - has a reasonable price tag and does the job. Although I agree with Noah: a metal one would be preferable. A side question: is anyone using CV's new 15-35 "zoom finder"? What do you think? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
exile Posted February 18, 2010 Share #15 Posted February 18, 2010 A 21mm viefinder is 100% essential for accurate composition. I have experience with the CV21 finder. It is not particularly bright (like me), has somewhat unclear framelines depending on the subject, and LOTS of distortion. However, CV virtually give them away with the 21/4 skopars. If you can afford it, go for the Zeiss. "simples" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffreyTotaro Posted February 18, 2010 Share #16 Posted February 18, 2010 I wear glasses and I use a viewfinder on the 28 too. You loose the rangefinder benefits if you go without the VF. I can't even 'see' the image with my glasses on for the 28 so I have a VF for the 21 as well. I really like the Zeiss VF. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterIH Posted February 19, 2010 Share #17 Posted February 19, 2010 I have my 21mm Elmarit Asph for 8 years now. Use it on the M3, M6 and M8. Always used an external viewfinder. On the M3 and M6 I use the leica 21mm VF. I worked with the metal 28mm VC viewfinder on the M8 but it scratched my glasses terribly. (It has a sharp ribbed edge). The 21mm plastic VC is OK but when you wear glasses, stay away from the metal one. (One glass in my specs cost me more than double the price of the VC finder). On the M8 I now use the Ricoh VF-1 finder with frame lines for 21 and 28 mm. Although the lines are not particularly clear, the convenience that the VF can stay on the camera for use with both the 21mm Elmarit and the 15 mm VC wins. Cheers, Peter. Flickr: Peter IH's Photostream Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohnri Posted February 19, 2010 Share #18 Posted February 19, 2010 I use an external finder less than half the time with my 21 f/1.4. I occasionally find it useful for more precise framing but I not only don't find it to be essential, I would barely miss it if I never used it at all. Best, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brill64 Posted February 19, 2010 Share #19 Posted February 19, 2010 nice. not (for me) essential. although not 100% accurate, the entire view outside the frame lines given in the viewfinder is just enough for me to get by with a 21 unless i'm super-close in on my subject but then things start to get a bit distorted. those 21 finders are very bright and super-cute though.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mauribix Posted February 19, 2010 Share #20 Posted February 19, 2010 I'd say essential too. Sometimes you have to frame with accuracy, even though the accessory VF itself is not 100% accurate, the internal VF is absolutely way too far from what you will frame with a 21mm lens IMHO. Especially when you don't want to put the subject just in the center of your frame. these two sample are significant of what I mean... Guess which one was framed without the VF (24mm lens). 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/112820-how-essential-is-an-external-viewfinder-for-21mm/?do=findComment&comment=1231431'>More sharing options...
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