Can I get away with an Elmarit 21mm on an M8?

[Julian Thompson]

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...with no external finder?

 

My hope is that the whole finder area will be the picture with nothing (or little outside)

 

Anyone using this setup?

[noah_addis]

I've tried it but if accurate framing is at all important to you it's best to use a finder.

 

Some will say you can estimate framing based on the whole M8 finder, which is true, but it's a rough estimate in my experience.

 

I use the excellent Voigtlander 28mm metal brightline finder. It's small and bright with only tiny bit of barrel distortion. But I'm not a big fan of external finders, which is part of the reason the 24 Elmarit ASPH is my main M8 lens.

[Shootist]

I have and still do. Some will say the VF isn't wide enough but it is just like using the framelines on the original M8, IE you capture more then what you see inside the framelines with every lens.

 

Others will say to get a VF. The only time I used a external VF was when I had a 21 on a M3.

[calvinboy24]

I'm using a 21mm Elmarit without an external viewfinder. On top of this I wear glasses. If I'm concerned about the edges of the frame, I'll press my glasses and peer around the corners. Even with that, I think the 21mm covers a bit outside the viewfinder.

 

I don't find it much a handicap though.

[rob139]

Yes. At least I do, no problem. Never checked it thouroughly, but the viewfinder covers just about the whole image with 21mm. It is pretty hard though seeing the whole of the finder, one has to really 'look around' to see. But it is good enough for me.

 

It is a very nice lens!

[sean_reid]

...with no external finder?

 

My hope is that the whole finder area will be the picture with nothing (or little outside)

 

Anyone using this setup?

 

If one is taking in the whole view at once, the finder on the M8 covers about the EFOV of a 24 at infinity. Unless one is peaking into each corner and moving his or her eye around the eyepiece, the finder does not begin to cover the EFOV of a 21.

 

If you want to frame with the full M8 finder it might make sense to use a 24.

 

Cheers,

[grober]

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Julian,

 

I use a pre-ASPH 21mm Elmarit on my M8 without finder. Take a bit of guessing, but you'll get used to it after a while. I dislike anything interferring with the sleek top of the M8.

 

If I must use a finder, I have the astoundlingly clear Zeiss 25/28 finder waiting in the wings.

 

I avoid all things in my M8's accessory shoe unless absolutely necessary -- like a radio trigger unit when I'm using remote flash.

 

-g

[wda]

The 21mm Elmarit is fast becoming one of my favourite lenses. When pushed, I can get away without a finder, but it is not a hardship to use my old 28mm finder from my M3 days. Certainly with that finder I am impressed by the accuracy of subject alignment and field of view I can achieve. With such a fine lens, it is worth using an accurate viewfinder for optimum results.

[Tim B]

I use the 21mm Elmarit ASPH as almost a standard on my M8 as I really like the 28mm FOV. On a recent trip to Rome it was almost the only lens I used.

 

However, for architectural shots, interiors and groups etc., I really need accurate framing.

 

I wear glasses and there is no way I feel that I can get accurate framing without an external viewfinder. So I use the little Voigtlander one which although not perfect is good enough. However, the milled eyepiece is quite abrasive and ruined one pair of glasses until I superglued a rubber O ring to it. Perfect fit.

 

Now it is almost always on the M8.

 

But in reality I wish I didn't need it, it is a nuisance and slows down operations a bit. It would be great to have a choice of viewfinder magnifications like the M6ttl - M7.

 

Tim

[offshore]

One way or another you will have to compensate with the 21. If you use an external viewfinder you will have to compensate in framing because of the position of the sensor plane to the position of the external finder so your images will be just a little off. I wear glasses, am not a fan of external finders, and prefer to use the entire viewfinder on my M8 and have had no problems. Someone mentioned architecture and since it typically doesn't go anywhere the beauty of digital is you can check the image instantly and retake it if you are off.

[Julian Thompson]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

 

I'd like the 24mm because it will be easier to frame but at the end of the day if there is ever a full frame digital I think the 21mm will be just sensational so as I'm building my lens collection for the long haul - I'll probably go for the 21 and learn to adapt. I'm sure it won't be too much of a chore ;-))

[sean_reid]

A FF M digital (should that arrive) would also need an external finder for a 21 so the practice could come in handy.

 

Cheers,

[grduprey]

If one is taking in the whole view at once, the finder on the M8 covers about the EFOV of a 24 at infinity. Unless one is peaking into each corner and moving his or her eye around the eyepiece, the finder does not begin to cover the EFOV of a 21.

 

If you want to frame with the full M8 finder it might make sense to use a 24.

 

Cheers,

 

I use the 21 with the M8 and use the finder whole area just fine. If anything it covers a bit more, not much, but it certainly can be used if you do not have a finder, or want to pay for one. Framing accuracy is not good, but you learn the coverage with experience. The 24 has frame lines which are well within the finder, as you already know.

 

Cheers,

Gene

[sean_reid]

I use the 21 with the M8 and use the finder whole area just fine. If anything it covers a bit more, not much, but it certainly can be used if you do not have a finder, or want to pay for one. Framing accuracy is not good, but you learn the coverage with experience. The 24 has frame lines which are well within the finder, as you already know.

 

Cheers,

Gene

 

Hi Gene,

 

The M8 finder lines for the 24 are not very accurate at most distances. The M8.2 frame lines for the 24 are set for 2 meters and nearly fill the frame. The full frame itself essentially matches a 24 focused at infinity.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[ryanpeck]

The 21mm Elmarit is fast becoming one of my favourite lenses. When pushed, I can get away without a finder, but it is not a hardship to use my old 28mm finder from my M3 days. Certainly with that finder I am impressed by the accuracy of subject alignment and field of view I can achieve. With such a fine lens, it is worth using an accurate viewfinder for optimum results.

 

I agree very much with David. I, too, have glasses and used my 21mm without a finder initially. It wasn't ideal, but not too problematic. However, once I put my brightline 28mm finder on, it really made a big difference in terms of accuracy and flow. I didn't spend time looking at the corners of the frame, as I did when I wasn't using the finder.

 

Either way, I think the Elmar is a terrific lens, under appreciated by many. I find I use it, the 35 sumilux and my nocti more than any others. Though the new CV 15mm is awfully fun.

[charlesphoto99]

The only times I use my M's (film or digital) without an external finder on wider than internal frameline lenses is when I need to use a flash. Which is usually when I'm shooting action anyways so I just shoot and sort it out later. But for more precise framing an external finder is a must and becomes second nature in no time. In fact, if I was to shoot with my 24 Elmarit more than I do (or decide on a 24 Lux vs the 21 I'm thinking) I would use an extrnal finder to, either 28 or 35 (and fudge one way or the other). I find the 24 lines just too tight, esp on the upgrade.