Retina IIa and SBOOI finder

madNbad · Dec 7, 2022

I've owned this IIa for a few years and enjoy using it. When it was serviced, the technician installed a plastic buffer on the eyepiece to keep it from scratching my glasses. It works well and the camera is easy to use but seeing the entire finder is problematic with my poor vision. I thought of adding an accessory viewfinder and found a SBOOI for a good price. I was curious if anyone is using this combinations. The finder will arrive in about a week, any suggestions are always appreciated.

madNbad · Dec 15, 2022

Since the last post, the camera had a visit with Paul Barden. He found a lot of oil in the shutter and not much lubrication on the helical. The camera works great and now ready for the next experiment. In addition to the SBOOI, I also ordered a Reveni Double Shoe. This should give me some leeway of where to place the SOOBI for the best framing. I'll run a roll through the camera and notate if I've used the camera finder, the SBOOI in the accessory shoe or centered on the lens with the double shoe adapter. It's a fun camera to use and now a lot easier to focus!

madNbad · Dec 27, 2022

Taking the easy way for framing. Found a Sportsfinder for the IIa and unlike the SBOOI, it's centered over the lens. It's a lot easier to clean, too.

MarkS · Jan 19, 2023

The late Jim Hughes, of Camera 35 and Camera Arts magazines, promoted this setup in CA once or twice. Makes sense to me, as the VF in my IIa is small and dark.

madNbad · Jan 19, 2023

MarkS said:
The late Jim Hughes, of Camera 35 and Camera Arts magazines, promoted this setup in CA once or twice. Makes sense to me, as the VF in my IIa is small and dark.

Thank you and I was able to find a photo of him using the IIa with the SBOOI. I just processed the roll and couldn’t see enough difference in alignment between the viewfinder and the SBOOI so I’ll keep using it. The sports finder is fun to use and even has a distance adjustment.

beemermark · Jan 19, 2023

I use a SBOOI on my IIIF.

sterioma · Jan 19, 2023

beemermark said:
I use a SBOOI on my IIIF.

So do I (as you can see from my profile picture )

madNbad · Jan 19, 2023

But a Leica has the accessory shoe centered over the lens. The Retinas are to the left, next to the rewind. As an aside, if your SBOOI has dashed marks towards the top of the finder, those are for close distance with the1F and other non-rangefinder Leicas. When it’s mounted on a rangefinder camera, the lines are too high to be used.

MattKing · Jan 19, 2023

madNbad said:
But a Leica has the accessory shoe centered over the lens. The Retinas are to the left, next to the rewind. As an aside, if your SBOOI has dashed marks towards the top of the finder, those are for close distance with the1F and other non-rangefinder Leicas. When it’s mounted on a rangefinder camera, the lines are too high to be used.

An accessory finder that is displaced 2.5" from the centre line of a lens will give you a view that is displaced by 2.5" from the view seen by the lens.
For closeups, that is really important. For more distant subjects, that may hardly matter at all.

madNbad · Jan 19, 2023

Considering the minimum focus is 2.5 feet and mostly I use it for subjects that are farther than arms length, it should be fine. The sports finder has a sliding view window for framing subjects from 3.5 feet to infinity with a notch at 6 and 15 feet. Between the two, I actually prefer the sports finder, it’s centered over the lens, folds flat and fits in a pocket without snagging like the SBOOI does.

madNbad · Jan 19, 2023

Several years ago, I had an older version of the SBOOI. I bought it because it was a bargain and thought it might come in handy at some time. I tried it on a Retina IIc but with the larger top plate the offset was obviously, even with fairly distant object. Both the camera and the SBOOI were sold after a period of experimentation.

Retina IIa and SBOOI finder

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