Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/08/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Yes, the Tewe finders are really good -- I think that they are identical to the Nikon finders. Since they operate with an internal zoom, they often cover focal lengths that aren't covered by other manufacturers. Mine goes up to 180mm, for example. I have a "finder fetish" and seem to have accumulated a number of them. You might also find a bargain by getting an Argus finder. These are the same as those made for Braun cameras, and cover 50mm, 35mm and 90mm. Very compact and well made -- sort of a junior version of the prewar Zeiss/Kiev/Fed/Zorki finder. Canon made some awesome finders with attachments for very wide angle lenses -- they look like some sort of Klingon device when mounted to your camera. Frankly, upon reflection, almost everyone made better universal finders than Leica. The Soviets also made dedicated finders for various focal lengths, and you may find that this suits your needs better than the "one size fits all" compromises of a universal finder.. The jewel in the crown was probably the 20mm finder with parallax correction (which I don't have). Although these don't have bright lines, they are very much worth seeking out -- the 35mm in particular is a gem. If memory serves, I got mine for $15 on eBay. It is very light and comes in a cool little bakelite container. There were even waist level finders made for 35mm cameras -- I have one nice one that was made by another company in Wetzlar that turns your Leica into a TLR. Great idea, although it would be better for stealth photography if the viewer were brighter. Mark