cool with finder?

[scott_munn1]

24mm Elmarit owners: Did you have any difficulty adapting to the

use of a finder? This is assuming you hadn't used one before,

and don't always go the hyperfocal focus route.

[paul_chefurka1]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings - I had terrible problems gettting used to the finder, in fact I couldn't do it. The external finder was one of the big reasons I sold the 24 and replaced it with a 28/2.0.

[michael_darnton1]

Can't answer for 24mm, but for 28mm, with a camera without a 28mm finder in it. Initially I worried about focus and felt irritated that I couldn't always check up on it all the time, but eventually I realized that with a 28mm lens that really didn't matter much, usually, and eventually I settled (satisfactorily) for less interaction with the RF. With a 24, that would be even moreso.

[george_b1]

No trouble using the Leica 24mm viewfinder. My trouble is envisioning just *how* to frame the subject. The 24mm, IMHO, needs a close-in primary / principal point of interest, with the background supporting the subject. I believe there is a definite learning curve with this lens, but the results are worth it. We shoot 'chromes, and the projected 24mm 'chromes are really knockouts. I carry the viewfinder in my pocket and use it to determine if I want to use the 24. If so, then I take the time to change lenses and shove the viewfinder into the slot. With us, it *isn't* street shooting or PJ. It's shooting a deliberately conceived extra wide angle picture.

[jerry_pfile1]

Given that the external 24 finder is by no means as handy as an all in one VF/RF. Its more than usable however, and the lens is more than worth this trouble.

 

Jerry

[dale_griffith]

I've only had my 24mm Elmarit for about two months, but I really like the lens. On a recent vacation I shot about 20% of my shots with it (compared with @ 60% with a 35mm Summicron, 15% with a 50mm Elmar and 5% with a 90 ASPH Summicron). It was great for building interiors and museums. I'm fine with using a separate finder. I got the new 21-24-28 finder but I think I'd rather have a single focal length finder. Most of my use for the lens will involve static scenes where focusing thru one finder and framing thru another really isn't a problem. If I were going to use the lens for rapidly changing scenes like street photography I would pre-set the exposure, zone focus and grab shots using only the separate finder.

[jackflesher]

I got along okay with the 24 BL finder. But, for some odd reason, I get along a lot better with the 21 + finder -- Why, I cannot explain...

[daveg]

I don't think I could do without the 24mm lens for interiors and landscapes. The only alternative for me would be something even wider.

 

The finder was a PITA at first, but I got used to it. If I am at a location where I am switching lenses often I leave the finder on the camera and only use it when needed. If it looks like I won't need it for a while, I remove it and store it (in it's little box) on top of the 24mm lens in my bag.

 

My plastic 24mm finder, however, is currently broken due to my carelessness when removing it from the camera. The fit is extremley tight, and if you do not carefully pull it STRAIGHT back when removing it, the plastic shoe will break away from the finder. This is NOT a robust design.

 

Even before the break I noticed an unusually deep groove forming on the right side of the plastic shoe, probably due to minor missallignment during repeated installions/removals.

 

Unfortunately, I bought the finder on the grey market, so I'll have to send it back to the seller and cross my fingers and hope that I don't end up paying for a second one. Grrrr

 

Even with it's problems, I still like it better than the 3-in-1 finder.

 

Dave

[ned_learned]

I find the viewfinder on the M-6 .58 to be just fine when shooting outdoors with the 24MM. With interiors Camera on a tripod however, I use the 21+ viewfinder for exact composition. I have a level cemented to the top of my 21MM viewfinder and use that to assure that distortion is kept to a minimum, then change viewfinders.

[andy_piper2]

Scott: I use a 21 instead of a 24 - but the finder issues are identical.

 

It took a while, but I've generally gotten used to it (the 21 being one of my most-used lenses). Occasionally if I'm rushed I blow the focus, or (oddly) the exposure, due to the distraction of switching from one window to the other. But most of the time it's pretty smooth.

 

I've tried using the .58 finder cameras - using the edges of the viewfinder beyond the framelines. But straining to 'take in' the edges with my peripheral vision gave me (literal) headaches. The compact image through the separate viewfinders is still the best route, on the whole.

 

I got my first practice with superwide finders on the Voigtlander Bessa-L and 15mm (scale focusing) and the Contax G2 (autofocus), both of which helped me get used to the accesory finders by making visual focusing a non-issue. By the time I got to the Ms I was mostly over the hump.

 

If you're shooting lively subjects, you sort of have to make it a single smooth motion - camera up to the eye, squeeze the RF images together, and then drag the camera down and to the left to put the finder in front of your eye as you start swinging the composition into place.

 

I don't use 'hyperfocus' (e.g. depending on depth of field and small apertures) but I do scale-focus the 21 fairly often to a specific subject distance (especially as my Super-Angulon focuses to a foot closer than the built-in RF).

[karl_yik1]

Havnt had exp with 24mm but use the VC 15mm. Had no problems with it. though it IS slightly slower than just using the body viewfinder. (thats if what you are photographing drastically varies in exposure or distance, otherwise, using wide angles is prob easier)

[andrew1]

Check the archives- this topic has had a lot of chat lately.

 

Like Jack, I found the 24 + viewfinder to be more trouble than it

was worth, but don't mind it at all with the 21. Hyperfocal

focusing is easier the wider the lens gets, and I find that with the

24 I still want to use the camera's RF to focus most of the time to

get the accuracy I want. This means switching between the RF

and and the VF- too cumbersome in practice. With the 21,

however, I preset exposure, zone focus, compose with the finder

and shoot.

 

I love the 24mm lens, but only use that length on my SLR's now.

For the Leica, I go right to the 21 or wider if I'm going to use a VF.

This might be the only good argument I've seen for a 0.58 Mag

M6/7

[ralph_barker]

<p>I've found that it takes me a few shots to get used to switching back and forth between the primary VF and the 24mm external one during any given outing, but after a couple of shots, the extra step becomes second nature. Then again, I'm generally not shooting subjects where speed of the composition, focus, and exposure setting process is critical. </p>

 

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<img border=2 src="http://www.leica-gallery.net/photo-lib/image/large/sacrivdrawbridge01-500-26179.jpg">

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[scott_munn1]

Thank you for the responses.