SBOOI Viewfinder Correction for Leica III

[TLG]

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I am fortunate enough to have a SBOOI 50 mm Brightline Viewfinder I can attach to the mounting shoe of my Leica III (1933), however I've noticed the framing isn't always accurate(ish) – even taking the parallax lines into account. I know the SBOOI is a much later addition to the Leica line (1951) so probably wasn't intended for a 1933 camera(?) and I've read that there is a mounting shoe height difference between original Leica IIIs and later c/f/g models etc. that can cause discrepancies in framing (more than normal).

So my question is: Have you also found that to be the case? If so, what are your methods for adjusting for it (if you do)?

Many thanks.

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[Pyrogallol]

The closer the subject the more the viewfinder will be out from the view seen by the lens. For close work remember to lift the camera up and to the left a bit to correct the alignment. I usually forget and cut the top off the subject on the negative. The 50mm SBOOI finder doesn’t have a parallax adjuster found on other finders.

Edited July 13, 2023 by Pyrogallol

[jc_braconi]

33 minutes ago, Pyrogallol said:

The closer the subject the more the viewfinder will be out from the view seen by the lens. For close work remember to lift the camera up and to the left a bit to correct the alignment. I usually forget and cut the top off the subject on the negative. The 50mm SBOOI finder doesn’t have a parallax adjuster found on other finders.

The late model have the line to correct, you can see them on the pict.

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[TLG]

Thank you. I didn't know about the "to the left a bit" as well!

Certainly on closest work (1 metre) with my 50mm f3.5 Elmar lens I use the dotted lines as the top of frame (so lifting the camera up) but it sounds like I may need to do that at even further distances when using an original Leica III.

I also have a nice (and relatively cheap) 1935 black 90mm f4 Elmar that I have a SGVOO viewfinder for, which does have parallax adjustment on the outer ring. I haven't tried it properly yet but the jump in parallax correction gradation from 15 feet to "infinity" is something I'm going to have to practice. 🙂

[TLG]

Just now, jc_braconi said:

The late model have the line to correct, you can see them on the pict.

Thank you. My SBOOI (black ring, side grooves) also has those, but it sounds like I may need to be a bit more aggressive in their use!

[spydrxx]

I'd just do several sacrificial shots at intended distances and keep note of the results on my smartphone or in a notebook, whichever works best for you. Or shoot at a greater distance and crop the image.

[madNbad]

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The late model SBOOI with the ribbed sides has a close distance line at the bottom of the frame. The line was designed to be used with the 1F and other bodies that lack a rangefinder. When mounted on rangefinder bodies, the line is too high to be effective.

[romualdo]

On 7/14/2023 at 5:06 AM, madNbad said:

The late model SBOOI with the ribbed sides has a close distance line at the bottom of the frame. The line was designed to be used with the 1F and other bodies that lack a rangefinder. When mounted on rangefinder bodies, the line is too high to be effective.

 not sure what you are referring to specifically "close distance line at the bottom of the frame" - are you referring to the dashed line just below the solid upper line

[madNbad]

1 hour ago, romualdo said:

 not sure what you are referring to specifically "close distance line at the bottom of the frame" - are you referring to the dashed line just below the solid upper line

If it’s a ribbed finder, the dashed line at the bottom of the finder is the 1 meter distance line for non rangefinder models. The solid lines are for all others. If you search around on the forum, I think that where I learned about it.

There is a bit of experimentation to match what you see through the finder and what ends up on the negative.

[romualdo]

37 minutes ago, madNbad said:

If it’s a ribbed finder, the dashed line at the bottom of the finder is the 1 meter distance line for non rangefinder models. The solid lines are for all others. If you search around on the forum, I think that where I learned about it.

There is a bit of experimentation to match what you see through the finder and what ends up on the negative.

thanks for your explanation - that's what I presumed you were referring to (I too have a ribbed version) - I thought you were initially describing another line below the very bottom of the frame

[Doug A]

13 hours ago, madNbad said:

If it’s a ribbed finder, the dashed line at the bottom of the finder is the 1 meter distance line for non rangefinder models. The solid lines are for all others. If you search around on the forum, I think that where I learned about it.

There is a bit of experimentation to match what you see through the finder and what ends up on the negative.

I have a ribbed SBOOI. It has a dashed line just under the top solid line of the frame. There is no dashed line at the bottom of the frame. I have seen several other SBOOI's. They were all the same as mine. If there was a dashed line at the bottom of the frame it would have the opposite of the desired effect, i.e., it would cause the user to aim the camera even more downward. 

[madNbad]

27 minutes ago, Doug A said:

I have a ribbed SBOOI. It has a dashed line just under the top solid line of the frame. There is no dashed line at the bottom of the frame. I have seen several other SBOOI's. They were all the same as mine. If there was a dashed line at the bottom of the frame it would have the opposite of the desired effect, i.e., it would cause the user to aim the camera even more downward. 

I sold my SBOOI so I don't have one to look through. I do remember reading that the dashed line was for the non rangefinder models.

[Pyrogallol]

I have three, two with the ribbed grips on the sides and one smooth. They all have the same viewfinder lines with the dashed line at the top for parallax adjustment.

[TomB_tx]

Some of the later Canon ltm RF bodies (VT, VIT, L1 in my collection) had accessory finders with automatic parallax compensation. There was a small ball in the front surface of the acc shoe (not hot for flash) that would raise and lower with the RF focus, and a matching finder would use that motion to adjust parallax. Canon had a lot of innovation in their ltm models that had them coming on strong, until the M3 made them decide to make SLRs their future. Their first SLR (Canonflex) was also innovative - but with ideas that didn't catch on, and the Nikon F overpowered them.