looking for a 28 mm finder: any cheap option?

[nico]

Hello,
as I use to mount my Orion 15 on the bessa R I was considering to buy a dedicated finder so I can mount it on also my bessa L and keep the nokton on the bessa R.
The only thing I'd feel a little odd would be spending more on the finder than on the lens so I was wondering if there is a cheap option for it, something like the helios finders with 35/85/135 framelines (I recently bought one for 15 euros).
I already did a search on the ebolay but I didn't find anything interesting.
Any suggestion will be highly appreciated.
Ciao

[jan normandale]

I think the FSU ones are the only solution for a viewfinder for less than $35-$50 ... alternatively you could buy an M4-P ;- )

[nico]

... alternatively you could buy an M4-P ;- )

it sounds like a "too much" interesting alternative Jan :D

[kbg32]

I highly recommend the CV 28/35 mini finder.

[bmattock]

If low-cost is a requirement, in the 1960's, a number of companies offered screw-on wide-angle adapters for fixed-lens rangefinders. Mostly, they were 28mm on 35mm film. Some were also telephoto - 85 or 90 mm, with again, a matching viewfinder.

Quality can vary, and I doubt you'll find anything that compares to a nice new one, but you can get one for cheap if you look for the 'accessory lenses' on eBay and examine them to see if they have an included viewfinder.

[thawkins]

Try Fedka.com. Yuri has a number of affordable finders on his site.

[nico]

Keith, the cv 28/35 is surely an interesting option but it's not cheap.
Bill, thanks for the suggestion, I'll check for sure, do you know any particular brand/model I should look for?
Thawkins, I'm going to look also at Fedka!
thanks,

[ferider]

How about a 2nd R, Nico ? Full finder works well with 28 - and it's cheaper than an M4P :)

[nico]

How about a 2nd R, Nico ? Full finder works well with 28 - and it's cheaper than an M4P :)

A second R? ... noooo it's like having a second wife when you still love the first :D!
Out of joke, it would be a good solution if I would'nt already have a bessaL (that i don't want to sell because it's perfect for the cv21)
Maybe a new R4 would be the "perfect murder" but then agian ... no cheap!

[bmattock]

Bill, thanks for the suggestion, I'll check for sure, do you know any particular brand/model I should look for?


I am not sure what the focal length of this one would be, but I'd be willing to bet it is 35mm and 85mm:

Item number: 200207437849

Kaligar is a brand name I know I see a lot - I could not tell you how good they are. I've bought them to raid for the viewfinder and I'm happy with mine - but YMMV.

Item number: 180222303528

[bmattock]

Item number: 320226978434

Here's a fun one:

Item number: 200168025677

A lot of aux lenses have come apart from their viewfinders over the years, so don't buy the lenses unless you know the viewfinder is included. And if you can figure out the focal length of the lenses, so much the better. But they're fun and cheap.

[nico]

Bill,
lots of fun stuff! I didn't think at all about looking among aux lenses... thanks!

[nico]

A lot of aux lenses have come apart from their viewfinders over the years, ... And if you can figure out the focal length of the lenses, so much the better.But they're fun and cheap.

... and the focal lenght seems to be a real mistery in these tele & wide aux lenses kit ...

[bmattock]

... and the focal lenght seems to be a real mistery in these tele & wide aux lenses kit ...

That is because many of them were designed to be somewhat generic - they were sold by filter size, since they screwed on to the lens like a filter. So if the base fixed lens was 45mm, it would give a different final effective focal length than a 50mm.

However, the ones made for a specific camera & lens, such as the Yashica, should have information on what the focal length of the viewfinder is.

http://www.yashica-guy.com/document/variations.html

However, I did not see it on Yashica Guy's site. Perhaps it is in the manual...

[89rzweig]

What about the FSU "Turret" finder? I keep it almost permanently on my Bessa T. It is a "multi-finder", you can choose from 28, 35, 50, 85 and 135mm focal lengths. The another advantage is that there are also black cross lines in the view. When look through it, you immediately know, where the centre of the picture is and if the verticals and horizontals are right. It really helps with composition, especially when an architecture takes place in the picture.

I paid for one about $65, which is the usual price on eBay and there are plenty of them. The build quality and finish is, of course, typically Russian, ie not what I'd call nice finish, but built like a tank...

-P.

[nico]

What about the FSU "Turret" finder? ...
I thought about it but it's quite bulky, I'd rather buy something smaller to make the combo bessaL+Orion+finder really pockatable.

[xayraa33]

make a finder.
from Jay's site.

http://www.jay.fedka.com/index_files/Page358.htm

[jolefler]

a non-working Nikon Fun Touch 5 with a 28mm lens and finder. I've been inside the camera & it looks like an easy extraction to get the finder. PM me if you want it and will cover shipping.

Jo

[Spyderman]

I've been looking for one recently, but couldn't find any for cheap. So I made one from a scrap P&S camera:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=57063&stc=1&d=1205326870

BTW: the shoe is from a piece of plastic 2mm thick, 18.5 x 16mm, then there is the thicker part to raise the VF a bit, and then the VF itself. Also the VF is covered with black cardboard and then painted flat black. Everything glued with cyano-acrylate glue.

[bmattock]

a non-working Nikon Fun Touch 5 with a 28mm lens and finder. I've been inside the camera & it looks like an easy extraction to get the finder. PM me if you want it and will cover shipping.

Jo

Now *that* is an imaginative idea! I never thought of doing that.

[nico]

Ondrej, very well done!
Jo, thanks a lot for the kind offer, I'll drop a pm later.
Ciao

[raid]

I have an Alkpex 28mm finder that could not have been costly or I would have remembered this fact. It is well made and it is clearr.

[xayraa33]

Ondrej, very well done!
Jo, thanks a lot for the kind offer, I'll drop a pm later.
Ciao

Jay's web site is very helpful.

[nico]

Jay's web site is very helpful.

Yes, you're right and if I won't find a cheap one I'll surely build one of my own. Thanks for the link,

I have an Alkpex 28mm finder that could not have been costly

Raid, thanks, I just took a look on the bay and maybe waiting a little while some alpex finder may pop up... didn't know about that brand.


ciao :)

[tripod]

Try visiting a thrift store or Sally Anne and look for those plastic autofocus cameras they sell for $5. The odd one has a 28mm lens and a finder inside the camera that you could ty to extract.