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How wide without a viewfinder?


jimleicam3

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I think that a lot depends upon your eyesight. Some people can see the full limit of the viewfinder with no problems, whereas others, myself included, feel like their eyeball has been training for a marathon run just to see the 24mm framelines. :)

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I use a 21mm Skopar on my M8 and ended up buying the small metal CV 28mm finder to use with it. Aging eyes and glasses were the reason.

. . . David

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We very recently had a thread on this - you might like to do a search. Look at: ( http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/87373-can-i-get-away-elmarit-21mm.html )

 

My own experience is that as I use the 21mm (28mm FOV) a lot on my M8, and I wear glasses, I cannot easily see into the corners of the viewfinder so an external viewfinder is absolutely necessary. I use the little Voigtlander one, which is neat and fine (and doesn't cost a fortune.) I have superglued a rubber "O" ring on the eyepiece to prevent it ruining my glasses.

 

I use a 28mm Elmarit ASPH (35mm FOV) as well on this camera and that is very comfortable without an external viewfinder.

 

Tim

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Even if you can see into the corners of the M8 viewfinder, it's tough to get accurate framing with a 21.

 

I'd say stick to a 24mm if you want to use the M8 finder.

 

I use my 24 Elmarit much more than my 21 ASPH just because I don't like using an external finder but I do like accurate framing. When I do shoot with the 21, I always use the voigtlander finder mentioned above. It's very bright and accurate.

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Thanks for the help. I am concerned about going wider than 24 mm because of the added expense of a viewfinder. I have ordered the 24 mm f/3.8, but of course I always question my own choices. Thanks again.

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I second that with practice you will get to know your FOV and in a pinch if you use the entire viewfinder FOV it is close enough with a 21 to come out correct. I wear glasses and it works for me when I need it.

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I use my 21 all the time without finder. the edges are approximate but it is far easier than focus / adjust etc. for my style of shooting. The 21 yields excellent results. good luck. CH

 

+1

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My experience is as follows.

 

I use a CV 21mm LTM and use the 21mm/35mm adapter that brings up the 24/35mm framelines (if my memory is correct - haven't got the M8 here... just select the ltm to m adapter that brings up the 24mm framelines on your M8).

 

At close distances, the 24mm framelines are quite accurate. At infinity/far distances, use the whole VF (what you see using your naked eye without glasses). Finally, use your judgment and estimate somewhere in between for mid-distances.

 

Works wonderfully well - at least for me anyway. I am starting to enjoy the M8 more with my 21mm now that the above "tricks" work well for me.

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External finders help, but they're not totally necessary on the wide end.

 

I use a 12mm CV on the M8 and, as often as not, don't bother mounting the external viewfinder. I have a pretty good idea in my minds eye where the limits of the image are going to fall.

 

More important, is understanding how these ultra-wide lenses distort the image and where the subject will be minimally/maximally distorted.

 

I find myself doing a sort of "frame bracketing" that places the vanishing point and horizon at several points around the center of the image. Then I choose the best solution from among several examples.

 

It's amazing how easy photography becomes when you don't have to worry about framing or focusing! :D

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I use my 21 all the time without finder. the edges are approximate but it is far easier than focus / adjust etc. for my style of shooting. The 21 yields excellent results. good luck. CH

 

Would you try that with the new 18 mm f/3.8? Thanks

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  • 2 weeks later...

I use a CV 15mm without an ext viewfinder. Then again, I don't need very accurate framing and as some already said, with use, you'll get an idea of what's in the fov. With an M8, if you're not happy with what you see on the LCD, you can always make another. Strangely though, I find that 8 out of 10 times, I prefer the first shot regardless of the framing. Go figure. :confused:

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I always use my CV15 without an external viewfinder. It covers a FOV of 90 degres so it is really easy to visualize. If I need precise framing I look at the picture on the LCD and take another one to correct the framing errors. I don't take moving targets with it so it's not a problem and it saves me carrying a 20mm finder (which I don't have anyways, I just have the 15mm sold with the lens). 21mm FOV on the M8 is so close to the entire viewfinder perspective that even with glasses if you peak on the corners you'll get a rather good idea of what you'll include in the frame.

The frame lines in my M8 are inaccurate enough that I learned to trust my estimations of what should be in the picture in function of distance and focal length and just use the viewfinder as an assistance, not as exact framing information.

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I think 21mm is the limit w/o viewfinder.

24 mm is already shown. The area around it approximately gives 21mm, but not accurately. furthermore, you can't see all cormers at the same time (if you have eyeglasses like I do). But it works.

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Is it possible to use a 21 mm lens on the M8 without the external viewfinder? How wide can you go with guessing on the M8? Thanks

 

If you already have a 21mm it is a great lens on an M8; I use mine a lot. I use an old Leitz metal 28mm finder from my M3. You definitely need a finder for accurate framing, though for grabbed 'street' photography, you can get by with guesswork.

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