Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/08/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Thanks for the info, Marc. > From: Marc James Small <msmall@infionline.net> > Reply-To: Leica Users Group <lug@leica-users.org> > Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2005 20:44:42 -0400 > To: Leica Users Group <lug@leica-users.org> > Subject: Re: [Leica] Universal viewfinder turret Russian Contax copy > > At 09:34 PM 8/23/05 +0200, Philippe Orlent wrote: >> Does anybody uses it? And is happy with it? >> I recently acquired ridiculously cheap a Kiev 4AM with a Jupiter 50 and >> 35, >> so I need something cheap but useable to put on top of it :-) >> I could go for a Sea&Sea or Nikonos VF with a smaller range, too, but >> those >> will look monstruous on it. >> (I also know the Cosina alternatives, but they cost about 3 times the >> price >> of the camera, so I do not consider that an option) > > Well, for starters, the Soviet/Post-Soviet multiple-frame VF's are from the > Ukraine and not from Russia, though a Russian plant at Great Rostov did > make both 35mm and 85mm individual-frame VF units. > > The Prewar Zeiss Ikon 436 viewfinder was cloned by the Soviets at the > Arenal works in two forms, one for the LTM FED and Zorki Cameras which > bends to the right as viewed from the rear, and the other, bending to the > left as viewed from the rear, for the Contax and Kiev RF cameras. The idea > was to keep the optical axis of the auxiliary VF over the optical axis of > the lens. > > Zeiss Ikon made these VF in a range of variations both before and after the > War but the ones the Soviets decided to copy afforded 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, > 85mm, and 135mm. > > The views are clear and clean, the cost is low, and the utility is most > high. As others have pointed out, the Leitz IMARECT is a weak > second-string player compared to this gem. (And the Postwar West German > Zeiss Ikon VF is even better, but the Soviets never chose to clone that > design.) > > I have a number of these both from Zeiss Ikon and from the Arsenal Works in > the Ukraine and all are of the first water. > > Look for FEDKA's auctions on eBay, as he generally has some of these for > sale, and tell Yuri I said hello! (He is both a vendor and a scholar, by > the way.) > > Best, > > Marc > > msmall@aya.yale.edu > Cha robh b?s fir gun ghr?s fir! > > NEW FAX NUMBER: +540-343-8505 > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >