External viewfinders... How versatile are they?

[Learner]

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Can, for instance, an external Leica viewfinder for Elmarit 24mm be used on an M8?

 

Can an external Leica viewfinder be used on a non-Leica lens of similar specs (mm).

 

John

[spydrxx]

Part 2 - yes. In fact you can use a non-leica one with the same specs on a Leica , although that might be heresy in some quarters.

[giordano]

Part 1: It depends.

 

The M8's sensor is smaller than the standard 35mm film frame by a (linear) factor of 1.33. This means that a 24mm lens on the M8 has the same field of view as a 32mm lens would have on a film Leica.

 

The frames in the M8 viewfinder take this into account and include a frame for the 24mm lens.

 

You can fit the 24mm external finder on the M8, but the field of view it shows will be that of an 18mm lens ( 24mm / 1.33 ). Similarly, if you use a 21mm lens on a M8 you need a 28mm external finder.

[kivis]

I use an external viewfinder with a 21mm lens. I love it.

 

[tobey bilek]

Leicas bright lines are among the best. Full 1;1 size and more accurate lines than any M camera.

 

Downside is the lump on top the camera, no field shift for close focus except manually on the 90 135 ones which have tilting feet. The original 28/21 with metal feet have lots of barrel distortion. Still they are the best overall from Leica. Thats why they get 4/5 hundred dollars for good ones.