Viewfinder for 135mm lenses

[gabriel]

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From previous posts I have seen that good results are obtainable using the 135 f4 and f3.4 with the M8.

 

Does anyone know where it is possible to obtain a 180mm hot shoe mounted viewfinder which would facilitate the use of these lenses on the M8.

 

In view of the number of lenses of this focal length in circulation why does not Leica produce one?

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[jaapv]

Yes, there is a Leica 200 mm one. KameraExpress has a couple of them. Considering the fact that these lenses are often used in dynamic situations, the splitting up for framing and focussing seems rather unpractical in that case.

[Philinflash]

Wouldn't the RF image be about the size of the focus patch?

[jaapv]

No; nearly the 90 mm frame (which can be projected using the lenses)

[girphoto]

From previous posts I have seen that good results are obtainable using the 135 f4 and f3.4 with the M8.

 

Does anyone know where it is possible to obtain a 180mm hot shoe mounted viewfinder which would facilitate the use of these lenses on the M8.

 

In view of the number of lenses of this focal length in circulation why does not Leica produce one?

 

Hello Gabrail

Just started using a 135 f4 myself and I am currently using the center box in the range finder for the focus area.

I will be sending the lense to Leica in NJ to have the mount changed and coded as a 90mm and use thoes frame lines.

There is a post that I started a few days ago on this topic.

Welcome to the M8 Thread

Gary

http://www.girphotos.com

[jaapv]

You do know you don't have to change the mount to bring up the 90 mm framelines, Gary?

[girphoto]

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You do know you don't have to change the mount to bring up the 90 mm framelines, Gary?

 

No, Can not say that I do, Could you pass along the info

thanks

Gary

http://www.girphotos.com

[Guest tummydoc]

The 135mm lenses (aside from the Elmarits) have a shorter frameline cam than 90mm lenses, so the mount must be changed (or material brazed on-to it) to call up the 90mm frame lines when the lens is fitted. That might be more of a problem with the older 135s as one would need to obtain a 90mm-cammed mount with the same screw attachment configuration. The last f/4 and the f/3.4 have the standardised screw-hole pattern shared by most contemporary Leica M lenses.

 

One could use one's finger to manually select the 90mm framelines whilst shooting. If one is accustomed to playing a woodwind instrument they shouldn't find it terribly awkward

 

What I find curious is the assertion that a 135mm lens on an M8 is somehow better served by the 90mm framelines than it would be on a film M. (Effectively) 180mm vs 120mm represents quite a difference in field of view, although the framelines being rather conservative probably mitigates the difference at longer distances but I would be surprised if using them in the close range wouldn't lead to a few decapitations (although, thinking further, 90mm lenses focus to 1m whilst 135s to 1,5m therefore perhaps therein again lies some potential mitigation).

 

There were a number of multi-focal shoe-fit viewfinders made over the years which covered 35-180 or 200, which would be an alternative to the rather scarce and thus expensive Leitz 20cm finder.

 

Another option is one of the rather commonplace Leitz 13,5cm B/L finders, which presents a life-size view and thus could be masked down (by trial comparison with the LCD) with a decent-sized view remaining.

 

Finally, the older Tele-Elmarit (E39) lens head can be refit to a 16464 short focussing helix and fit to a Visoflex III (or II with the prism finder of a III) although the GG screen thereof will have to be masked or scribed to the 1.33x crop proportions.

[johnwolf]

I use the Telyt and the focus area seems about double the size of the focus patch. Not very precise, but you get used to it. The 90 framelines seem too large by about a third.

 

Someone on this forum described a technique of rotating the lens past the lock point to engage the 90 framelines. It does work.

 

John

[luigi bertolotti]

"Double the RF path" has became my method ; forget 180 finder : you'll save money and work quickier (even if the TEWE 180 can be found rather cheap)

[jaapv]

No, Can not say that I do, Could you pass along the info

thanks

Gary

Gary I. Rothstein, Photography

 

Just mount the lens, press the release button and rotate it further to the stop. This will bring up the 90 mm framelines. As the roller-helicoid interface is flat on these lenses, focus accuracy will be kept. At infinity, or something like that, which is the setting at which these lenses are normally used, the 90 mm framelines are just fractionally too wide. At closer focussing, simply compensate mentally when framing. They are still a guideline.

 

So I fear this post is incorrect..(Sorry, Vinay ).:

The 135mm lenses (aside from the Elmarits) have a shorter frameline cam than 90mm lenses, so the mount must be changed (or material brazed on-to it) to call up the 90mm frame lines when the lens is fitted. That might be more of a problem with the older 135s as one would need to obtain a 90mm-cammed mount with the same screw attachment configuration. The last f/4 and the f/3.4 have the standardised screw-hole pattern shared by most contemporary Leica M lenses.

 

One could use one's finger to manually select the 90mm framelines whilst shooting. If one is accustomed to playing a woodwind instrument they shouldn't find it terribly awkward

[zapp]

From previous posts I have seen that good results are obtainable using the 135 f4 and f3.4 with the M8.

 

Does anyone know where it is possible to obtain a 180mm hot shoe mounted viewfinder which would facilitate the use of these lenses on the M8.

 

In view of the number of lenses of this focal length in circulation why does not Leica produce one?

 

El cheapo: Buy a Cosina finder for the longest focal length lens they offer (90mm I suppose) and tape of for the correct framing of the 135 on the M8, make testshots. This takes about 5 minutes.

El Zorro: Buy a Zeiss viewfinder and do the same.

[gabriel]

I managed to find a Tewe variable finder which includes a setting for 180mm at a classic dealer for £45 lets see haw trhis works out. Thanks for all the advise

[hankg]

Since the 90 framelines are accurate at closest focus, at infinity they show much more for the 90 then you get on the sensor. So at infinity they are probably not much more accurate for the 90 then they are for the 135. As you get closer the crop for the 90 will become more accurate and less useful as a guide for the 135.

[Etruscello]

I agree with Luigi -- just imagine an area twice the linear size of the small range-finder patch. That is, extend each of the 4 lines of the patch by 50% in every direction. I'm recently back from Iceland. The 135 f4 was my most useful lens. It focuses sharply on the M8 even close up. The 2x patch method worked fine for framing. Tom

[Guest tummydoc]

Just mount the lens, press the release button and rotate it further to the stop. This will bring up the 90 mm framelines. As the roller-helicoid interface is flat on these lenses, focus accuracy will be kept. At infinity, or something like that, which is the setting at which these lenses are normally used, the 90 mm framelines are just fractionally too wide. At closer focussing, simply compensate mentally when framing. They are still a guideline.

 

So I fear this post is incorrect..(Sorry, Vinay ).:

 

Your technique does indeed bring up the 90mm framelines, and I hadn't considered it. However that in no way makes any part of my post incorrect.

[jaapv]

Your technique does indeed bring up the 90mm framelines, and I hadn't considered it. However that in no way makes any part of my post incorrect.

The part about the mount is not, that is generally correct for all 35/90 mounts,indeed this trick makes use of this configuration, but using my technique, one does not need to hold the lever.