zorki vs. kiev and viewfinders

[Michael I.]

Hello all!

I recently purchased a CLA'd zorki from Oleg - all is good except I hate the inacurate viewfinder framing(cant get a horizontal horizon - forgive me for the pun) and am not crazy about the rf patch contrast(after CLA and the Richard Oleson tape trick).

I wonder If a kiev's viewfinder\rangrfinder is better?


How is general handling,magnification and finish(things I like on the zorki 4 of 1958 vintage)

On another note - is it possible to permanently alter a viewfinder to match 35 framelines?

Thanks
Michael

[peterc]

The Zorki (at least the 3 and 4) VFs are brighter. The Kiev VF is dim, but I find it is easier to focus under most lighting conditions.

Peter

[Michael I.]

how easy is it to frame\focus with it? I mean two CLA'd cameras.
Which Kiev model has the better VF\RF(if that matters).

[peterc]

Focus with the Kiev is fine on the three I have (4, 4a, 4am). Framing, if you need to be exact, is best done with an auxilury finder.

Peter

[Jocko]

I have to admit that I find it much harder to obtain straight horizontals with a rangefinder than with an SLR. Michael, whatever camera you use, your problems could be eased by the Soviet multifinder, which features five large, bright viewfinder images - 28,35,50,85,135 - with crosshairs as in a gunsight and parallax correction. This certainly makes for much easier framing.

Cheers, Ian

[Michael I.]

I would rather not use the finder cause it adds bulk(and costs as much as a cla'd zorki\kiev) and adds a separate window for composition. Are there any dirt cheap small 50(35?) viewfinders available?

[Jocko]

50mm finders are a problem, certainly to buy cheaply. Cheap(ish) 35mm finders do become available, The tiny Helios multifinder (ther is a thread about it on this forum) is probably the cheapest, although it never impressed me.

A very acceptable, almost free, alternative is to make your own 35mm finder, as explained by RFF member Zorkikat (Jay) here - http://jay.fedka.com/

Cheers, Ian

[Michael I.]

does it make sense to make a 35 vf and add 50mm framelines
with a sharpie pen or something of this sort?

[wyk_penguin]

Yes it does, but a lenningrad or a leica makes more sense.

[Michael I.]

Yes it does, but a lenningrad or a leica makes more sense.

not on a budget they dont

[Jocko]

does it make sense to make a 35 vf and add 50mm framelines
with a sharpie pen or something of this sort?

It could be done, Michael but I really think you'd be better off with the camera finder.

Cheers, Ian