p.2 #3 · TTArtisan released a new 35mm optical viewfinder
My finder arrived today. A few impressions -
- The body itself is aluminum but the foot is plastic. This is not mentioned in the specs nor advertising.
- The finder was not advertised as a "Bright-line" finder and it may not be a true Brightline finder as the framelines are faint and can be difficult to see. Certainly not as noticeable as seen on TTArtisans webpage illustration of the finder.
- The optics appear to be good with no noticeable distortion, even at the edges. This is almost certainly where TTArtisan spent their budget.
- The inside framelines appear to cover roughly 85mm.
- If you are an eye-glass wearer, you will not be able to see the outer 35mm framelines. Here also the above YouTube advertising video could be seen as misleading (as the user wears glasses).
Overall, this is a good finder for the money. It's defiantly a big step up from the cheap finders out there from an optical standpoint. While the optics may be at least similar to Voightlander/ Leitz Leica quality, the lack of great Brightline framelines and the plastic foot fall short in challenging more expensive metal options from Voigtlander, Zeiss and Leica (such as the original SBLOO and reproduction LIGHT LENS LAB L-VF35 SBLOO). I have not used the plastic Voigtlander 35mm finder so I don't know how it would compare. The Voigtlander 40mm all metal Brightline finder that I most recently owned had much brighter framelines with better build quality (and it is also much more expensive if you can find one). I'm curious to hear how others find this TTArtisan finder.
p.2 #4 · TTArtisan released a new 35mm optical viewfinder
Tariq Gibran wrote:
My finder arrived today. A few impressions -
- The body itself is aluminum but the foot is plastic. This is not mentioned in the specs nor advertising.
- The finder was not advertised as a "Bright-line" finder and it may not be a true Brightline finder as the framelines are faint and can be difficult to see. Certainly not as noticeable as seen on TTArtisans webpage illustration of the finder.
- The optics appear to be good with no noticeable distortion, even at the edges. This is almost certainly where TTArtisan spent their budget.
- The inside framelines appear to cover roughly 85mm.
- If you are an eye-glass wearer, you will not be able to see the outer 35mm framelines. Here also the above YouTube advertising video could be seen as misleading (as the user wears glasses).
Overall, this is a good finder for the money. It's defiantly a big step up from the cheap finders out there from an optical standpoint. While the optics may be at least similar to Voightlander/ Leitz Leica quality, the lack of great Brightline framelines and the plastic foot fall short in challenging more expensive metal options from Voigtlander, Zeiss and Leica (such as the original SBLOO and reproduction LIGHT LENS LAB L-VF35 SBLOO). I have not used the plastic Voigtlander 35mm finder so I don't know how it would compare. The Voigtlander 40mm all metal Brightline finder that I most recently owned had much brighter framelines with better build quality (and it is also much more expensive if you can find one). I'm curious to hear how others find this TTArtisan finder. ...Show more →
Thanks for the information. I should get mine tomorrow.
For me, the most important factors are optical quality, clarity, and minimal distortion - if those are solid, I will be a happy camper. The foot being plastic was probably intended to keep the viewfinder light at just 25 grams. Hopefully it's not soft plastic while will lead to issues with durability and stability.
The framelines not being bright is a bit disappointing, but hopefully they'll still be usable.
p.2 #5 · TTArtisan released a new 35mm optical viewfinder
Im tempted, but currently use an old Nippon Kogaku 35mm finder with no framelines, it was an FB marketplace find and its nice and small. But having that inner frameline that might be approx. 85mm would be nice to have
I did use to have a LLL WEISU and cracked the glass on it trying to get it out of my Leica IIIC. I've been having issues with cold shoes being too tight or too loose for some of my viewfinders. Its frustrating.
p.2 #7 · TTArtisan released a new 35mm optical viewfinder
Fred Miranda wrote:
Thanks for the information. I should get mine tomorrow.
For me, the most important factors are optical quality, clarity, and minimal distortion - if those are solid, I will be a happy camper. The foot being plastic was probably intended to keep the viewfinder light at just 25 grams. Hopefully it's not soft plastic while will lead to issues with durability and stability.
The framelines not being bright is a bit disappointing, but hopefully the'’ll still be usable.
I'm curious to hear how you find the finder. I currently do not have other finders on hand to compare against.
p.2 #8 · TTArtisan released a new 35mm optical viewfinder
I like the WEISU because it is the most compact finder I have used and the optics are very clear. The entrance view is small so it is not ideal for glasses wearers. The very edge of the frame itself marks the 35mm view and you have to look around a little to see it all. Still, it works well and is so discreet you hardly notice it is there. I really enjoy using it on my Sony RX1R.
If you want to frame straight on without shifting your eye around, I'd call it an accurate 40mm finder, so it works well when shooting Leica and 40mm lenses.
p.2 #9 · TTArtisan released a new 35mm optical viewfinder
Tariq Gibran wrote:
I'm curious to hear how you find the finder. I currently do not have other finders on hand to compare against.
My main large finder is the Zeiss 35mm (Sony FDA-V1K). My Voigtlander 28/35 viewfinder is very compact and bright, but I find the 28/35 framelines a bit cramped and would prefer a 35mm-only view. The framelines are also not always easy to see, depending on the lighting.
p.2 #10 · TTArtisan released a new 35mm optical viewfinder
I don't like the TTA finder because it has has corner nubbins for frame lines (which don't seem bright), a plastic foot which would bug me and made me wish I spent more, and it is kinda big.
My Voigtlander 35mm finder is super sweet. Tiny, all metal, super bright frame lines, really nicely made.
Only bummer is the frame lines are hard to see with glasses.
FYI I know that is a 50mm lens on the M3. This is just to show how the vf looks on it.
p.2 #11 · TTArtisan released a new 35mm optical viewfinder
Desmolicious wrote:
I don't like the TTA finder because it has has corner nubbins for frame lines (which don't seem bright), a plastic foot which would bug me and made me wish I spent more, and it is kinda big.
My Voigtlander 35mm finder is super sweet. Tiny, all metal, super bright frame lines, really nicely made.
Only bummer is the frame lines are hard to see with glasses.
FYI I know that is a 50mm lens on the M3. This is just to show how the vf looks on it.
Honestly, the Voigtlander 35mm finder is one of the best. It's a shame it's no longer in production, and now scalpers are charging an arm and a leg for it.
p.2 #12 · TTArtisan released a new 35mm optical viewfinder
I received the TTArtisan 35 finder today and have to agree that the framelines are difficult to see in any lighting, especially low light. It's disappointing compared to the Zeiss and Voigtlander finders in this regard.
The plastic foot looks cheap, but it fits both my Leica and Sony cameras securely and feels stable (though that could change over time).
The optics are just average, nothing special. Both my Voigtlander 28/35 and Zeiss 35mm finders are noticeably sharper and clearer. This one is also on the bulky side despite being lightweight. I wouldn't really recommend it unless you're on a tight budget and willing to put up with the dim framelines.
