leica SM viewfinder socket

[jean_marie_dederen]

<p>How is the viewfinder for the 50mm lens on a leica A or standard accurate, whilst not being placed above the lens? And can I use any of the two viewfinder sockets on a Ic, If or Ig (for any focal length)? Why are there two sockets anyway?</p>

[jerry_lehrer1]

<p>One is for the viewfinder and 'tother could be used for a separate rangefinder, which was common<br>

in the 1930's.</p>

<p>Jerry lehrer</p>

[rogerwb]

<p>There are two accessory shoes on the I Leicas, one for viewfinder, one for acc. rangefinder. put the viewfinder in the shoe closest to the lens.</p>

[john_shriver]

<p>Accuracy in framing is not what any Leica is about.<br>

There's parallax adjustments on many finders. But that doesn't account for change in angle of view as you focus the lens.</p>

[john_shriver]

<p>Well, I should qualify my accuracy in framing comment to screwmount Leica, and Leica M2 to M9. The M Typ 240 with Live View of course has accurate framing. The Leica SLRs also have accurate framing...</p>

[Troll]

<p>The Zeiss turret-type finders for the Contax are offset to compensate for the accessory shoe not being centrally located, and some of the Russian knockoff finders are configured to compensate for a Leica (not the Contax). <br>

If you need exact framing, get a Visoflex.</p>

[Troll]

<p>The Zeiss turret-type finders for the Contax are offset to compensate for the accessory shoe not being centrally located, and some of the Russian knockoff finders are configured to compensate for a Leica (not the Contax). <br>

If you need exact framing, get a Visoflex.</p>

[jean_marie_dederen]

<p>Still don't get it: the Leica 1 has a FIXED viewfinder which is NOT positioned above the lens. Why does roger suggest I insert the viewfinder in the shoe nearest to the lens? Does this mean that if you use the standard, Ic, If, Ig you should put the viewfinder in the shoe NOT closest to the lens (as is the case on the leica I)? Just took a film with a Ic and attached the 21mm viewfinder to the shoe that is NOT positioned over the lens, mainly because it OBSCURES the speed dial. Was that the right position? The shoe above/nearest to the lens is supposed to hold the external rangefinder, on all the technical cameras? </p>

[jean_marie_dederen]

<p>Come to think of it, the leica I, model C with non-standardized, came with three lenses. The 3,5cm and 13,5 cm viewfinders were to be placed in the shoe above the lens...? Which means the 5cm fixed viewfinder, positioned further from the lens, had been adjusted for that position? </p>

[christopher_junker1]

<p>With the exception of the Leica IIIg, all Leica SM's will have framing errors. There are two framing errors when using an auxilary viewfinder mounted in the body shell shoe. As the finder is above the lens axis, there is a vertical displacement error that can be corrected using the adjustment on the 90 and 135 bright line finders. The Leica SM's have no auxilary finder horizontal adjustment so unless you are able to mount the finder directly over the lens axis, you have to compensate by eye. Due to the wide field of view for the 35mm focal length, their auxilary finders are easiest to frame with the hardest being the 135mm length finders. If you do a lot of close-up work with a screw mount body, the above advice regarding the Visoflex system or switching to an SLR is correct as the closer you are to the object, the more framing eye compensation needed.<br>

When shooting close up don't try to do tight framing, but leave adequate margins around your subject. If you really like using Leica screw mount cameras, but also like to shoot "tight" you'll need a Leica IIIg body's automatic parallax compensation for greatly improved framing accuracy. </p>

[jean_marie_dederen]

<p>Woeps, there goes my Tuesday film! Lucky I used the 21mm width, so probably I wasn't out too much... Any suggestions for goin around the viewfinder obscuring the speed dial?</p>

[anthony_brookes5]

When using the Leica 1a for close ups the 5cm viewfinder Vidom or Weisu are both very slightly out, but it is minimal. I have used them both for photographing old documents and never had any trouble framing them adequately.