jimleicam3 Posted June 19, 2009 Share #1 Posted June 19, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Many have said that it is no problem to use a 21 mm without a viewfinder on the M8, how about a 18 mm? thanks, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 19, 2009 Posted June 19, 2009 Hi jimleicam3, Take a look here Would you use a 18 mm without a viewfinder?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
falkk Posted June 19, 2009 Share #2 Posted June 19, 2009 hi there, i am using a Tri-Elmar 16-18-21 and especially in 16mm i tend not to use the in-built viewfinder - it just does not show you what u get. but of course pictures at this angle are very dynamic - mostly i shot out of the hip, so the feeling here does ask for precise composition. very unobstrucive, if shooting people. if it comes to architecture and landscape, i do sometimes use the extra viewfinder... if i use it, i find it helpful. falkk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimleicam3 Posted June 19, 2009 Author Share #3 Posted June 19, 2009 hi there, i am using a Tri-Elmar 16-18-21 and especially in 16mm i tend not to use the in-built viewfinder - it just does not show you what u get. but of course pictures at this angle are very dynamic - mostly i shot out of the hip, so the feeling here does ask for precise composition. very unobstrucive, if shooting people. if it comes to architecture and landscape, i do sometimes use the extra viewfinder... if i use it, i find it helpful. falkk How do you like the tri-elmar lens? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockyIII Posted June 19, 2009 Share #4 Posted June 19, 2009 I don't use an external viewfinder with my 18mm Super-Elmar-M lens. You get to where you pretty much know what is going to be in the frame when looking through the regular viewfinder on the M8. I've actually never even tried an external viewfinder. It seems like it would be a hassle to use one for focusing and a different one for framing. Rocky Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethC Posted June 19, 2009 Share #5 Posted June 19, 2009 Absolutely not. I was a bitconcerned when I received my Zeiss 18 that using an external finder would hinder me as I'd either have to focus through the rangefinder patch and then go to the external viewfinder or zone focus. I bought a 25mm finder and have not taken the lens off the camera since the finder arrived, the fov is great for me, I'm just looking for some willing victims/subjects/children to shoot (photographically for a change). The concern about going to an external finder is non existent, as Lars said in the thread that I started on how to do all this, that's how they used to do it in the old days. The old man from the age of the 5D Mk2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Negative Posted June 19, 2009 Share #6 Posted June 19, 2009 I use my 4/18 Distagon on the M8 all the time without an external VF; don't even own any as I don't care for them. I just use the entire VF. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubice Posted June 19, 2009 Share #7 Posted June 19, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am with Gareth and Lars - I use separate finders with my 21 Asph (and of course with the 15mm Heliar). The 21mm is not that critical, but it takes the same time to roll one's eye around the M8 viewfinder to gather what will be roughly in the picture, as it takes to move the eye to the separate finder for an accurate view. I am however, from the 'old school', having used screwmount Leicas which needed separate finders for any lens but a 50, and M2's, M3's, M4's etc which needed finders for anything wider than 35mm. I guess I got used to it after all these years...... It is surprising that many M8 users prefer to not to use accurate finders for framing, but at the same time were not happy with the original frame lines of the M8... Best, Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
efftee Posted June 19, 2009 Share #8 Posted June 19, 2009 It is surprising that many M8 users prefer to not to use accurate finders for framing, but at the same time were not happy with the original frame lines of the M8... There are all kinds of Leica users with all kinds of different preferences. Personally, when the M8 is off the tripod, I don't use any finder, sometimes not even the built-in one if focused at infinity, with the CV15. Then again, unlike others, I do not shoot anything that requires very accurate framing with the CV15 and after a while, you sorta have an idea what's going to get in the shot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fotomiguel Posted June 19, 2009 Share #9 Posted June 19, 2009 There are all kinds of Leica users with all kinds of different preferences. Personally, when the M8 is off the tripod, I don't use any finder, sometimes not even the built-in one if focused at infinity, with the CV15. Then again, unlike others, I do not shoot anything that requires very accurate framing with the CV15 and after a while, you sorta have an idea what's going to get in the shot. I do the same. One has to imagine the frame and focus approximately setting the distance with the focusring. With some practice the frame will be almost perfect. Anyway, for a ultrawide you need to imagine so much. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bybrett Posted June 19, 2009 Share #10 Posted June 19, 2009 I'm ok with 21mm on M8 without finder but 18mm is one step too far for me. Maybe you could "learn" the width but getting the horizon level is also tricky. Cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fotomiguel Posted June 19, 2009 Share #11 Posted June 19, 2009 No viewfinder, but always a bubble level on the hot shoe of my M8 for ultrawides. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted June 19, 2009 Share #12 Posted June 19, 2009 If I had a 18mm lens I wouldn't bother with a viewfinder. Just because I'd need 2 of them. 1 for 18 for use on film, which I still shoot sometimes, and a M9 FF (whenever that may be) and another for 24. That is IF the 18mm VF that Leica is coming out with doesn't have some type of 24mm framelines built into it for use on a M8. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
noah_addis Posted June 19, 2009 Share #13 Posted June 19, 2009 It is surprising that many M8 users prefer to not to use accurate finders for framing, but at the same time were not happy with the original frame lines of the M8... I have been thinking the same thing! For the way I work I often only have one chance to capture a moment, and while I'll very occasionally not use the finder, framing and composition, while done fast by instinct, are important to my work. So personally, while I don't love using external finders, I definitely use one with my 21mm and certainly would with anything wider. But only you can decide what works for you, and you need to try it out for yourself. I don't think you'll find you get accurate, repeatable framing with superwide glass and the M8 built-in viewfinder, but maybe your work doesn't depend that much on accurate framing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bybrett Posted June 19, 2009 Share #14 Posted June 19, 2009 If I had a 18mm lens I wouldn't bother with a viewfinder. Just because I'd need 2 of them. 1 for 18 for use on film, which I still shoot sometimes, and a M9 FF (whenever that may be) and another for 24.That is IF the 18mm VF that Leica is coming out with doesn't have some type of 24mm framelines built into it for use on a M8. Yes it has FF and cropped for M8. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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