VC v/finder 28mm: Metal vs Plastic vs Mini

[yian nyc]

Does anyone have experience with these 28mm Voigtlander viewfinders? The metal

version (newer 2003ish) versus the plastic (older 2001-ish versus the mini (which has both

28 and 35mm lines)?

 

Basically I just bought a digital camera and cannot stand the EVF (electronic viewfinder).

My local shop has the plastic 28mm in stock, which I like. However, some research has

turned up the metal version, which is newer and supposed to be brighter (?), and the mini

-- which looks better as it is more discreet.

 

Question: Has anyone used these and can you comment on which is better? I am leaning

towards (1) the mini for its small size, and (2) the metal, for its brightness. Is the view

from the mini much smaller/dimmer than the metal version?

 

Thanks.

(P.S. I only want to shoot 28mm, so no worries about lack of focal range. I have also

bought a 50mm Kontur viewfinder for the rare occasions I will go above 28mm)

[al_kaplan1]

Just remember that the image area of almost all digital cameras is smaller than the 24x36mm 35mm frame. If you are using a 28mm lens you reall need a finder of about 40mm.

[abufletcher]

Al, this doesn't sound right to me. If the view through his EVF shows a 28mm

field of view, then that's exactly what a 28mm finder should show because the

EVF would be "corrected" for any crop factor.

 

I use the CV 21 finder on my D70 to solve the "tunnel syndrome" problem of

most DSLR's and it is an exact match to my Tokina 12-24 lens at its 12mm

setting (i.e. it's 20mm equivalent setting).

[._._z]

Al Kaplan, Master of the Digicam.

[yian nyc]

thanks guys so far.

 

To clarify, the camera is the nikon 8400 which goes from 24mm to 85mm (in 35mm

terms). I know that if I press the "tele" button three times quickly, it is roughly 28mm, and

matches the plastic 28mm VF I played with in the store. Then I just keep it there.

 

<a href="http://www.cameraquest.com/voigtacc.htm">Camera Quest</a> has a page full

of descriptions, but doesn't really compare the two. I will email Mr. Gandy and repost his

response here.

 

Anyone else played with these things?

[abufletcher]

Yian, I have the Coolpix 5000 and have never ever used the VF (which on this

model is just a hole that zooms). The EVF on the 8400 is much better and I

did strongly consider buying one of these (opted for the D70 + Tokina 12-14

instead).

 

The whole time I've been using the CP5000 I've been composing directly on

the LCD and usually use a loupe-like attachment provides a view roughtly the

size (but very pixelated) of an SLR. It also makes it possible to see the LCD

clearly in bright light. It may look sort of funky but it works and it's the only

option with the 19mm (equivalent) attachment I almost always use. With the

8400, thanks to its EVF, you can see the effect of the aux. lenses through the

VF.

 

The the black plastic CV 28 VF would be a fine match for the 8400. The metal

version looks like it belongs on a Leica. If you have both a Leica AND the

8400 I'd go with the metal one. The plastic one is about $50 cheaper (if you

can find one since they have been discontinued).

 

 

 

http://bermangraphics.com/coolpix/cp5000lcdviewfinder.htm<div></div>

[abufletcher]

,,.,,,<div></div>

[abufletcher]

Oh, I just remember one more BIG problem. The flash/accessory shoe on the

8400 is actually located a bit to the left (seen from the rear) of the lens

centerline. The fact that the plastic CV 28 VF is off-centered a bit to the left

itself would make the problem even worse.

 

I believe the metal version is centered so then you'd ONLY have the problem

of the uncentered flash shoe.

[pete1]

Hey, Leicas are funky but they work.

[abufletcher]

Yes, Pete but maybe the REAL reason people like them is this: Leicas are

work but they're funky!

[michael_darnton1]

I read an article by Bill Pierce saying that he uses the Leica finders that way on his EVF camera, and just briefly thought about it for mine. Then I realized that whereas now getting focus right is a bit of a problem with the EVF, with the external finder it would be 100% non-certain. So much for that idea.

[abufletcher]

Since Yian has said he mostly wants to shoot at 28 focus is not really a

problem. The vast majority of my wide angle shots (and that's the vast

majority of what I do with my Coolpix) are pre-focused. In fact, I've gotten

rather good at focusing on the ground (and the distance regularly shoot at)

and then walking around in a crowd with my finger half-depressed on the

shutter button. Then when I see (or start to see) a picture opportunity the

camera comes up and the finger goes down the rest of the way. You have to

be doing this to beat the lag time anyway.

 

If you have to wait to get visual focus confirmation in the viewfinder you might

as well be shooting a wall.

[vlad_chapkin]

KONTUR finder is great, just great.<br>

The trick, however, is that you can use your 28mm as Kontur (if you put a piece of milky-white (non-transaprent) plastic in front of it.

Then keeping both eyes open, you'll still see the framelines - floating in front of the actual 1:1 sceen observed by your other eye, exactly like in case of Kontur.<br>

Check their respective fields of view - and you should see your blocked 28mm turned into Kontur is about 50mm!

[yian nyc]

Reply from Stephan Gandy from my question posed to him.

 

"buy the all metal 28."