Voigtlander Kontur Viewfinder

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Has anyone used a Voigtlander Kontur Viewfinder (from c. 1950) on a Leica M6? To clarify, this is an accessory viewfinder, much like the Leica brightline finders, but with no view through. The theory is that you "look" through the finder with both eyes open, to see a frameline suspended in space.

I used the brightlines quite a bit, as I find it really helps in portraiture especially of the candid variety.

Any input would be welcome...

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), August 12, 2000

Answers

But you will still have to focus using the cameras finder with the split, so I don't the see the advantage. You'll likely end up with perfectly framed out of focus pictures. I have an M3 with nearly 100% magnification, and I can shoot with both eyes open placing the frame box for my 90mm in 3D space, and still jhave the split image handy. I love shooting the camera that way. I tried using a new M6 HM this way, but the finder at.85 is still too low on magnification, and it gave me a headache trying to keep to eyes open.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), August 12, 2000.

Andrew: I agree about the .85 M6. You just can't use both eyes, as the 15% difference in image size is enough to throw you off. The brightlines do work well in some kinds of situations (largely immaterial to you if you are an M3 user), especially in 'sitting' portraiture, or pictures on adults, who fidget less, and move more predictably. For these situations, in good light (not available light) the brightlines work extremely well at helping you catch the right expression or moment.

Sounds fussy, but works quite simply.

I wondered if anyone has actually used the Kontur reasonably extensively, to describe how well it works and whether it helps in anyway.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), August 12, 2000.


Check out this site for info on the Kontur finder and accessory viewfinders in general:

http://www.cameraquest.com/leicafin.htm

-- John Collier (jbcollier@home.com), August 12, 2000.


I have used Konturs extensively, most notably the square version for 6X6 format with 75-80mm lenses on folding 120 cameras. The built in viewfinders of these cameras are notoriously smallish, and there no options as with 35mm finders. I see three advantages 1. For eyeglass wearers there is a huge advantage, due to the physically larger size of the Kontur. 2. Viewing Speed (assuming prefocus or scale focus) and 3.Because you keep both eyes open, it acts as a sports finder, that is you can see outside the perifery of your current framing - which is good for moving subjects - but also gives me added confidence in composing. The down sides are, because it moves the viewing further away from the lens, there is greater parallax associated with close up work. Also, your overall speed is slowed down, as you must focus and view in two operations. But if you can prefocus and maintain that distance, or focus near infinity you ar

-- Lawrence Nieland (lnieland@ecqual.net), August 12, 2000.

I have been using a "35mm" model with a Voigtlander Vitessa-L for a month or two. Note that the "35mm" finder is for a 50mm lens with the 35mm format (or normal lens with 6x9 cm format). I acquired it because the Vitessa finder is small, and I wear glasses, and I thought it might make it easier to frame. The Vitessa-L has moving mask for parallax adjustment, but the glasses make it less effective.

The finder improves framing for me with this camera, but it's not perfect. There is a bright spot in the center of the frame, and it seems to be that my eye is oriented properly with respect to the finder when the spot is clear and in focus. My brain does the right thing, and I get good eye relief and peripheral vision. It's another way of seeing the image, perhaps a cure for the "tunnel vision" that comes with traditional finders or groundglass focusing. My focus is fine as long as I don't move after focusing with the rangefinder.

It is outstanding in low light situations. You can't get a brighter finder (short of exotic night-vision stuff) than this, since the image in your eye that is not looking through the finder is completely unimpeded.

Check out this image if you have any doubts about sharpness, but note that it is cropped a bit for framing.

-- David Goldfarb (dgoldfarb@barnard.edu), November 27, 2000.



I own a Vitessa L with Kontur finder. I always use the finder and find that it helps considerably in framing the image. I do not find it difficult or inconvenient to move from the rangefinder for focusing to the finder for viewing. I love the Vitessa. The lens is very high quality, as is the whole camera, and it produces crisp, clear pictures. The camera has wonderful fit and finish. The EV meter works surprising well, at least under most conditions, and is very easy to use.

I do not own an M6, but I do own a Leica IIIC and wonder if anyone has tried to use their Kontur finder on this model camera? How did it work?

Jacob Koff

-- Jacob Koff (jacob@swigco.com), May 16, 2001.


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