availability of Brightline viewfinder

[hmisbell]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I purchased my X1 on 26 Febr and at the same time ordered a BrightLine Viewfinder. Since I am very strongly far sighted I must use reading glasses. As a result the LCD on the back of the camera is not of much use if I am also trying to keep the scene visible. Does anybody have any idea when the viewfinder is likely to be available?

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[jsrockit]

Stock is slowly trickling in at some stores in the US. Dale received some a week or so ago and shipped them as pre-orders. I'm still waiting for someone to get them as well.

[el.nino]

do yourself a favor and get the voigtländer one. not only that it is much cheaper, it is way (!!!!!!) better.

a friend of mine got the x1 finder and it's a pity that there is the leica emblem on the top.

as english is not my native language it is not easy to describe but this post kind of describes it best: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/1257695-post30.html

[stephen.w]

do yourself a favor and get the voigtländer one. not only that it is much cheaper, it is way (!!!!!!) better.

a friend of mine got the x1 finder and it's a pity that there is the leica emblem on the top.

as english is not my native language it is not easy to describe but this post kind of describes it best: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/1257695-post30.html

 

+1

[Hythe]

wwww

I purchased my X1 on 26 Febr and at the same time ordered a BrightLine Viewfinder. Since I am very strongly far sighted I must use reading glasses. As a result the LCD on the back of the camera is not of much use if I am also trying to keep the scene visible. Does anybody have any idea when the viewfinder is likely to be available?

 

Leica Mayfair (London) told me today that the VF (and the other X1 accessories) might arrive next month. However, they said that my complimentary leather case (worth £160) is now in store.

[jsrockit]

Shouldn't a VF be relatively easy to have made and delivered? I wonder why there is so much of a delay with a VF...

[eduardoho]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

The use of VF would had lost its relevancy if the X1 LED screen was brighter and more contrasty, notwithstanding exceptions to eyesight issues. I have read elsewhere the practice of applying protective films to the screen which in turn adds opacity and loss of light transmission on an already not too stellar LED screen. So I get the gist for the preference of VF usage. Nevertheless, I was just wondering if the X1 had a sophisticated screen such as the one in the recently introduced iPod killer by MS, the ZuneHD, a phenomenal organic LED (OLED) screen, with a super thin, super bright, high contrast, shatterproof, scratch resistant sapphire crystal of high optical quality, low energy consumption, photochromic sensitive and with accelerometer (ZuneHD retail for about USD130)...super bright display under sunlight and dim at night...a dream for us the poor Leicaphiles to desire to see in the back of next generation of X1's....and dump the VF.

[eduardoho]

do yourself a favor and get the voigtländer one. not only that it is much cheaper, it is way (!!!!!!) better.

a friend of mine got the x1 finder and it's a pity that there is the leica emblem on the top.

as english is not my native language it is not easy to describe but this post kind of describes it best: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/1257695-post30.html

I read your commentaries which is intriguing and I do recognize your initial frustrations, but my take on this is just the opposite.

 

The narrow vision of the reticule of the VF was selected purposely to give a well defined optical area equivalent as that displayed by the LED screen, even though it is rated @ 35mm you really don't know where precisely it is aiming at. An analogy will be a rifle scope or theodolite, you put the hair cross on the target (I hope it is not a human head) or the stadia markings of the rodman. You then have established an optical alignment of the target with the gun barrel or the theodolite line of vision. When viewing the rifle scope or theodolite you have to carefully position your pupil in such away with respect to the reticule otherwise you don't see anything, all you see is black darkness. So, it is my believe that when the geeks at Leica's skunkworks (my affectionate term for: engineers=geeks & skunkworks=R&D Leica factory) designed the VF they had this in mind. By forcing you to view an optically defined area that it is equivalent of putting the focusing rectangle (1 point focus) on the subject matter you are trying to shoot, ie, you effectively aim the barrel of the lens optically into the target area. The intention is to force you to aim using the camera, force you to move the lens barrel up & down, side to side, rather your pupils which is done instinctively within the VF in such a way you have now gotten a clear un-blurred vision and bingo you got a perfect optically aligned subject matter, press the shutter half way down to lock your settings and then make final adjustment in the composition. No etched marking are provided as not to distract one from artistic composition.

 

So next time you use your VF, make believe it is the scope of a rifle, and the lens barrel is the gun barrel...aim at the subject matter by moving the camera body, up and down, side to side not your pupil...once you are comfortable, press your shutter half way to lock your settings, make final adjustment in the composition and now you got an optical equivalency of the green focusing rectangle in the LED display. The VF is not a viewing device but rather an aiming device, its function is to aim the lens barrel.

 

I am familiar with theodolites and rifle scopes, with their calibration and alignment protocols, and the concept of VF is awfully similar. Anyone buy my explanation? Too far fetched out?...Any comments out there? Please?

 

(BTW: Leica does not make any rifle scopes, nor binocular for hunting purposes; their ultravid/geovid/duovid family of binoculars, which second to none in the industry, are classified as Sports Optics.They shun away from all activities that are harmful to any living creature in this world)

[lct]

...aim at the subject matter by moving the camera body, up and down, side to side not your pupil...

Never been bothered that much with a wide VF so far. I'm using currently a 32mm CV finder which lets me put my eye where i want. Not sure if the CV 35 or 28-35 work the same though.

[jaapv]

 

(BTW: Leica does not make any rifle scopes, nor binocular for hunting purposes; their ultravid/geovid/duovid family of binoculars, which second to none in the industry, are classified as Sports Optics.They shun away from all activities that are harmful to any living creature in this world)

 

Errr...:

 

http://en.leica-camera.com/sport_optics/rifle_scopes/

[jsrockit]

The narrow vision of the reticule of the VF was selected purposely to give a well defined optical area equivalent as that displayed by the LED screen, even though it is rated @ 35mm you really don't know where precisely it is aiming at.

 

I am hoping that the Leica branded VF for the X1 is the most accurate, that is why I am waiting for it. However, I'm skeptical since it is still so far away from the lens.

[eduardoho]

Errr...:

 

Leica Camera AG - Rifle Scopes

they do??? reaaaally?...awesome...Sorry...You stand correct, I haven't seen one in my neck of neighborhood yet.

[eduardoho]

I am hoping that the Leica branded VF for the X1 is the most accurate, that is why I am waiting for it. However, I'm skeptical since it is still so far away from the lens.

Yes, it appears to me the one that will give the most accurate optical alignment with the lens axis, i.e. the Leica VF. The vertical alignment is not relevant, the hot shoe where you mount the VF is located coaxially with the lens barrel as far I can determine.

[jsrockit]

I would imagine the vertical alignment comes into play the closer you get to your subject no?

[el.nino]

I read your commentaries which is intriguing and I do recognize your initial frustrations, but my take on this is just the opposite.

 

The narrow vision of the reticule of the VF was selected purposely to give a well defined optical area equivalent as that displayed by the LED screen, even though it is rated @ 35mm you really don't know where precisely it is aiming at. An analogy will be a rifle scope or theodolite, you put the hair cross on the target (I hope it is not a human head) or the stadia markings of the rodman. You then have established an optical alignment of the target with the gun barrel or the theodolite line of vision. When viewing the rifle scope or theodolite you have to carefully position your pupil in such away with respect to the reticule otherwise you don't see anything, all you see is black darkness. So, it is my believe that when the geeks at Leica's skunkworks (my affectionate term for: engineers=geeks & skunkworks=R&D Leica factory) designed the VF they had this in mind. By forcing you to view an optically defined area that it is equivalent of putting the focusing rectangle (1 point focus) on the subject matter you are trying to shoot, ie, you effectively aim the barrel of the lens optically into the target area. The intention is to force you to aim using the camera, force you to move the lens barrel up & down, side to side, rather your pupils which is done instinctively within the VF in such a way you have now gotten a clear un-blurred vision and bingo you got a perfect optically aligned subject matter, press the shutter half way down to lock your settings and then make final adjustment in the composition. No etched marking are provided as not to distract one from artistic composition.

 

So next time you use your VF, make believe it is the scope of a rifle, and the lens barrel is the gun barrel...aim at the subject matter by moving the camera body, up and down, side to side not your pupil...once you are comfortable, press your shutter half way to lock your settings, make final adjustment in the composition and now you got an optical equivalency of the green focusing rectangle in the LED display. The VF is not a viewing device but rather an aiming device, its function is to aim the lens barrel.

 

I am familiar with theodolites and rifle scopes, with their calibration and alignment protocols, and the concept of VF is awfully similar. Anyone buy my explanation? Too far fetched out?...Any comments out there? Please?

 

(BTW: Leica does not make any rifle scopes, nor binocular for hunting purposes; their ultravid/geovid/duovid family of binoculars, which second to none in the industry, are classified as Sports Optics.They shun away from all activities that are harmful to any living creature in this world)

 

sorry, but this does not make sense in my eyes.

the point of view / crop does not change while moving your eye/pupille around the finder.

[jsrockit]

sorry, but this does not make sense in my eyes.

the point of view / crop does not change while moving your eye/pupille around the finder.

 

I think what he is saying is that if you move your eye socket's placement on the viewfinder, it changes the framing accuracy of the VF. Since the X1's proprietary VF makes you have your eye centered, it'll give you a more accurate framing.

[eduardoho]

I think what he is saying is that if you move your eye socket's placement on the viewfinder, it changes the framing accuracy of the VF. Since the X1's proprietary VF makes you have your eye centered, it'll give you a more accurate framing.

Bravo...bravissimo...Muchas gracias...

[el.nino]

I think what he is saying is that if you move your eye socket's placement on the viewfinder, it changes the framing accuracy of the VF. Since the X1's proprietary VF makes you have your eye centered, it'll give you a more accurate framing.

 

I know what he is saying, but I just tried it out (with a CV 28mm VF) and the framing stays exactly the same - no matter how much I move my eye. of course at some point I can't see parts of the frame lines, but thats another problem.

 

and what about the M built-in viewfinder. no problem to move my eye around as well.

 

I am sorry, but it still does not make sense.

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[eduardoho]

I know what he is saying, but I just tried it out (with a CV 28mm VF) and the framing stays exactly the same - no matter how much I move my eye. of course at some point I can't see parts of the frame lines, but thats another problem.

 

and what about the M built-in viewfinder. no problem to move my eye around as well.

 

I am sorry, but it still does not make sense.

You can only see an image on a rifle scope if your pupil is perfectly aligned with the optic axis. Of course VF is not a rifle scope, but attempt is being made so that your vision is concentrated within a centralized area, which is the best equivalent of the LED screen. Yes, you are correct that you can still look around because in the rife scope reticule field of vision is so narrow that most of consumers will NOT be able to get used to it. So it is a compromise, they want you to aim the lens barrel by moving the camera to focus on a centralized area but it is still user friendly. But the concept is very similar to that utilized in the rifle scope and theodolite.

[jsrockit]

Well, I have ordered the proprietary one. Once it actually ships, I'll see if this all makes sense or not.