Leica 28mm plastik external finder?

[J. Borger]

Anybody experiences with the Leica 28mm plastik finder? Opinions please.

I use the CV 28/35 metal minifinder with a 21mm lens on a R-D1 now.
Main problem with that finder is that it scratches my glasses.
Also the barrel distortion of that finder is severe .. making it difficult to keep the lines straight.

Han

[Fred]

Can't help with the Leica finder but can say that the CV 28 finder (same shape as the CV15 finder) is OK with glasses and distorts little. It also has brightlines and parallax markers for closer subjects. I bought a used one a few weeks ago as I gather that it's been discontinued in favour of the later all metal one. See the cameraquest.com site for info (site sponsor).

Hope this helps a little.

[waileong]

Only thing for me is that it can get smudges since I don't use glasses.

However, I sold my 28 mm lens so the finder's available for sale if you are interested. See here .

Wai Leong
===

Originally Posted by J. Borger

Anybody experiences with the Leica 28mm plastik finder? Opinions please.

I use the CV 28/35 metal minifinder with a 21mm lens on a R-D1 now.
Main problem with that finder is that it scratches my glasses.
Also the barrel distortion of that finder is severe .. making it difficult to keep the lines straight.

Han

[andrewch]

Originally Posted by waileong

Only thing for me is that it can get smudges since I don't use glasses.

However, I sold my 28 mm lens so the finder's available for sale if you are interested. See here .

Wai Leong
===

I am interested in your 28mm finder if Han is not getting it. Please check PM.

[x-ray]

I just sold my 28 elmarit and Leitz finder. I felt the finder had excessive distortion and found it dfficult to shoot architectual work. The 21 leitz finder is worse. I understand the Zeiss finders are much better.

[peter_n]

I don't think Leica do a particularly good job with their finders. I have a 24mm one that came with a Leica lens and its kind of claustrophobic looking through it. The CV finders are brighter and easier to use IMO.

[andrewch]

Thanks x_ray and peter for your advice. I have only used the Voigtlander 15mm and 15D finders which have a lot of distortion, and I thought Leica finders would be better. Now your advices gives me second thought. Are there any differences in terms of quality between the Voigtlander 28mm and 28mm/35mm finders ?

[peter_n]

I have the CV 15mm and 28mm plastic finders. There's a little distortion on the 15mm, less on the 28mm. I had a 21mm Kobalux and the barrel distortion in that finder was quite poor. I think the issue gets worse the wider you go. The only really wide finder I've used with no noticeable distortion is a Russian 20mm finder. Superb optic and scaled mechanical parallax compensation as well!

[waileong]

I think you should take a look at the Cameraquest page here where all kinds of finders are discussed. Although Gandy is a Voigtlander dealer, he is very knowledgeable and his site is a treasure trove for RF lusers.

The Leitz finder referred to above is the older metal version, not the current brightline version.

Gandy explains:

"Generically there are two types of Single Focal Length finders: BRIGHTLINE finders and NON-BRIGHTLINE finders. BRIGHTLINE finders have projected framelines -- the earlier finders have none. Brightlines are a later development and work better, but are more expensive (what a surprise!).

With a few exceptions, the Leitz brightlines are generally the best single focal length finders. The earlier metal Leica brightline finders usually cost at least 50% more than the later, more cheaply made, but better optical image Leica plastic brightlines. Note that only the outer body casting is metal or plastic, NOT the optics."

On 28 mm finders, Gandy says:

"For years the Leica 28 brightline was the best, but even it was bettered by the metal Voigtlander brightline introduced in 2003. It is the best 28 finder I have ever seen. I have not tried the Contax 28 finder for the new Contax G1/G2, but it is probably comparable with the Leica brightline. The best $ to performance is the Avenon/Kobalux 28 finder -- but not a brightline. The Canon is excellent, but not a brightline. The Nikon 28 finder is not that good, and neither is the Zeiss for the old Contax rangefinder. I also have a superb black 28 Komura finder (non brightline). It's optical qualities are comparable to the Leitz, but not its finish, and costs much less."

Wai Leong
===

Originally Posted by andrewch

Thanks x_ray and peter for your advice. I have only used the Voigtlander 15mm and 15D finders which have a lot of distortion, and I thought Leica finders would be better. Now your advices gives me second thought. Are there any differences in terms of quality between the Voigtlander 28mm and 28mm/35mm finders ?

[J. Borger]

Thanks to all for your help.
The whole discussion convinces me i have to be able to look through a particular finder before buying it. Otherwise i end up with a 2nd 28mm finder (total costs of 2 almost $400) and none of them usable in the end.

Way Leong .... am i right you state X-ray is referring to another Leitz 28mm Finder than yours and that plastic finder we are disussing here has little to none barrel distortion and has a proper rubber Eye-cup so it does not scratch glasses?

[waileong]

x-ray is referring to the metal finder (marked Leitz) which is the older version. The one I have is the black finder, my ad has a picture.

The metal finder seems to have a small rubber cup. The black finder does not have such a cup since plastic does not scratch glass.

Link to the metal finder here

Link to the black finder here

Wai Leong
===

Originally Posted by J. Borger

Thanks to all for your help.
The whole discussion convinces me i have to be able to look through a particular finder before buying it. Otherwise i end up with a 2nd 28mm finder (total costs of 2 almost $400) and none of them usable in the end.

Way Leong .... am i right you state X-ray is referring to another Leitz 28mm Finder than yours and that plastic finder we are disussing here has little to none barrel distortion and has a proper rubber Eye-cup so it does not scratch glasses?

[Flyfisher Tom]

Han,

I wear glasses as well. One thing I do with my metal viewfinders is cut out a small circle from gaffers tape, and just stick it on the eyepiece. It protects my glasses from scratches and does not inhibit eye relief.

[J. Borger]

Originally Posted by Flyfisher Tom

Han,

I wear glasses as well. One thing I do with my metal viewfinders is cut out a small circle from gaffers tape, and just stick it on the eyepiece. It protects my glasses from scratches and does not inhibit eye relief.

Thanks for the tip Tom ... unfortunately this will not be easy with the CV minifinder because of the way it is constructed .. but i will give it a try.

Han

[sleepyhead]

Regarding the paralax correction lines (dotted lines) found in the CV brightline finders, at what subject distance are they meant to be used?