Details on Voigtlander angle finder for Hasselblad SWC

Hassasin · Mar 20, 2023

.. or the so called 6x6 version of that regular finder.

The 6x6 version comes with 15 mm front attachment and the finder is called "modified" to fit square frame. SO far I have not been able to find out what all this means. Does anyone have any spec sheet, links, or literature regarding this finder, both 6x6 and the regular 35mm version?

Current Voigtlander web site has nothing on it I can see.

Is that "modification" only about the internal masking of some sort? Reason asking is I can have the 35mm version for very good price, and would still need to find the 15mm attachment (which far less of an issue and relatively "cheap". I wonder if that finder can be easily altered for SWC field of view. Did they do anything else to it ot call it "for SWC" ?

Hassasin · Mar 20, 2023

Have also noticed in some listings this 6x6 finder is also for 6 x 4.5, which begs even more questions: square mask with 645 lines in sight ???

Trask · Mar 21, 2023

I hope you get some answers, Hassasin, as I too wonder about those Voigtlander finders. Good luck!

Sirius Glass · Mar 21, 2023

Why not use the view finder designed to be used with the SWC? They are accurate, I know because I have used it for over 15 years. Also there are no reviews published that claim that they are not accurate.

Hassasin · Mar 21, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
Why not use the view finder designed to be used with the SWC? They are accurate, I know because I have used it for over 15 years. Also there are no reviews published that claim that they are not accurate.

Sometimes it helps to read the question as whole. The answer to your question is obvious though, it’s in my original post.

Rayt · Mar 21, 2023

I have this Voigtlander 6x6 angle finder and this is what I know:

The 6x6 version was made in limited numbers 2000 or 5000 around 15 or 20 years ago I don’t recall. It came with the 15mm optical attachment and the coverage matches the SWC reliably. I have been using one since it was available. It was not advertised by Voigtlander as a modified 135 angle finder. It was its own model.

However such modification exists because I owned one at one time. From time to time you will see one on eBay or someone passing it off as a genuine 6x6 finder. A genuine 6x6 finder will have a sticker with “6x6” on the packaging as well as etched on the underside of the finder. A modded 135 finder will not. Apparently someone had managed to successfully mod the 135 angle finder to mimic a 6x6 version and I understand without dissecting it by changing at least the mask inside. While I never had the two at the same time I did use the modded version successfully.

Hassasin · Mar 21, 2023

Rayt said:
I have this Voigtlander 6x6 angle finder and this is what I know:

The 6x6 version was made in limited numbers 2000 or 5000 around 15 or 20 years ago I don’t recall. It came with the 15mm optical attachment and the coverage matches the SWC reliably. I have been using one since it was available. It was not advertised by Voigtlander as a modified 135 angle finder. It was its own model.

However such modification exists because I owned one at one time. From time to time you will see one on eBay or someone passing it off as a genuine 6x6 finder. A genuine 6x6 finder will have a sticker with “6x6” on the packaging as well as etched on the underside of the finder. A modded 135 finder will not. Apparently someone had managed to successfully mod the 135 angle finder to mimic a 6x6 version and I understand without dissecting it by changing at least the mask inside. While I never had the two at the same time I did use the modded version successfully.

The question is, is this a dark mask or etched lInes? I read about the original 6x6 to also be a 6x4.5, is this true?

Hassasin · Mar 21, 2023

From as much as I could find out, optically the finder is not at all different, and the 15 mm attachment was available not only for the 6x6 version.

Rayt · Mar 21, 2023

Looking through the 6x6 finder I see dotted frames lines for 645. I no longer have the modded finder and can’t recall. I have never used an A16 back so never really noticed.

Rayt · Mar 21, 2023

You can attach the 25mm attachment to mimic coverage for 4x4 A16s super slide

Hassasin · Mar 21, 2023

Rayt said:
Looking through the 6x6 finder I see dotted frames lines for 645. I no longer have the modded finder and can’t recall. I have never used an A16 back so never really noticed.

So the 6x6 is full square view? Or also lines ?

Hassasin · Mar 21, 2023

Rayt said:
You can attach the 25mm attachment to mimic coverage for 4x4 A16s super slide

Is this by trial or by design ? Is there some sort of manual Voigtlander published for it?

Rayt · Mar 21, 2023

Hassasin said:
So the 6x6 is full square view? Or also lines ?

The 6x6 view has no framelines. It is like looking down at the ground glass. The view is clear, flat, bright and beautiful.

Rayt · Mar 21, 2023

Hassasin said:
Is this by trial or by design ? Is there some sort of manual Voigtlander published for it?

I don’t recall seeing any specs for it. It’s just an approximation. It’s an external finder with no adjustment for distance so it’s an approximation never exact.

Hassasin · Mar 21, 2023

Rayt said:
The 6x6 view has no framelines. It is like looking down at the ground glass. The view is clear, flat, bright and beautiful.

Ok, so what it shows is 6x6. Can you tell there is an internal mask that makes that square?

Hassasin · Mar 21, 2023

Rayt said:
I don’t recall seeing any specs for it. It’s just an approximation. It’s an external finder with no adjustment for distance so it’s an approximation never exact.

Yeah I realise that. I am digging into it because I am looking at the 35mm erosion at more than good price. So just trying to figure how the mod was done.

Hassasin · Mar 21, 2023

Am leaning towards thinking that there is a square mask for 6x6. Reason being the 15 mm attachment is wider than 38 mm on 6x6, and while 21mm attachment is about same, it was probably not possible to make it all happen without more involved redesign.

Rayt · Mar 21, 2023

I have never taken one apart so can’t say how it was done.

Rayt · Mar 21, 2023

Hassasin said:
Am leaning towards thinking that there is a square mask for 6x6. Reason being the 15 mm attachment is wider than 38 mm on 6x6, and while 21mm attachment is about same, it was probably not possible to make it all happen without more involved redesign.

That makes the most sense. When I look through the finder I see the square view in the middle of a lot of blackness unlike say a Leica external finder where the frame is at the very edge. Not sure if I am being clear. It’s like I am looking in a tunnel and the square is in the middle.

Hassasin · Mar 21, 2023

Rayt said:
I have never taken one apart so can’t say how it was done.

Sure , was not asking either, appreciate all feedback it helped quite a bit already

Hassasin · Mar 21, 2023

Rayt said:
That makes the most sense. When I look through the finder I see the square view in the middle of a lot of blackness unlike say a Leica external finder where the frame is at the very edge. Not sure if I am being clear.

Sure you are, thanks.

Hassasin · Mar 21, 2023

@Rayt just one side question, does it have diopter adjustment build in?

Rayt · Mar 21, 2023

Hassasin said:
@Rayt just one side question, does it have diopter adjustment build in?

Yes it does. It’s at the top eye piece where you look.

Hassasin · Mar 21, 2023

Rayt said:
Yes it does. It’s at the top eye piece where you look.

Thanks.

Hassasin · Mar 22, 2023

Have found at last this view through of 6x6 version

Details on Voigtlander angle finder for Hasselblad SWC

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