[Leica] Re: New Leica varifinder is rather huge

[photo.forrest at earthlink.net (Philip Forrest)]

Can't someone just take the widest focal length of the new Tri-Elmar, get a
finder that corresponds to that focal length and then have framelines for
the narrower focal lengths scribed on it?  That's how Canon P's finders are,
that's how our Leica M finders are.  Other than the M2, there's always at
least 2 framelines visible in our finders.  Is it not possible to engineer a
cheaper version (voigtlander) of a varifocal finder with no moving parts?
Am I thinking far too much out of the box?  I just don't like planned
obsolescence, nor solutions for problems that don't exist.
Philip

-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+photo.forrest=earthlink.net@leica-users.org
[mailto:lug-bounces+photo.forrest=earthlink.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf
Of Ted Grant
Sent: Thursday, September 28, 2006 10:24 AM
To: Leica Users Group
Subject: Re: [Leica] Re: New Leica varifinder is rather huge

Colin J offered:
Subject: [Leica] Re: New Leica varifinder is rather huge


> David,
>
> The new finder is too huge and I predict it will be major disincentive for

> buyers of the new wide angle Tri-Elmar.
>
> If using the new Tri-Elmar with the M8, you can use the much more compact 
> current finder 21-24-28mm.  This gives the exact angle of view for the 
> 16-18-21mm Tri-Elmar on the M8.
>
> But this solution does not work for the M film bodies.  You could use 
> separate finders for the focal lengths 16mm (Contax available) and 21mm 
> (Leica, Voigtlander, Zeiss Ikon, Contax available) but I do not know of an

> 18mm finder.<<<<<

Hi Colin,
>You could use separate finders for the focal lengths 16mm (Contax 
>available) and 21mm (Leica, Voigtlander, Zeiss Ikon, Contax available) but 
>I do not know of an 18mm finder.<

As far as a separate finder for an 18mm lens on the M8 it's never so 
accurate as looking through an SLR. Not that they are absolutely 100% 
perfect either, well some maybe.  And for a couple of mm's on either side of

18mm one makes it KISS simple....... you wing it with either the 21mm or 
16mm or 15mm.

I sure as heck wouldn't get concerned about how accurate the view finder was

in this case.

Besides I nearly choked on the "monster" of a tri-Elmar viewfinder!!!! I 
can't imagine such a piece of equipment sticking up that wouldn't sooner or 
later get smashed, bent or broken off during an assignment.Idiocy of design!

Probably fine on a work bench! In the field of shooting locations??????????

ted 


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