I recall in previous discussion of the Voigtlander (Cosina) 15mm lens that the viewfinder is not totally accurate. Obviously it has no brightline "dashes" for the parallax error.

Has anyone experimented to see if a portion of the top of the viewfinder should be masked (with tape?) etc to make up for it's elevated position?

Any suggestions and help would be most welcome - many thanks!

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), January 19, 2002

Answers

The problem you're remembering is for the 25mm finder. The 15mm finder has a different one, also connected to having the wrong aspect ratio: the left and right sides of the image are cut off in the finder, whereas the top and bottom are really about right.

-- Michael Darnton (mdarnton@hotmail.com), January 19, 2002.

Giles, even the rangefinder mechanism in the Leica M's isn't totally accurate with respect to framing. FWIW... just learn to live with it, if you can't (like my affiliation with the Leica M accessory finders) your not out of options...

Sell it.

-- John Chan (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), January 19, 2002.

What's the problem with the 25mm viewfinder? I'm thinking of purchasing one from cameraquest. Does anybody recommend any other places?

-- Ken Kwok (kk353@yahoo.com), January 19, 2002.

Hello Giles.I cannot speak with absolute authority on the accuracy of the Voitlander 15mm finder however,after running a few rolls through on an M Leica I didn't find disturbing framing or parallax error.Voitlander may be allowing a safety margin which each user would adjust to.I am sure you would be aware any error magnifies at close working distances therefore any taping may only hold good for a certain distance.I have found the barrel distortion in this finder the characteristic I had to get used to..similar to the Hologon 15 finder.Pity Voitlander doesn't incorporate a spirit level into their finder..probably they have but considered the budget.It's so easy to throw horizontals out with this focal length without realizing it.Regards.

-- Sheridan Zantis (albada60@hotmail.com), January 19, 2002.

Apologies..Voigtlander is spelt with a "g".

-- Sheridan Zantis (albada60@hotmail.com), January 19, 2002.

The 25mm finder shows an extra strip at the top that doesn't appear on the film. Masking off about 2mm of the top of the window with black masking or electrical tape makes it right.

-- Michael Darnton (mdarnton@hotmail.com), January 19, 2002.

Giles and Ken: The V'lander 15/25 finder show a field squarer than the shape of a 35mm negative, for some reason. As noted, the 15 finder doesn't show things at the sides that WILL show up in the picture - its view horizontally is about like a 21. The 25 finder shows things top and bottom that will NOT show in the final picture (like the tops of people's heads.)

I've atually used the 15 finder with a 21 just because the view is so big and bright, and ignored the top/bottom 10% of the view.

Sheridan: V'lander makes an add-on level - it's either part of the 12mm kit or sold separately (or both) - it looks vaguely like a Hasselblad SWC finder, but without the 'view' part, just the level.

The Leica viewfinder varies in accuracy with focal length and focusing distance. The 90 shows the most variation - the lens will give you 15% more than you think at infinity, but will be very exact to the INSIDE of the frame lines at 1 meter. And I mean exact - if you're getting mounted slides or machine prints, figure the 90 cropping at close distances to be at least a frame-line-width SMALLER than the actual lines.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), January 20, 2002.

If you are willing to spend the extra buck, get a VC right-angle finder. The frame lines for 15 and 25 as excellent.

The new Contax/Nikon 25/4 finder is excellent, I'm told. I have also heard from a reliable source that Voigtlander / Cosina will soon be making a rangefinder coupled 25/4.

The 15 and 25 came out with the Bessa L, which Cosina thought would have only limited interest--it was done more for pleasure than profit apparently. That is why the viewfinders as well as the Bessa L body is so-so I guess. After the Bessa L and thoose lens became unexpected bestsellers, build quality improved.

-- Alex Shishin (shishin@pp.iij4u.or.jp), January 20, 2002.

Thanks everyone!

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), January 21, 2002.