Muizen Posted February 22, 2011 Share #1 Posted February 22, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Can one use the Tri-Elmar 16-18-21mm without the large bulky viewfinder that has been developed for use with this lens? Carrying a separate viewfinder this big is not what I would like, which is the reason for my question. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 22, 2011 Posted February 22, 2011 Hi Muizen, Take a look here Tri-Elmar 16-18-21mm without viewfinder. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
swamiji Posted February 22, 2011 Share #2 Posted February 22, 2011 Yes, you can, but the frankenfinder helps decrease distortion, as it has a built in level. I use the WATE both ways. In the end I discovered I really like the Frankenfinder. By the way, there are other threads on this subject. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Fines Posted February 22, 2011 Share #3 Posted February 22, 2011 Hi, I've used that lens without the viewfinder. As long as you are not in a hurry take a photo and then look at it on the screen. Adjust and re-take until you have the framing desired. With a little practice you can get pretty close on the first try. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted February 22, 2011 Share #4 Posted February 22, 2011 Of course you can. You just have to develop a mental image of the field of view of the various fields of view of the focal lengths, which is not too difficult, just a matter of practice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdtaylor Posted February 22, 2011 Share #5 Posted February 22, 2011 I use the WATE often for architectural photography, and really need the Finder (and level), which I have grown accustomed to. As Jaap said, of course you can use it without a finder, but I would caution using this wide of a lens requires a lot of attention be given the foreground, which can be challenging without a finder. Obviously, 21mm is much easier to work with w/o the Finder vs.16mm. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanhulsenbeek Posted February 22, 2011 Share #6 Posted February 22, 2011 Yes, use the Leica 18mm viewfinder (expensive though) and use the total picture and the inner rim of the frame for 16 and 21mm respectively. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasrancher Posted February 22, 2011 Share #7 Posted February 22, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I often use the Tri-Elmar 16-18-21mm without the finder when using a bounced flash to aid the illumination of a large room for architectural type photography. Typically, I will first setup the tripod mounted camera with the Frankenfinder in place to establish a level orientation with the finder's built-in bubble level. Since the M9 has no flash sync contact other than that in the hot shoe above the camera viewfinder, I must remove the finder & replace it with a flash (Metz 54 MZ-3 in A-Mode with a Bounce Diffuser mounted). With a little practice, one can actually estimate with reasonable accuracy what will be included in the field of view with the lens set at 16mm. It may not be quite as convenient as having the finder available for confirmation, but a quick review of the LCD screen will be all that is required to adjust the camera orientation to include what is desired. Below is an example in which no adjustment was required. This was a test shot where you may notice the small Macbeth Color Checker card near the center of the photo to aid in proper color balancing. 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/144774-tri-elmar-16-18-21mm-without-viewfinder/?do=findComment&comment=1596646'>More sharing options...
BRJR Posted February 28, 2011 Share #8 Posted February 28, 2011 In the end I discovered I really like the Frankenfinder. And, so do I. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stanjan0 Posted February 19, 2012 Share #9 Posted February 19, 2012 Question, how can one use flash on the M9 with the Frankenfinder in place? I just bought this lens and it should be here this Tuesday (2-21-12). BTW, as I don't understand German could someone post the smiles on the left in English, thank you all in advance. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 19, 2012 Share #10 Posted February 19, 2012 Question, how can one use flash on the M9 with the Frankenfinder in place? @Stanjan, no chance normally, as written before you ..."must remove the finder & replace it with a flash." Perhaps you could try something like a syncro-cord automatic cable by Hama (my for a Canon-flash is No. 390.04). The hot-shoe of this syncro-cable includes a second hot-shoe above the first one. So it was constructed to use one flash on the camera and a second flash connected by the syncro-cable. Instead of the flash on the camera you could push in the Tri-Elmar 16-18-21mm-viewfinder which would be about 1 inch higher than without. But I am afraid of you might get a "Super-Monster-Frankenstein-viewfinder-construction"... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanhulsenbeek Posted February 19, 2012 Share #11 Posted February 19, 2012 Question, how can one use flash on the M9 with the Frankenfinder in place? I just bought this lens and it should be here this Tuesday (2-21-12). BTW, as I don't understand German could someone post the smiles on the left in English, thank you all in advance. Your choice, your photography, but are you really sure using a flash with 16mm? With a huge softbox perhaps? I love the WATE - see many results on my Zenfolio site - but flash ..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kokoshawnuff Posted February 19, 2012 Share #12 Posted February 19, 2012 Yes, use the Leica 18mm viewfinder (expensive though) and use the total picture and the inner rim of the frame for 16 and 21mm respectively. +1 One of the main reasons I switched to the M system is for the compact and uncluttered nature of it, so if I had the WATE I would probably just use it with an 18mm finder. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stanjan0 Posted February 19, 2012 Share #13 Posted February 19, 2012 I want to thank Mnutzer, and Sander for their response to my query. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thighslapper Posted February 20, 2012 Share #14 Posted February 20, 2012 Can one use the Tri-Elmar 16-18-21mm without the large bulky viewfinder that has been developed for use with this lens?Carrying a separate viewfinder this big is not what I would like, which is the reason for my question. I also use the 18mm finder ..... if I need to ... which is only really for indoor stuff. The M8 lines on the finder are almost exactly 21mm The M9 lines are 18mm The whole finder area is very close to 16mm I wear glasses and use dioptre correction on the camera. The 18mm finder is not corrected but you can add a dioptre with a bit of careful filing and superglue. The Frankenfinder has never been out of its case. I would be embarrassed to have it stuck on my M9. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted February 20, 2012 Share #15 Posted February 20, 2012 I love the Universal Finder and embarrassment of how it looks never enters into it for me. It is just so much easier and faster to get the camera level and the foreground correct with the finder. It is bright and it corrects for parallax. It also makes it easy to preview what the different focal lengths on the WATE would capture by just adjusting the knob on the Universal Finder. I think it is one of Leica's great optics... and it looks cool together with the funky looking WATE. (Having said how much I like the Universal Finder, I would trade it in a heartbeat for Live View.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k-hawinkler Posted February 21, 2012 Share #16 Posted February 21, 2012 Why not have both, Frankenfinder and LiveView? I don't think simple LiveView gives you a level. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted February 21, 2012 Share #17 Posted February 21, 2012 Why not have both, Frankenfinder and LiveView?I don't think simple LiveView gives you a level. I guess I shouldn't have said that I'd "trade it" in a heartbeat for live view. As I think about it, I don't fancy walking around with the camera at arms length looking at the screen rather than the scene. Maybe, once I use Live View, I'll end up preferring the experience of walking around looking into the Universal Finder at the scene. Even, if the finder doesn't provide a perfect framing of the final capture. As it often is, the Leica experience is not always defined by the what is perfect on paper. It seems that, often what is perfect on paper is not perfect in operation. Sometimes perfect is not always important to creativity and the flow of the experience. I guess I'll have to wait and see about live view. Wanting it to use with wide lenses was my main reason for wanting it. Maybe, I won't end up using it for wides. Maybe, the entire concept of live view is useless for the way I shoot the M9. Maybe, the Universal Finder will, in the end, be perfect after all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k-hawinkler Posted February 21, 2012 Share #18 Posted February 21, 2012 For me it depends on the type of shooting, hand held: viewfinder, on tripod: viewfinder and LiveView. Ideal for me would be projecting additional information - on demand only - in the viewfinder, sort of like the head up display for fighter pilots. One button toggle on and off, after having configured the info in a menu. I love the focus peaking in my NEX-5N. However, even a state of the art EVF is no match for an OVF. The EVF is not as clear and has split second delays. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted February 21, 2012 Share #19 Posted February 21, 2012 Why not have both, Frankenfinder and LiveView?I don't think simple LiveView gives you a level. You get a level with the Ricoh GRX M live view. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stanjan0 Posted February 22, 2012 Share #20 Posted February 22, 2012 Today I received the Tri-Elmar 16-18-21mm boxed it appears to be in good condition for a used model however, there doesn't appear to be a front lens cover. My question therefor is does Leica provide a front lens cover when you buy this lens brand new in the box? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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