External Viewfinder - Eyeglasses

[Danner]

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Thinking of adding a wide angle to my kit in the 18-24mm range, with external viewfinder.  Need to be sure I could see frame lines.  For example, I can't see the 28mm lines on my M6.

Any thought on external viewfinders that are easy on eyeglasses wearers?

Thanks for your thoughts.

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[jdlaing]

The couple of external finders I have used for 21 and 24mm lenses didn’t require you to get as close and the camera viewfinder to see the frame lines.

[beewee]

I really like the Zeiss optical viewfinders. They are brighter than the Leica version and I never had issues with them when wearing sun glasses.

[a.noctilux]

I use the lightest '21mm' VF for very long, maybe one of the eyeglass friendly '21 VF' that I used mainly sunglass in bright day.

this plastic Leitz/Leica 12021

 

this older metal 21mm VF was not bad but had some haze if usable

on MDa + S-A 21mm = very nice combo for easy-life photos

 

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Later on as I used more lenses for different field, zoom was another good (but bigger VF), like 21-24-28 (12014)

...if a better foolish choice now even bigger which has diopter adjustment and field of 15 to 35mm, DA446A Zoomfinder odd finder covers what I would need before EVF or for film use.

The eye relief of 15mm was also appreciated for example with sunglass.

Edited July 15, 2021 by a.noctilux

[Danner]

Thank you for the replies.  I'll look around for a Leica 12021, as 21mm seems like a good focal length choice, given the 21mm lens options out there.

[Jean-Michel]

Hi,

Well, first get the lens you want, and then add the finder. I used a Leica 21 finder back when a student in the late 60s and, much later, a 21 plastic finder that came with a 21 VC. I wear glasses and both  were fine for viewing. Any and all of the finders — Leica, other makes, cheap, expensive, etc., etc.— will only approximate the actual image capture, only experience will allow you to make the mental adjustments. Or, make your own wire finder: for  21 mm lens, make 24 by 36 mm wire frame with a wire "eyepiece" 21 mm from the 24 by 36 frame and attach the contraption to the shoe; on a Graflex this was known as a sports finder!

Jean-Michel

[a.noctilux]

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3 hours ago, Danner said:

Thank you for the replies.  I'll look around for a Leica 12021, as 21mm seems like a good focal length choice, given the 21mm lens options out there.

Sorry I wrote the manufacture number wrong, must be 12012 or 12008.

have a long nice read here ...for 21mm VF

with humour ...inside 😊

[ ...

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/144842-21mm-viewfinder-leica-or-zeiss/?do=findComment&comment=1597272

]

 

[Danner]

Here's a review of the Zeiss 21mm finder from B&H, which bothers me...

 

"These are beuatifully made viewfinders, but if you wear eyeglasses you won't be able to see the framelines"

[jdlaing]

1 hour ago, Danner said:

Here's a review of the Zeiss 21mm finder from B&H, which bothers me...

 

"These are beuatifully made viewfinders, but if you wear eyeglasses you won't be able to see the framelines"

Try Voigtlander 

[Guest]

I use the voigtlander 21/25mm metal finder and although i do not use glasses except a weak pair for reading i stuck them on and tried it out and its just as good a view with or without glasses on my finder.

I use mine on the voigtlander 21mm f1.4 nokton.

Edited July 15, 2021 by steve 1959

[Stein K S]

Hi

I still luckily manage to do my photography without glasses… even if my needs for glasses has really accelerated lately (I am turning 60 in a few weeks 😀). But I just did a brief test of my viewfinders aldo with glasses on…

I own four external viewfinders for my Leica M´s: the Leica silver metal 24mm, the CV silver 21/25mm, the Leica 21-24-28mm and the Zeiss 21mm. Without glasses I rank the Zeiss being by far the best (biggest and brightest), the CV # 2 (small, bright and reasonsbly ¨big¨ view), slightly ahead of the Leica 24mm on third place (just narrow…) and with the Leica 21-24-28mm as a clear looser (in particular since it does not have framelines).

But with glasses the Leica 24mm turnes out to be the best by making all framelines more visible than the others without having to ¨ look around¨. The CV and the Zeiss scores equal concerning making framelines visible using glasses. And the 21-24-28mm again is an absolute looser in my opinion.

So one clear winner without glasses and a totally different winner when using glasses. In my opinion… 😉

Edited July 17, 2021 by Stein K S

[Stein K S]

Hi again

Just a size comparison of my four viewfinders as well if it could be useful 😀

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[haruharu]

On 7/17/2021 at 8:53 AM, Stein K S said:

Hi

I still luckily manage to do my photography without glasses… even if my needs for glasses has really accelerated lately (I am turning 60 in a few weeks 😀). But I just did a brief test of my viewfinders aldo with glasses on…

I own four external viewfinders for my Leica M´s: the Leica silver metal 24mm, the CV silver 21/25mm, the Leica 21-24-28mm and the Zeiss 21mm. Without glasses I rank the Zeiss being by far the best (biggest and brightest), the CV # 2 (small, bright and reasonsbly ¨big¨ view), slightly ahead of the Leica 24mm on third place (just narrow…) and with the Leica 21-24-28mm as a clear looser (in particular since it does not have framelines).

But with glasses the Leica 24mm turnes out to be the best by making all framelines more visible than the others without having to ¨ look around¨. The CV and the Zeiss scores equal concerning making framelines visible using glasses. And the 21-24-28mm again is an absolute looser in my opinion.

So one clear winner without glasses and a totally different winner when using glasses. In my opinion… 😉

I must ask. Are you able to see the framelines easily with the zeiss + glasses on? 

 

On 7/17/2021 at 9:24 AM, Stein K S said:

Hi again

Just a size comparison of my four viewfinders as well if it could be useful 😀

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!

Any chance i can see the Zeiss on top of a leica M body please? I just want to see how bulky it will be

[Stein K S]

Hi again

 

Sure ☺️

 

The front opening of the Zeiss is substantially larger than a ¨regular¨ Leica viewfinder. And the size of view field is proportionally bigger (and possibly even more...) than the Leica and very very nice (sharp & bright). However, size overall really not that much bigger (width, depth).

It is not possible to se entire frame in the Zeiss finder... a smal adjustment of eye placement required. Not too bad though...

PS: the Leica viewfinder is obviously not placed in hot shoe and will consequently be positioned ¨lower¨ when so...😉

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Edited November 6, 2021 by Stein K S

[plaidshirts]

On 7/17/2021 at 6:53 AM, Stein K S said:

Hi

I still luckily manage to do my photography without glasses… even if my needs for glasses has really accelerated lately (I am turning 60 in a few weeks 😀). But I just did a brief test of my viewfinders aldo with glasses on…

I own four external viewfinders for my Leica M´s: the Leica silver metal 24mm, the CV silver 21/25mm, the Leica 21-24-28mm and the Zeiss 21mm. Without glasses I rank the Zeiss being by far the best (biggest and brightest), the CV # 2 (small, bright and reasonsbly ¨big¨ view), slightly ahead of the Leica 24mm on third place (just narrow…) and with the Leica 21-24-28mm as a clear looser (in particular since it does not have framelines).

But with glasses the Leica 24mm turnes out to be the best by making all framelines more visible than the others without having to ¨ look around¨. The CV and the Zeiss scores equal concerning making framelines visible using glasses. And the 21-24-28mm again is an absolute looser in my opinion.

So one clear winner without glasses and a totally different winner when using glasses. In my opinion… 😉

Wearing glasses, more specifically, my prescription and distance of lens from my eyes, has been a huge challenge with Leica view finders. So much so that I wound up getting a full roster of .58, .72, and .85 M's to compensate for that.

After I got a 24mm lens and trying different external VF's, I've come to the same conclusion - Leica 12026 was the easiest to use, even if they're not the brightest of the bunch.

Edited November 6, 2021 by plaidshirts

[hanexp]

I really appreciate this discussion of external viewfinders. I also have a great deal of trouble seeing anything more than the 35mm field of view in my Leica M9 and M10 with my glasses. I cannot see the 28mm frame lines without a lot of head movement. Therefore I don’t own any 28mm lenses. I do have a 24mm Elmar. I can use a EVF with the M10 and I have a Leica 12012 viewfinder that I use with my M9. I am aware of another model Leica offers, the 12026. THe 12026 has a different rear eye piece. 

Can anyone comment if the 12026 model has a better view in general, for eye glass wearers than the 12012?

Thanks for any thoughts about the best 24mm viewfinder for Leica

[a.noctilux]

 

Eyeglass wearer or not, I think it's trying out that can decide.

 

More infos ...(maybe ? )

Five pages of discussions, here

 

In my view, the best viewfinder is not born yet,

I have (and use) some, neither is the 'best', only some compromises needed.

 

So , have a look in one, use it happily or replace/change.

[plaidshirts]

8 hours ago, hanexp said:

I really appreciate this discussion of external viewfinders. I also have a great deal of trouble seeing anything more than the 35mm field of view in my Leica M9 and M10 with my glasses. I cannot see the 28mm frame lines without a lot of head movement. Therefore I don’t own any 28mm lenses. I do have a 24mm Elmar. I can use a EVF with the M10 and I have a Leica 12012 viewfinder that I use with my M9. I am aware of another model Leica offers, the 12026. THe 12026 has a different rear eye piece. 

Can anyone comment if the 12026 model has a better view in general, for eye glass wearers than the 12012?

Thanks for any thoughts about the best 24mm viewfinder for Leica

I got 12012 first because it was cheaper. 12026 has clearer and brighter framelines and is much better made.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[MarkP]

I was one of the drivers of these discussions. The Zeiss VF is indeed a delight to look through. However it is very large and gets caught on everything. Most significantly, the different alignment does indeed introduce a rotational error that affects composition and especially throws out horizontals and verticals.  Still happy with my Leica 21mm VF.

Regards
Mark

[adan]

Bottom line (which I just checked across several external viewfinders).

If you can see the 50mm framelines in your built-in 0.72x M viewfinder/rangefinder, you can see the framelines in the LEICA accessory 28/24/21/18 viewfinders. The "boxes" are the same apparent size and the eyepieces are the same size. (Funny how Leica was able to work that out )

The only difference is that the optics will shrink what is in front of the viewfinder, to fit 18/21/24/28mm's worth of scenery into that same-sized box.

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