VC 90 1:1 finder for 75mm lenses on M8

[prav66]

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OK, I decided I need to use the 75mm focal length for the M8 for the rare occasions where I need a telephoto. I prefer what the 50mm looks like on the M8 for portraits, but sometimes one just can't get that close to the subject or would prefer not to.

 

But.. the M8's framelines for the 75mm are not to my liking. They are way too conservative, hard to see where the actual frame lies and I just don't think the peep hole view even with the 1.25x magnifier is condusive to great photography.

 

But I don't want to haul an SLR with me just for the odd use of telephoto. So I was considering another option. What about the Voigtlander 90mm finder? I could add a little bit of tape around where it's framelines are to frame it more accurately for the 100-105mm equivalent the M8 crop gives and get framelines and a view that far surpass the one on the M8. Also, 1:1 view is a great eye relief.

 

Yes, I know it's take practise focusing carefully & then using the external finder for framing & deciding when to click the shutter, but it I would imagine it beats staring through a tiny peep hole, getting frustrated, fumbling with tricky to screw-in magnifiers & still getting envy for the bigger, bolder view your SLR gives you at the long end.

 

Anyone else tried this yet and can comment on it why it's a good/bad idea?

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[doubice]

The 75mm frame lines on the M8 are not to anybody's liking.... - way too inaccurate. There are a few finders to consider; Leica 90mm bright line finder, which looks pretty well the same as the Voigtländer one and can be found on eBay for less than the VC.

 

Another option would be to find an old Canon 100mm finder - those were available as non-bright line, as well as with a bright line. The 100mm would be actually more accurate for sighting than the 90mm (75mm x 1.33 factor = 99.75mm). The Canon bright line finder is excellent, but hard to find. The other option is the Canon tubular finder, which is very small but not as accurate as the bright line type.

 

The advantage of the tubular finder is that it can usually be found with a Canon 100mm LTM lens, with the whole kit less than the Voigtländer finder. Sell the lens and you end up with an inexpensive finder!

 

Here is one on eBay right now:

 

CANON 100MM F4 SERENAR W/10CM MARKED FINDER & CASE - (eBay item 200150129535 end time Sep-11-07 18:09:10 PDT)

 

I don't know the seller - just found it while looking for the bright line finder using 'Canon' and '100mm' keywords.

 

Best,

 

Jan

[giordano]

IMHO it's mostly a matter of taste, though practical considerations come in for some kinds of shot. This comes from experience: I've worked with IIIa, IIc and IIIg as well as Ms and SLRs and MF and 4x5 rangefinders.

 

If you practice a leisurely style of photography where you can frame up, decide where to focus, move the camera across your face, focus, move back, re-frame, and finally decide when to press the button - then the external finder is great. (To get the full 1930s effect, use a Leitz VIDOM universal finder, which reverses the image left to right, .

 

If you want to work fast or your subject won't stay still, life is very much easier if you can see the rangefinder and the viewfinder frame at the same time.

 

And with an M8 and an external viewfinder, you can have it both ways. Go ahead and see how you like it!