didier Posted July 6 Share #1 Posted July 6 Advertisement (gone after registration) Dear all, once the light leak of my IIIg will be repaired , I’d like to use my Summaron 3.5/35mm and Hektor 6.3/2.8cm. What viewfinder do you use ? Any vintage Leica ? They seem quite hard to find. I’d like something rather small… I saw the KEKS which are very cheap : are they usable ? Any other idea ? Thanks Didier Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 6 Posted July 6 Hi didier, Take a look here Viewfinder for IIIg. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
nitroplait Posted July 6 Share #2 Posted July 6 KEKS finders are a bit like the finders in disposable cameras. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-train Posted July 6 Share #3 Posted July 6 VIOOH. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
didier Posted July 6 Author Share #4 Posted July 6 Are the Ricoh GV viewfinder usable ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted July 6 Share #5 Posted July 6 Any viewfinder of the appropriate focal length is usable, however, especially for eyeglasses users, some are better than others. I've had good experience with Voigtlander ones. The frame lines are clear and bright as are the images. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
didier Posted July 6 Author Share #6 Posted July 6 1 minute ago, spydrxx said: Any viewfinder of the appropriate focal length is usable, however, especially for eyeglasses users, some are better than others. I've had good experience with Voigtlander ones. The frame lines are clear and bright as are the images. The voigtlander 28/35 VF seem difficult to find Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlos cruz Posted July 6 Share #7 Posted July 6 Advertisement (gone after registration) SUOOQ is probably most chronologically appropriate for Hektor, I love the looks, don’t know how practical it is. I’d rather go with most practical one, with newer optics, all that leads to Voigtländer 28/35 but it’s hard to find. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted July 6 Share #8 Posted July 6 I used a 35 3.5 Summaron on my IIIf for years without an accessory finder - just visualized the coverage from experience. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
UliWer Posted July 6 Share #9 Posted July 6 (edited) 6 hours ago, Carlos cruz said: SUOOQ is probably most chronologically appropriate for Hektor, I love the looks, don’t know how practical it is. I think the SUOOQ is the smallest, the most practical for 28mm and if the glass hasn't deteriorated also optically very good. It is not cheap, though you may find one for an acceptable price (as long as you stay away from a black painted one...) 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! You can fold it together when you don't use it: Unfortunately Leitz never offered a "folding" viewfinder for 35mm. As a separate finder during the 3.5cm-Elmar times there was only the old WEISU, which is tiny though hard to find and therefore rather expensive today. I can't tell anything about the optical qualities Then there was of course the SBLOO - it's rather huge though optically unsurpassed (if the glass is good): It was originally meant for the M3 when the first version of the 3.5/3.5cm Summaron was introduced without goggles. Though with an IIIg it might not be way too big. Of course it's expensive nowadays. Zeiss offered a smaller one for their rangefinder models: 432/5. Optically it is not as good as the SBLOO, though you might find better examples than mine and not very expensive: Edited July 6 by UliWer 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! You can fold it together when you don't use it: Unfortunately Leitz never offered a "folding" viewfinder for 35mm. As a separate finder during the 3.5cm-Elmar times there was only the old WEISU, which is tiny though hard to find and therefore rather expensive today. I can't tell anything about the optical qualities Then there was of course the SBLOO - it's rather huge though optically unsurpassed (if the glass is good): It was originally meant for the M3 when the first version of the 3.5/3.5cm Summaron was introduced without goggles. Though with an IIIg it might not be way too big. Of course it's expensive nowadays. Zeiss offered a smaller one for their rangefinder models: 432/5. Optically it is not as good as the SBLOO, though you might find better examples than mine and not very expensive: ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/422834-viewfinder-for-iiig/?do=findComment&comment=5829411'>More sharing options...
didier Posted July 7 Author Share #10 Posted July 7 Thank you very much @UliWer Regarding the SBLOO, are there frame lines for the 35mm focal length (ie do you see more than the 35mm FL, and, if yes, how much more) ? In this case, is it possible to use it within the frame lines for the 35 and without for an approx. 28mm ? Thank you for your help Didier Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nf3996 Posted July 7 Share #11 Posted July 7 Light Lens Lab (LLL) make modern versions of the WEISU and SBLOO, although both appear to be sold out at present: see Light Lens Lab 35mm Viewfinder "WEISU" and Light Lens Lab 35mm Viewfinder SBLOO. I have the modern WEISU, but as a glasses-wearer I struggle to see the edges of the tiny image; I suspect the SBLOO is much better, although I've not tried one. Alan 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
UliWer Posted July 7 Share #12 Posted July 7 Yes, you see more than the frames for 35mm in the SBLOO, though as it has a round eyepiece you see a circle around the frame which is not really helpful for defining the frames of 35mm. You better look through pone before you decide to get one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
UliWer Posted July 7 Share #13 Posted July 7 Here is one that I didn‘t know yet: the 12021 for 35mm in the shape of former plastic accessory finders for 21 or 24mm. https://www.ebay.com/itm/154661046985?_skw=LEICA+SBLOO&itmmeta=01JZJE7BNS1EC0YGNZ62ZR7PNE&hash=item2402844ac9:g:OvgAAOSwOZVc8quk&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA0FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1dV%2BIZ9DXzgGfYItjtmQxlG8V4tISmDH%2BQ5BUreiC%2FkT7k%2BSW50WMf72%2BQDAsZW9Oc0EYMJcEiNzuw587u2ivmOg3yoPQc8wPdJJ3Y4k18YLqGWPRK5d7Uh7WzoE49Lnih5D1OShzd1ZFNSesQ66quyxYSkv4CZfIdFcNvFxpgh4M4vpkMkC9GOHTrP1aPOFCHE1X3OAx6og7ARj8%2BN0WSHX0GkLvPnZqXXZu0o8X1yEgRleU3Kf%2BzPSM2oi3QYISc%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR_66nc78ZQ I can‘t even find the product nr. 12021 in any handbook I have - and btw the price is…. You may get a good SBLOO for half or if you are lucky one third … Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pyrogallol Posted July 7 Share #14 Posted July 7 I have at least 4 Leitz 35mm finders, but if you have a Leica Standard or earlier body the Leitz finder will not fit. But the Nikon or Canon finders are smaller and a different shape and do fit. 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! 1 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/422834-viewfinder-for-iiig/?do=findComment&comment=5829762'>More sharing options...
SpotmaticSP Posted July 7 Share #15 Posted July 7 FYI: the old Canon 28mm finder does fit the Leica Standard too. I actually use that one with a homemade mask to make it ~35mm. 🙂 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! 1 2 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/422834-viewfinder-for-iiig/?do=findComment&comment=5829769'>More sharing options...
250swb Posted July 8 Share #16 Posted July 8 The Light Lens Lab copy of the SBLOO is impossible if you wear glasses and like all(?) Leica viewfinders the framelines aren't very bright. By far the brightest for view and framelines are the ordinary plastic Voigtlander finders and also for a clear view of the framelines if you wear specs. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
qqphot Posted July 9 Share #17 Posted July 9 (edited) I find SBLOO is glorious optically, though I'm not sure about using it for 28mm as the frame lines are quite close to the edges. It's also challenging with eyeglasses unless you wear ones which sit quite close to the eye. The KEKS 35mm finder is not worth considering, in my opinion. It has no framelines or even clearly defined edges, and has strong barrel distortion, so that it is barely if at all better than not using a finder and just guessing. VIOOH is also quite decent and has sharply defined frame edges, but not illuminated framelines. It is a bit large, though. And if you don't mind a large viewfinder, there is of course also the Contax turret finder and the Russian copies, which have both 35mm and 28mm lenses and do show you a bit outside the frame. Edited July 9 by qqphot 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
qqphot Posted July 9 Share #18 Posted July 9 On 7/7/2025 at 5:52 AM, UliWer said: Here is one that I didn‘t know yet: the 12021 for 35mm in the shape of former plastic accessory finders for 21 or 24mm. https://www.ebay.com/itm/154661046985?_skw=LEICA+SBLOO&itmmeta=01JZJE7BNS1EC0YGNZ62ZR7PNE&hash=item2402844ac9:g:OvgAAOSwOZVc8quk&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA0FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1dV%2BIZ9DXzgGfYItjtmQxlG8V4tISmDH%2BQ5BUreiC%2FkT7k%2BSW50WMf72%2BQDAsZW9Oc0EYMJcEiNzuw587u2ivmOg3yoPQc8wPdJJ3Y4k18YLqGWPRK5d7Uh7WzoE49Lnih5D1OShzd1ZFNSesQ66quyxYSkv4CZfIdFcNvFxpgh4M4vpkMkC9GOHTrP1aPOFCHE1X3OAx6og7ARj8%2BN0WSHX0GkLvPnZqXXZu0o8X1yEgRleU3Kf%2BzPSM2oi3QYISc%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR_66nc78ZQ I can‘t even find the product nr. 12021 in any handbook I have - and btw the price is…. You may get a good SBLOO for half or if you are lucky one third … That must be extraordinarily rare, or have a very optimistic seller! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kl@usW. Posted July 11 Share #19 Posted July 11 (edited) Am 7.7.2025 um 13:32 schrieb nf3996: Light Lens Lab (LLL) make modern versions of the WEISU and SBLOO, although both appear to be sold out at present: see Light Lens Lab 35mm Viewfinder "WEISU" and Light Lens Lab 35mm Viewfinder SBLOO. I have the modern WEISU, but as a glasses-wearer I struggle to see the edges of the tiny image; I suspect the SBLOO is much better, although I've not tried one. Alan Alan, it´s not your glasses, I bought the LLL "Weisu" for the same reasons discussed here: the SBLOO is very large for a Barnack, the Voigtländer 28/35 is rare and expensive, and the original Weisu costs over 1K... Unfortunately, the purchase of the LLL copy of the "Weisu" was a disappointment: mechanically excellent, but even though "35mm" is written on the finder, it definitely shows a field of view somewhere between 45 and 50mm. I compared it with the MP finder and several others, and it is definitely nowhere near showing a true 35mm field of view. Unfortunately, the finder was shipped from the US, and returning it would mean endless discussions with customs and tax authorities—so, pointless. A pity—it could have been a great solution. My positive opinion of LLL has cooled significantly because of this finder. My current solution is a Leica 36mm finder, which was originally offered as an optional accessory for the X1. Medium-sized, but still acceptable on a Barnack. Most of the time, however, I now use my 3.5cm Elmar with the 5cm viewfinder of the II D and just estimate—it works quite well, actually. Edited July 11 by Kl@usW. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpotmaticSP Posted July 11 Share #20 Posted July 11 Personally I like to tinker around with my cameras. My very worn Standard had its front viewfinder glass missing, so I modified the viewfinder glass from a Soviet Chaika half frame camera. The Standard's viewfinder now has a FOV corresponding with ~40mm. Another option could be to find a cheap old 35mm (plastic?) viewfinder camera with a 35mm lens. Disassemble it and create your own housing (with 3D printing?). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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