24mm M ASPH viewfinder image quality

[Lucien_vD <Lucien_vD@compuserve.com>]

Bob Parsons wrote:

<I also think that the 24mm ASPH is an outstanding lens, a real joy to
<use, especially at full aperture in low light with light sources in
<the picture. 

**I fully agree, I've used it for theater shot with spotlight in the image
without any reflection and for landscape with great results.

<However, I don't think the same can be said of the quality of the image
<of the bright frame in the viewfinder under any conditions. I've found
<the quality to be very variable between samples.

<I've had the opportunity to examine three viewfinders so far. One
<belonged to a secondhand lens which, for the short time I saw it, was
<fine. I didn't buy as the lens was damaged. The second one came with
<an ex-demo lens which I bought and the third was a replacement. The
<bright line frame quality of the last two has been nowhere near as
<good as the first one I saw.

<The main problem with the replacement is although I can see the full
<image area, not all sides of the bright line frame are illuminated at
<the same time. If I move my eye from side to side or up/down the missing
<sections "light up" but then the dark edge of the front of the viewfinder
<case intrudes into the field of view.

**Mine offer the same problem, but I checked also the actual 28mm & 21mm
viewfinders made in plastic and the same problem appear. (what is funny is
that there is almost no difference of coverage between the 28mm and the
24mm plastic viewfinders  !! )

<I've had a 21mm finder for the F3.4
<Super Angulon for many years (another great lens) .... no problems at all.

** I agree that the metal viewfinders are better, and the plastic
viewfinder are to expensive for what they offer.


Lucien
BELGIUM