Proper attachment for the Voigtlander Angle Finder

bags27 · Dec 20, 2024

Hi all...

Just bought a lovely Blad 903 SWC (actually traded in a lot of stuff I'm not using). whoo-hoo! Can't wait for it to arrive. I bought it with the correct Blad 903 finder, so this may be more an academic than a practical question.

I see that the VC Angle finder has both a 15 and 25 angle attachment. Which would be appropriate for shooting film, and which one would be better if I wanted to use my 50c II digital back?

Thanks as always....

Sirius Glass · Dec 20, 2024

Do not use the attachments, they are too narrow. The Voightlander FOV will be an approximation. You are better of with the Hasselblad viewfinder which also shows the bubble level in the view finder.

Sirius Glass · Dec 20, 2024

Since you have the viewfinder built for that lens from Hasselblad, consider selling off the Voightlander View Finder and buying more film.

bags27 · Dec 20, 2024

Sirius Glass said:
Since you have the viewfinder built for that lens from Hasselblad, consider selling off the Voightlander View Finder and buying more film.

I appreciate your responding, but I haven't bought the VC. I am just asking the question about it.

As to the bubble level, I think those who've preferred the VC say that looking down allows them to have one eye on the camera and sense when it is squared off. I can imagine that to be true. But again, this might be more academic than a practical inquiry of mine.

Hassasin · Dec 21, 2024

Voigtlander made that finder in a version for 903 specifically, and it had 15mm attachment. I've gone similar wonder process, bought the non-SWC finder, but so far had little luck locating the 15mm (one found was crazy price tag), which is only not even half the problem. 903 version had correct mask installed inside too, which is another issue to solve. Also foot on finder is different.

But it is true that Voigtlander shows close to no distortion, whereas Hass version is basically a joke by comparison given price tag of the camera when it was sold new or goes for today. Not too difficult to get used to that fat-barrel distortion, but I continue to find it distracting.

Here is a thread I had started on this, then had to put the project on a shelf for unrelated reasons.

If I were shooting SWC frequently I would have splurged on the correct version of the finder because it is beyond superior to what Hass decided on. It also is game changer for low angle shots.

Hassasin · Dec 21, 2024

BTW the Hass 903 finder with bubble built in does make it easy to see while composing, but earlier bodies with bubble built in had own advantage. I have the late SWC/M version that had both and body bubble makes it a lot easier to set up camera for when it absolutely must be level.

Hassasin · Dec 21, 2024

THIS is the version you would need.

There is a reason why they were never cheap, but today they're I think double original offering. Thye also have 6x4.5 line in view in case 6x4.5 back is used.

bags27 · Dec 21, 2024

Thanks, Hassasin. That's really helpful.

One reason I asked this question is that I saw the finder with 2 eye pieces: both a 15 and 25 degree. And I was just trying to imagine which was for which type of camera. On the earlier thread you cited, I found the answer: "25mm attachment to mimic coverage for 4x4 A16s super slide." Curiosity satisfied!

I've read that if one uses the VC, it's better with a flash shoe extender between the cold shoe and the finder.

Hassasin · Dec 21, 2024

bags27 said:
I've read that if one uses the VC, it's better with a flash shoe extender between the cold shoe and the finder.

Not sure what you mean here. The VC finder works very well if you get one made for the camera, Version with 15/25 pieces is not made for MF set up (you can screw any front piece on 6x6 version of course), but it's 35mm finder with internal mask to match.

bags27 · Dec 21, 2024

Sorry, then--not for the first time!--I don't know what I'm talking about.

The flash shoe extender was supposed to lift the VC finder high enough not to interfere with the winder, or so I was led to believe.

Hassasin · Dec 21, 2024

bags27 said:
Sorry, then--not for the first time!--I don't know what I'm talking about.

The flash shoe extender was supposed to lift the VC finder high enough not to interfere with the winder, or so I was led to believe.

VC finder will not interfere with SWC crank. It sits square center on top in its dedicated finder shoe (in place of factory finder)

bags27 · Dec 21, 2024

Hassasin said:
VC finder will not interfere with SWC crank. It sits square center on top in its dedicated finder shoe (in place of factory finder)

Once again, I don't know what I'm talking about. At least I'm consistent! Thanks.

Sirius Glass · Dec 21, 2024

Hassasin said:
Voigtlander made that finder in a version for 903 specifically, and it had 15mm attachment. I've gone similar wonder process, bought the non-SWC finder, but so far had little luck locating the 15mm (one found was crazy price tag), which is only not even half the problem. 903 version had correct mask installed inside too, which is another issue to solve. Also foot on finder is different.

But it is true that Voigtlander shows close to no distortion, whereas Hass version is basically a joke by comparison given price tag of the camera when it was sold new or goes for today. Not too difficult to get used to that fat-barrel distortion, but I continue to find it distracting.

Here is a thread I had started on this, then had to put the project on a shelf for unrelated reasons.

If I were shooting SWC frequently I would have splurged on the correct version of the finder because it is beyond superior to what Hass decided on. It also is game changer for low angle shots.

Absolutely yes the Hasselblad 903 view finder has distortion but it is good enough for framing and using the air bubble to balance. However see exactly what the coverage at the bottom is hard to see. What to do? Turn the camera upside down if the coverage details at the bottom are important.

Proper attachment for the Voigtlander Angle Finder

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