availability of Brightline viewfinder

[eduardoho]

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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

My apologies for my long winded convoluted explanations and my liberal use of technical jargons...my initial post was to answer what was as above stated which is not what Leica VF is intended for. A lots of design consideration went into this VF, and I do understand why they decided on a narrow field of vision.

 

This is an aiming device, quick and dirty ideally suite for someone like Mr. hmisbell who is farsighted, he can very quickly aim the X1 and take shoots of good quality.

 

Imagine yourself as the WWI ace pilot Snoopy, on a Sopwith Camel chasing the Red Baron's dreaded Fokker with an coaxially mounted machine gun. In order to shoot Red Baron's plane you have to maneuver the plane into position, first you can twist your head to scan around to see where the Red Baron is, but you still got to put the Red Baron's Fokker in you machine gun sights by carefully flying your Sopwith Camel in a such a position that the barrel of your machine gun's bullet trajectory hits the red Fokker. That is the concept of the Leica VF. The narrow field of vision defines where the equivalent LED screen image is. Never mind what you can see or not, Leica's engineers have already defined for you by the definition of the field of vision. In the M mechanical camera the viewfinder brings the image to your eye, in digital photography or in the case of X1, the CMOS sensor is the recipient of the captured image, axially mounted behind the Elmarit lens. Don't worry about frames or parallex error, remember the VF is coaxially mounted on top of the lens barrel? This is the concept of the Leica VF as I interpret it, I do not know about other brand of VF's.

[el.nino]

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.

 

This might be true, BUT:

As is wrote, a friend of mine got the X1 and the Leica VF and I am used to a lot of VFs on the Ms. And the one for the X1 was just annoying.

It might be better in theory, but not in everyday use. It kind of hurts the eye if suddenly everything gets fuzzy just because one moved the eye.

[peterv]

There's one available here:

 

CameraNU.nl - Leica - Leica X1 Bright Line finder

[eduardoho]

I agree...I agree ...I agree with you wholeheartedly. I am a rifle shooter, as well as I do extensive surveying that uses theodolite, and one learns to cope with these issues. In other words, I automatically position my pupil directly in line with the reticule. And if I need to either look left or right I move the rifle, i.e. the camera not my pupil which I know the image will get fuzzy. I was trying to dispel the quote you had from another gentleman who said that the Leica VF was shoddily made. This VF is in reality a sighting device and someone like Mr. hmisbell with severe sight issue can benefit greatly with this device.

[wda]

I received my X1 hand-grip and viewfinder today (UK) having ordered the items last October. I am very impressed with the clarity of the Leica 36mm viewfinder and its use in practice. The hand-grip does all that I expected. All in all, I am very pleased with the enhanced combined handling experience.

[eduardoho]

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?

My apologies to Mr. HMISBELL, I have written endless on his thread. I believe that the OEM VF Leica produdt 18707 is in stock at HK retailers and Japanese retailers, X1 was released in Japan and HK months ago. Here in US I have found an off beaten non-Leica eBay retailer (popflash.photo888) that seems to carry a better selection than others, which I suspect are diverted gray market stuff, but who cares. A high volume authorized Leica web retailer is OpticsPlanet.com that also seem to have good selection of accessories. Both retailers list the Leica 18707 but it is mute as to on hands stock.

 

One more thing, Mr. HMISBELL, the OEM Leica VF 36mm product No. 18707 is a valuable asset to overcome your eyesight issues. It took me a while to comprehend what this device was intended for. This is not a viewing device, rather it is a sighting device, very similar to a rifle scope, which will aid you immensely in the aiming the lens barrel to your subject matter quick and dirty. Contrary to what negative and viral comments assessed by others which were baseless and on misconceptions. There is NOTHING shoddy about this well engineered Leica product. It got glasswork of superlative optical quality, low opacity, high transmissibility; chromatic aberration/glare/flare is kept to a minimum, very similar to the best of the rifle scopes. It is cleverly engineered with a reticule narrow field of vision at 36mm which is the optical equivalency of what the built in CMOS sensor is seeing. Align your pupil with axis of the VF to get a clear image, and what you see as the un-blurred image is the optical equivalency of the CMOS sensor captured image. If the area that you are interested is blurred, then move the camera for proper aim not your pupil. Since the VF is cleverly co-axially mounted with the lens barrel parallex error is minimized too.I am glad to read previous post's satisfaction. I have no opinion about generic VF's. Have fun and enjoy it.

[jsrockit]

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I don't think popflash is grey market. They are a legit Leica dealer.

[wda]

Although this thread has focused on availability, it has also generated some discussion on the relative merits of Leica versus non-Leica options. I thought my personal 'hands-on' experience might help some members who have an open mind on the accessories.

 

The new 36mm finder looks very similar to the one I use with my 21mm Elmarit on my M-cameras. If anything, it appears to be somewhat clearer. With my newly arrived viewfinder and hand-grip in place I quickly discovered that the complete package suits me perfectly. In fact I was in for a surprise. Not only did the X1 begin to feel like my M8, albeit a smaller and lighter version; but I discovered that I was using the camera in manual mode remarkably successfully. I hadn't anticipated that finding. The image framing experience was also so much better than reliance on the LCD. Certainly framing accuracy is much improved generally, but specifically when shooting outdoors in bright light. I enclose a Digilux 2 picture of the X1 with fitted hand-grip and Leica 36mm viewfinder.

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[jsrockit]

The image framing experience was also so much better than reliance on the LCD. Certainly framing accuracy is much improved generally...

 

Curious, how is it improved? I find the LCD to be very accurate and always though of external VFs as not as accurate.

[wda]

js, your partial quote of brief assessment missed the essential point. "Outdoors"!

[Infinite]

Although this thread has focused on availability, it has also generated some discussion on the relative merits of Leica versus non-Leica options. I thought my personal 'hands-on' experience might help some members who have an open mind on the accessories.

 

The new 36mm finder looks very similar to the one I use with my 21mm Elmarit on my M-cameras. If anything, it appears to be somewhat clearer.

 

David,

I agree with you that outdoor shooting is a must with a VF. However since I use glasses, I still doubt about my ability of framing accurately when using the VF. I do believe I should first try myself before purchasing.

 

Regards

[jsrockit]

js, your partial quote of brief assessment missed the essential point. "Outdoors"!

 

Ah, where you can't see the LCD. I agree.

[wda]

Although this thread has focused on availability, it has also generated some discussion on the relative merits of Leica versus non-Leica options. I thought my personal 'hands-on' experience might help some members who have an open mind on the accessories.

 

The new 36mm finder looks very similar to the one I use with my 21mm Elmarit on my M-cameras. If anything, it appears to be somewhat clearer.

 

David,

I agree with you that outdoor shooting is a must with a VF. However since I use glasses, I still doubt about my ability of framing accurately when using the VF. I do believe I should first try myself before purchasing.

 

Regards

I wear bifocals and have no problem with seeing the whole image.

[eduardoho]

Although this thread has focused on availability, it has also generated some discussion on the relative merits of Leica versus non-Leica options. I thought my personal 'hands-on' experience might help some members who have an open mind on the accessories.

 

I have used with great success the nonLeica flash unit by Metz, the 28CS2, which is based on bounce light technology an ideal mate for X1.

[jsrockit]

Anyone seen these in stock anywhere in the US right now? Dale Photo isn't delivering and I'm getting impatient. I know it's not their fault, but still... between them and Leica NJ, no one knows anything about approximate delivery time? A bit ridiculous for an accessory.

[jsrockit]

Anyone seen these in stock anywhere in the US right now?

[saddlebow]

Try calling Tibor at Samy's in LA; he had a drawer full of them a couple of weeks ago when I walked in and bought one. 323-938-2420 x1007. Also Adorama has the Voigtlanders in both black and silver [ or at least did ten days ago.] I have both, and really prefer the voigtlander: brighter, looks better on camera imo....

[jsrockit]

Thanks for the tip on Samy's but they didn't have any more. I don't want the Voigtlander one. I'm of the opinion that the X1 VF looks the best on the X1 and I've never purchased a bona-fide Leica VF, so this time I will.

[J-T]

Great thread! I was also considering the finder options for the X1 as the Leica finder which I don't doubt is high quality is not the only choice and well... it seems to cost a lot more than some other good quality alternatives.

 

There are two from Voigtlander I was wondering if anyone had any comments on specifically size. Are they noticably bigger, smaller or about the same and can you see the led focus light?

 

These are the 28/35 (smaller?) and the 35mm round (bigger?). I'd imagine the 35mm round finder would look really nice mounted on the X1 so song as its not that huge!

 

http://www.cameraquest.com/jpg/vcMF1.3g..jpg

http://www.cameraquest.com/jpg/vcMF3.3g..jpg

 

http://www.cameraquest.com/jpg6/VF%2035%20M%20B%201.jpg

http://www.cameraquest.com/jpg6/VF%2035%20M%20S%202.jpg

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[pvak]

I agree with el.nino. The Voigtlander 35mm is not only 1/2 the price of the Leica viewfinder but is better built (all metal) with an excellent eye-relief for eye-glass wearers. It is smaller, comes in black or silver (the silver looks retro-cool and aesthetically nicer than the Leica VF)) and being 35mm instead of 36mm offers more forgiveness in framing.

 

Peter