Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/03/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]External finders for M cameras... humbug! Degenerate I say, old boy. All camera evolution has pointed to better built-in viewfinders for normal types of lenses (i.e. 35mm to 135mm in length). If Barnack wanted external finders, he would have left the viewfinder out of the LTM Leicas and made Bessa-Ts instead. But he didn't. He gave us a finder suitable for a 50mm lens. The IIIg and the M3 were designed to eliminate external finders for 90mm and 135mm, respectively, lenses which are relatively clumsy to use with an external. If you think external finders are anything but degenerate, consider that the bug-eyes were developed for the M3. Then Leitz gave use the M2 and the M4-P, which were designed to eliminate the 35 and 28 finders respectively. This renewed sickness of external finders for cameras that already had lines for those lenses began with superwides (unknown to Barnack) and worked its way like a pernicious malady into the heartland of lenses from 35-135mm. Consistent use of these lenses causes: 1. Loss of camera compactness 2. Duplication of equipment you already have 3. Loss of rangefinder use in any quick fashion It also leaves a mark on your forehead - and when those in the know see you, they will understand your shame (those of you with 1950s health classes will get this one). If that's too oblique, external finders will blind you. DAS "Stanislaw B.A. Stawowy" wrote: > > Steve, > > I have visions of your five finders being arrayed on top of your camera > > (with those accessory shoe adapters sold by Cosina/Voigtlander) not unlike > > a barrage of guns waiting for the order to fire! Almost surreal, certainly > > ridiculous! ;-) > > City of Lost Children comes to mind... > ----- > St. > (Stanislaw B.A. Stawowy) > http://www.geocities.com/Stanislaw_Stawowy > Echelon/Carnivore lines: Bob Black, Hakim Bey, > Ralph Klein, Sabotage in the American Workplace