leicavirgin2 Posted August 5, 2008 Share #1 Posted August 5, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Greetings! I have a M3, (SS), M4, & a M6. I am thinking about getting a 35mm Bright Line Finder for my M3, for obvious reasons; but I have read in the LEICA COMPENDIUM book by Jonathan Eastland that investing in a 5cm/50mm Bright Line Finder combined with the 3.5cm/35mm (BLF) would also be advantagous for the remaing "M"-RF film based models. He does not explain why. My question is that, (other than the 35mm finder for the M3), why would it be to my, or others advantage? Any & all responses would be most welcome. Thanks in advance for reading my post/questions. Best, LV2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 5, 2008 Posted August 5, 2008 Hi leicavirgin2, Take a look here Bright Line Finders on "M" models..... I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Photoskeptic Posted August 5, 2008 Share #2 Posted August 5, 2008 I'm interested in this also. I have used my 35 Cron ASPH on my M3 and relied on the entire frame for composing. I would like to use it more, but I wonder if an external finder would really be worth it. I've noticed on old photos of Capa and other war photogs that most of them used an external finder. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hiles Posted August 9, 2008 Share #3 Posted August 9, 2008 Using the 50mm BLF on a screw mount camera has advanages. The old rangefinders were fine but the viewfinders are very small. The 50mm BLF makes a big difference, IMHO. On an M camera, the 50mm BLF is like coals to Newcastle - the M range viewfinder is a gift from the optical gods. Not yet improved upon, and for a 50mm lens the M3 is still the best. In my (not very) humble opinion. Cheers, Michael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubice Posted August 9, 2008 Share #4 Posted August 9, 2008 Using the 50mm BLF on a screw mount camera has advanages. The old rangefinders were fine but the viewfinders are very small. The 50mm BLF makes a big difference, IMHO. On an M camera, the 50mm BLF is like coals to Newcastle - the M range viewfinder is a gift from the optical gods. Not yet improved upon, and for a 50mm lens the M3 is still the best. In my (not very) humble opinion. Cheers, Michael In full agreement with above however, in my humble opinion the new Zeiss Ikon rangefinder's finder is even better than the one on the M. The M finder is indeed tough to improve upon - quite an achievement from Zeiss! Best, Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted August 14, 2008 Share #5 Posted August 14, 2008 35 BL is the way to go. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomasw_ Posted August 14, 2008 Share #6 Posted August 14, 2008 ...the M range viewfinder is a gift from the optical gods. Not yet improved upon, and for a 50mm lens the M3 is still the best. In my (not very) humble opinion. In full agreement with above however, in my humble opinion the new Zeiss Ikon rangefinder's finder is even better than the one on the M. The M finder is indeed tough to improve upon...... Hi Jan, I discern a flaw in your logic. How can the M3 VF be the best VF but not the best VF, too? It seems to me you are not at all "in full agreement" with Michael's view on the M3's VF; I read you as claiming the ZI's VF is better than the M3s. Perhaps you meant to make a distinction about some aspect of the VFs? Good cheer, Thomas Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubice Posted August 15, 2008 Share #7 Posted August 15, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello Thomas, Maybe I should have been more specific as to what I was in full agreement with.... The original poster's question was related to the usefullness of a separate 50mm bright line finder on the M3. To this Michael replied that using a BLF on an M3 is like coals to Newcastle - I understood this to have the same meaning as selling ice to Eskimos - in other words, the M3's 50mm frame is so good, that a separate BLF is not necessary. As to who has the best finder? The M3 is indeed the best, if the widest lens one uses is a 50. Again - I should have been more specific and said that if compared to the M's 0.72 finder, the ZI 0.74 finder offers better eye relief, wirth improved focusing accuracy (longer effective RF base). Enjoy the heatwave in old Fort Langley! Best, Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
crbirchenhall Posted August 15, 2008 Share #8 Posted August 15, 2008 ... I have read in the LEICA COMPENDIUM book by Jonathan Eastland that investing in a 5cm/50mm Bright Line Finder combined with the 3.5cm/35mm (BLF) would also be advantagous for the remaing "M"-RF film based models. He does not explain why. It is an interesting suggestion from Eastland. I must say I really like the M3 for 50mm lenses because the finder is so uncluttered. Subsequent models in trying to accommodate so many focal lengths do not give the same experience. I have happily used an external 50mm finder on the screw cameras and I am prompted by this suggestion to try it on my M6TTL. I can note I played with the a la carte system for the MP where is an option to have a reduced set of frames (35/50/90?) but have not taken the plunge. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryW Posted August 15, 2008 Share #9 Posted August 15, 2008 but I have read in the LEICA COMPENDIUM book by Jonathan Eastland that investing in a 5cm/50mm Bright Line Finder combined with the 3.5cm/35mm (BLF) would also be advantagous for the remaing "M"-RF film based models. He does not explain why. Why don't you ask Jonathan direct. He hosts a forum over on RFF. Regards Harry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicavirgin2 Posted August 17, 2008 Author Share #10 Posted August 17, 2008 Thank you all. Perhaps I should clarify my question... I agree with you ALL on the M3's finder. I would not use a 50mm BL on this wonder of a camera! However, I am inclined to try on my M4, and my M6, "Classic", for both 35mm, (I wear Glasses), and 50mm because it is so BRIGHT, (the BFL 50mm; just as bright as the 35mm BFL). Thanks again, DM Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hiles Posted August 17, 2008 Share #11 Posted August 17, 2008 I use my M2 frequently (viewfinder essentially the same as M4 and M6 classic). I like it and never feel the need for external finders. The M2 finder is the basis for all subsequent Leica viewfinders, and I never hear of anyone feeling the need to use external BLFs. But different strokes... I still love my M3 with the 50, 90, 135, but I spent my first 10 photographic years very happily with my M2 and no BLFs. Michael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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