Details on Voigtlander angle finder for Hasselblad SWC

etn · Mar 22, 2023

Hassasin said:
Have found at last this view through of 6x6 version

View attachment 333317

Yes this is how it looks like inside indeed. The lines correspond to a 6x4.5 frame.

I will be able to dedicate more time on this thread this weekend, unfortunately not today as I am swamped at work. Heck, I shouldn't even visit this site during my coffee break...

Oldwino · Mar 22, 2023

If you can find one (for a non-astronomical price), it is way nicer than the standard SWC finder. Very clear view, much less distortion.
But, it changes the way you use the camera, as you are now looking down as you shoot. That may or may not matter to you.

Hassasin · Mar 22, 2023

Oldwino said:
If you can find one (for a non-astronomical price), it is way nicer than the standard SWC finder. Very clear view, much less distortion.
But, it changes the way you use the camera, as you are now looking down as you shoot. That may or may not matter to you.

This is one of the major benefits from where I am standing, low angle hand held shots, can't do them with Hassy one without doing Houdini. And since it rotates, same applies to vertical A16 framing, even if that is hardly what I use on SWC.

etn · Mar 26, 2023

Rayt said:
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.

Indeed. This site, for instance, sells one and claim it is "modified from 35mm". Pity the pictures do not show the rear side of the finder. ($1200 is bonkers if you ask me, though...)
link

I concur on the "6x6" marking on the original ones.

Hassasin · Mar 26, 2023

etn said:
Indeed. This site, for instance, sells one and claim it is "modified from 35mm". Pity the pictures do not show the rear side of the finder. ($1200 is bonkers if you ask me, though...)
link

I concur on the "6x6" marking on the original ones.

Yeah, reading this again they do actually say clearly it is a standard 35mm finder modified for square 6x6 with that 15 mm front element (and some internal mask). I do know actual original 6x6 has such marking on the back plate.

Hassasin · Mar 27, 2023

Pulled the trigger on this and time will tell, if conversion will proof itself easy enough. Still looking for the 15mm attachment, just in case somebody has one (it's standard 15mm as supplied for 35mm cameras too). So this is coming with 21/25 mm front end at a price of under 200. Looks like new.

etn · Mar 27, 2023

Do a search for "voigtlander 15mm lens attachment" or "voigtlander 15mm angled viewfinder", there are options out there. Will send you a few links in pm.

Terence · Mar 27, 2023

I have an original 6x6 I bought when they released it. I'll dig mine out. I found it far more useful than the stock straight-through finder. Bright, clean view that corresponded very accurately with what showed up on the film. I used it probably 95% of the time. Haven't broken it out since I had a kid (I'm a very late bloomer), but plan to get back to it.

Arthurwg · Mar 27, 2023

I have one, bought back in the day but never used. I'm very happy with the original Hasselblad finder.

Hassasin · Mar 27, 2023

Arthurwg said:
I have one, bought back in the day but never used. I'm very happy with the original Hasselblad finder.

There are often moments when straight view simply does not do for hand held shots, when low angle looks just plain more interesting. That is pretty much impossible with Hasselblad finder to do. I'm not bothered all that much by the silly distortion it shows, got used to it after a few rolls of film, so the superior performance of Voigtlander in that's sense was never my main point, if at all.

But my recent "discovery" that original finder does not have correct crop shown started me on the Voigtlander. Since I am getting one that will require modification for square format, I will be able to get the lines in the finder much more precisely to leave the guessing out to a lot higher degree.

Is this all worth it? That is surely debatable. But I know I cannot go low angle with straight finder, and that was enough, along with half decent price tag, to pursue. And if I don't like it as much, I should be able to stick it back on the market without any loss.

Rayt · Mar 27, 2023

I can hand hold the SWC at much lower shutter speed say 1/15 if I do it like with a Rolleiflex with the strap taunt. Holding it like a camcorder is not steady enough for me.

Hassasin · Mar 29, 2023

Got the 35 mm version, This thread will turn into the modding now, as their issue I did not see prior to this. So the mod will be rather slow going due to limited time on hand.

To resolve:

find the 15 mm attachment, at reasonable price, may require some patience
open the finder, locate the mask, seems like back plate is the way to in, but removing two screws still keeps the plate pretty hard stuck on, so need to confirm and find non marring tool to pry it off
change mounting foot, this I missed entirely, the 35 mm one has a simple foot, 6x6 is quite different for few reasons, it is clearly a piece Voigtlander needed to change and I will need to make a new one, will either try to use Hasselblad foot as template, or get good measurements from one of you guys, if you can find time to measure the whole thing. I’ll post back once I compare what I have.

Finder though looks great, much smaller than expected, and view is indeed fantastic, very clear.

Hassasin · Mar 30, 2023

Voigtlander 35mm finder as is will mount on SWC. Foot plate is much smaller overall, shorter, but ends up in about where it needs to be in lengthwise direction, but lower. Since this mod is going to require internal alteration of mask, hence it likely can be matched to lower mounting position I still intend to make a new foot plate to match what Voigtlander supplied to 6x6 version of this finder (I estimate about 2-3 mm higher position, will need to get measurement for what they made though). The advantage of lower position is the closer optical axis finder/lens, so less parallax in closer shots.

dorigatti · Mar 30, 2023

Hassasin said:
Have found at last this view through of 6x6 version

View attachment 333317

I have the original Voigtlander and this is exactly what I see in the viewfinder.

ma-me-us-12 · Jul 17, 2023

Hassasin said:
Voigtlander 35mm finder as is will mount on SWC. Foot plate is much smaller overall, shorter, but ends up in about where it needs to be in lengthwise direction, but lower. Since this mod is going to require internal alteration of mask, hence it likely can be matched to lower mounting position I still intend to make a new foot plate to match what Voigtlander supplied to 6x6 version of this finder (I estimate about 2-3 mm higher position, will need to get measurement for what they made though). The advantage of lower position is the closer optical axis finder/lens, so less parallax in closer shots.

View attachment 334225

View attachment 334226

Did you finish the modifications? Can you explain here what you did?

Axelwik · Jul 17, 2023

For low angle shots I simply point my SWC in the general direction and use the bubble to level. Otherwise it's the Hasselblad finder, or sometimes the ground glass adapter to focus on close subjects.

It's a matter of getting used to the camera and being able to visualize the approximate field of view without a finder.

Sirius Glass · Jul 17, 2023

Axelwik said:
For low angle shots I simply point my SWC in the general direction and use the bubble to level. Otherwise it's the Hasselblad finder, or sometimes the ground glass adapter to focus on close subjects.

It's a matter of getting used to the camera and being able to visualize the approximate field of view without a finder.

Always use the Hasselblad finder and the bubble. I also can use the adapter with a viewfinder attached to the back, but I have never needed it.

c41 · Jul 17, 2023

I love my Voigtlander 6x6 finder and agree it changes the way I use the SWC/M.

The biggest plus for me is looking down to frame, I can keep the camera still, check the bubble level (so crucial for this camera) and take the picture. I much prefer being able to frame more accurately than just guesstimating 90 degrees (doesn't mean my pictures are any better of course!) Framing and alignment are extra important with such a wide angle imho.

The original finder I have has the little mirror to check the bubble level but I always found that much more awkward to use successfully. Good luck with your modification to the 35mm one, let us know how you're getting on!

Axelwik · Jul 18, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
Always use the Hasselblad finder and the bubble. I also can use the adapter with a viewfinder attached to the back, but I have never needed it.

I've used the ground glass to get accurate focus on close subjects with the camera on a tripod, especially with a wide aperture. Not needed when it's more than a few meters.

Sirius Glass · Jul 18, 2023

Axelwik said:
I've used the ground glass to get accurate focus on close subjects with the camera on a tripod, especially with a wide aperture. Not needed when it's more than a few meters.

I agree, but I have not needed to do that in the10+ years that I have owned the camera. I do not have the 120mm lens nor the 135mm lens with the variable tube or bellows which shows my need for close ups with the Hasselblad.

Axelwik · Jul 18, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
I agree, but I have not needed to do that in the10+ years that I have owned the camera. I do not have the 120mm lens nor the 135mm lens with the variable tube or bellows which shows my need for close ups with the Hasselblad.

It's not often that I need it, but when I need it I need it. A year or so ago I was photographing a steam engine at an abandoned mine inside a building close up - wouldn't have nailed focus with my SWC without it.

Details on Voigtlander angle finder for Hasselblad SWC

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