[Leica] Auxiliary Finders

[InfinityDT@aol.com]

In a message dated 10/2/98 8:28:47 AM EST, dmm@bronze.lcs.mit.edu writes:

> I also hear about these "brightline viewfinders" from time to time,
>  but again, I've never seen one.  Is that another solution?  Where can
>  I find the information?
>  
>  I'd also love to find something similar for the IIIf.  I currently use
>  an external viewfinder (covers 35 to 135) but it's a bit large and
>  the left/right image reversal is difficult to get used to.  I'd like
>  to find a beter 35mm and 50mm viewfinder for it.  Options?
>  
>  Andrew
                            
                             I think the Leica brightline finders are really
fantastic.  They are very bright and give you about life-size with each focal
length.  I find I can also keep both eyes open and the bright-line seems to
"float" in space as I see the scene naturally.  Aside from the 21mm, I also
use the 90 and 135.  The latter two also give a much larger view than even the
M6HM.  The downside to them is the need to focus/meter and then switch to the
finder.  I use mine exclusively for travel/scenic shots where I have time to
spare.  The BL finders (90/135) are also framed for field size at infinity
(rather than at closest distance like the in-camera finder) so I feel they're
optimized for scenic shots. (They also have tick marks that show the near-
range field size, as well as a manual tilting parallax correction via a
distance wheel).  For shooting where the light or subject distance is
continually changing, I rely on the in-camera frames.

For compactness, the 35 (non-BL) finder for the old Canon rfdr camera is very
nice, but hard to see with glasses.  I used one on my screw-mount years ago.
Also (but this is fairly large) Nikon made a varifocal finder (it zoomed and
changed magnification) in the 35-135, and it was copied.  I have 2 "clones"
which I use not only with Leica but also with my reflex (including 6x7; I
multiply the focal lengths by 2) to preview before switching lenses and to
"monitor" a scene when I'm shooting with the mirror locked-up.

BTW, the later Leica 35-135 viewfinder (Imarect) solved the image-reversal
problem; the finder view, though, is still quite small.

Jay