Question For M3 Owners/Voightlander Lens Users

[Uncle Bill]

My main rangefinder is the M3, I recently picked up a Voightlander 35/2.5 lens screwmount. I had a spare M adapter ring for the 12/35/135 which fits on perfectly and the lens couples nicely. Now big skill testing question, do I need to invest in the accessory view finder that fits on the hot-shoe? I do not wear perscription glasses (yet) or can I get away with what I have? Thoughts would be welcome on this matter.

Bill

 

[Jeremy]

You aren't going to have any framelines for 35mm on the M3, but the entire viewfinder window should approximate a 35mm view if I remember correctly.

 

[geraldatwork]

As Jeremy said the entire viewfinder approximates the field of view for a 35mm lens on an M3. A lot of people seem to use the camera that way. However there is no parallax correction as with movable white frame lines. Check with some of the Russian sellers on ebay and the internet. The Russian 35mm viewfinders are decent and are only around $25.

 

[Biogon Bill]

Bill, I think that it would be worth the investment in auxiliary VF. The 35 mm lens is a "people" lens & you don't want to be cutting people out of your picture because you lack parallax correction. With practice, you can get to the point where you can do a good job estimating. In such cases when precise framing isn't important, it will be easier to estimate so that you can focus& compose in the same window. However, when more precise framing is important, you will need a 35 mm viewfinder. I would look for a Voigtlander accessory VF - much cheaper than Leica.

Your other option would be to replace the Voigtlander lens with one of the older Leica 35 mm lenses with "eyes." These lenses were built for the M3 & came with an attached spectacle viewfinder. When looking through the camera's parallax corrected 50 mm viewfinder, your view is directed through these spectacles & it becomes a 35 mm view.

 

[Lee L]

Bill,

I'd second the recommendation on the Cosina/Voigtlander finders, and would mention another alternative; the 28/35 combo minifinder. You can see all the C/V finders on this page: http://cameraquest.com/voigtacc.htm

Scroll down the page for the 35mm and 28/35 combo mini. There are photos of the mini-combo on a IIIg that give you an idea of scale. It's very light, compact, and well made, but has only .5 magnification, i.e. everything appears 1/2 life sized through it. My only complaint about mine is that the rubber rear surround grommet likes to roll out when it rubs against the cordura in my camera bags. A drop or two of glue would cure that. Looks like it's gone up $20 since I got mine.

Lee