Another affordable optical viewfinder option for the K-01

Ecaterin · 11-23-2012, 07:52 PM - **2 Likes**

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This fellow on Ebay (located in Israel, but the shipping was darned fast) is custom altering/making optical viewfinders at quite a few different focal lengths - for rangefinder cameras, of course. Basically he's masking off exact squares on wider finders - simple and inexpensive and I'd do it myself if I *had* a source for wide finders laying around

Mine came in today (I got an approximate aps-c 14mm finder for the middle of my 10-17 range) and it's quite nice. Nothing fancy, but good clear glass, defined, level - all I need to frame a shot in bright sun (and, of course, at this focal length, I don't even have to double check focus :P). The viewfinder aims just a bit high - I'll probably stick a sharpie dot to define the top of the frame, but all in all very usable.

His prices are crazy reasonable ($20 with only $11 shipping to the US). Definitely worth trying him out. (hilariously, he has a couple of finders marked 'tele-wide' for $53 bucks - I hope they're reeeally nice compared to the tele-wides for $20 :P)

The focal lengths he's offering are:
12
15
16
18
20
21
24
25
28

.

**Fontan** · 11-23-2012, 08:17 PM

I like it. Will order a 28 (mainly for my M8 + CZ Biogon 28/2.8), although on APS-H (M8) it is probably more like 35 . . . . Maybe I ought to get 35. Oops there isn't one. Damn.

Docrwm · 11-23-2012, 08:17 PM

Very nice find. Good for the Q/Q10 as well.

Ecaterin · 11-23-2012, 08:30 PM

Originally posted by Fontan

I like it. Will order a 28 (mainly for my M8 + CZ Biogon 28/2.8), although on APS-H (M8) it is probably more like 35 . . . . Maybe I ought to get 35. Oops there isn't one. Damn.

Considering he's hand making them, maybe you could drop him a line & request your specific focal length? Couldn't hurt

**THoog** · 11-23-2012, 09:44 PM

Yeah, I stumbled across his auctions when I was looking for cheap OVF solutions. I'm a "close enough is close enough" kind of guy, so once I knew where the Tele-Wide's markings "calibrated" to (using the term extremely loosely), I had everything I needed. Still might get one of the Russian 'turret' finders, tho', just to scare the public.

**Fontan** · 11-23-2012, 10:08 PM

Originally posted by Ecaterin

Considering he's hand making them, maybe you could drop him a line & request your specific focal length? Couldn't hurt

I just might do that.

**Fontan** · 11-24-2012, 10:53 PM

Just got myself a 15!

Biro · 11-30-2012, 05:09 AM

Because these are intended for rangefinders, I'm assuming these focal lengths are full-frame equivalents, yes?

Ecaterin · 11-30-2012, 09:47 AM

Originally posted by Biro

Because these are intended for rangefinders, I'm assuming these focal lengths are full-frame equivalents, yes?

*Yes* - important to figure for

.

Ecaterin · 11-30-2012, 09:48 AM

Originally posted by Fontan

Just got myself a 15!

Excellent! Let us know how yours turns out? So far I'm quite satisfied with mine, however since it's in the middle of the 10-17 zoom range, I can't accurately judge frame accuracy beyond a certain point, yk?

.

wanderography · 11-30-2012, 05:30 PM

I wouldn't call it affordable but has anyone ever tried the ikodot viewfinders, or any old timers have any knowledge of "sports finders"? I shoot manual focus only currently and I enjoy zone focusing for a lot of my candid street shots and moving subjects, this ikodot looks perfect, especially for those who shoot autofocus, the K-01 has an option to shut the screen off, I do this with my Q and save on the battery, but than again my little Q's screen gets terribly washed out and I haven't had that problem with my K-01 yet, it's why I haven't pulled the trigger on the ikodot.

Ecaterin · 11-30-2012, 05:41 PM

wanderography - very cool! I had seen a couple of the old sports view finders, frame-types like this one, but they were all pretty big and clunky. This is perfect! Now I want one

As much as I like looking through an optical viewfinder...*no* viewfinder is an ideal I aspire to. One reason I like to shoot wide is that I can shoot hyperfocal without looking at the camera at all. This is a really cool interim option, thanks for sharing!!

wanderography · 11-30-2012, 05:56 PM

Originally posted by Ecaterin

One reason I like to shoot wide is that I can shoot hyperfocal without looking at the camera at all. This is a really cool interim option, thanks for sharing!!

Thats the reason why I haven't purchased one yet, I've also taught myself to shoot without the need of a VF with all my lenses, even my sonnetar which is 135 on the Q (I even got a 13.5cm OVF for it). But some times its just fun to use a classic style OVF.

**Fontan** · 11-30-2012, 09:32 PM

Originally posted by Ecaterin

Excellent! Let us know how yours turns out? So far I'm quite satisfied with mine, however since it's in the middle of the 10-17 zoom range, I can't accurately judge frame accuracy beyond a certain point, yk?

.

Will do.

Have not gotten it however.

perpetual3 · 03-13-2013, 11:41 AM

Originally posted by wanderography

I wouldn't call it affordable but has anyone ever tried the ikodot viewfinders, or any old timers have any knowledge of "sports finders"? I shoot manual focus only currently and I enjoy zone focusing for a lot of my candid street shots and moving subjects, this ikodot looks perfect, especially for those who shoot autofocus, the K-01 has an option to shut the screen off, I do this with my Q and save on the battery, but than again my little Q's screen gets terribly washed out and I haven't had that problem with my K-01 yet, it's why I haven't pulled the trigger on the ikodot.

the ikodot looks great. I wonder if the chrome ikodot matches the silver on the black k01...

11-23-2012, 07:52 PM - 2 Likes	#1
Ecaterin Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 723	Another affordable optical viewfinder option for the K-01 Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. This fellow on Ebay (located in Israel, but the shipping was darned fast) is custom altering/making optical viewfinders at quite a few different focal lengths - for rangefinder cameras, of course. Basically he's masking off exact squares on wider finders - simple and inexpensive and I'd do it myself if I had a source for wide finders laying around Mine came in today (I got an approximate aps-c 14mm finder for the middle of my 10-17 range) and it's quite nice. Nothing fancy, but good clear glass, defined, level - all I need to frame a shot in bright sun (and, of course, at this focal length, I don't even have to double check focus :P). The viewfinder aims just a bit high - I'll probably stick a sharpie dot to define the top of the frame, but all in all very usable. His prices are crazy reasonable ($20 with only $11 shipping to the US). Definitely worth trying him out. (hilariously, he has a couple of finders marked 'tele-wide' for $53 bucks - I hope they're reeeally nice compared to the tele-wides for $20 :P) The focal lengths he's offering are: 12 15 16 18 20 21 24 25 28 .

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11-23-2012, 08:17 PM	#2
Fontan Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: 5th floor Posts: 1,610	I like it. Will order a 28 (mainly for my M8 + CZ Biogon 28/2.8), although on APS-H (M8) it is probably more like 35 . . . . Maybe I ought to get 35. Oops there isn't one. Damn.

11-23-2012, 08:17 PM	#3
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Very nice find. Good for the Q/Q10 as well.

11-23-2012, 08:30 PM	#4
Ecaterin Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 723 Original Poster	Originally posted by Fontan I like it. Will order a 28 (mainly for my M8 + CZ Biogon 28/2.8), although on APS-H (M8) it is probably more like 35 . . . . Maybe I ought to get 35. Oops there isn't one. Damn. Considering he's hand making them, maybe you could drop him a line & request your specific focal length? Couldn't hurt

11-23-2012, 09:44 PM	#5
THoog Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: North Carolina Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,685	Yeah, I stumbled across his auctions when I was looking for cheap OVF solutions. I'm a "close enough is close enough" kind of guy, so once I knew where the Tele-Wide's markings "calibrated" to (using the term extremely loosely), I had everything I needed. Still might get one of the Russian 'turret' finders, tho', just to scare the public.

11-23-2012, 10:08 PM	#6
Fontan Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: 5th floor Posts: 1,610	Originally posted by Ecaterin Considering he's hand making them, maybe you could drop him a line & request your specific focal length? Couldn't hurt I just might do that.

11-24-2012, 10:53 PM	#7
Fontan Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: 5th floor Posts: 1,610	Just got myself a 15!

11-30-2012, 05:09 AM	#8
Biro Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,200	Because these are intended for rangefinders, I'm assuming these focal lengths are full-frame equivalents, yes?

11-30-2012, 09:47 AM	#9
Ecaterin Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 723 Original Poster	Originally posted by Biro Because these are intended for rangefinders, I'm assuming these focal lengths are full-frame equivalents, yes? Yes - important to figure for .

11-30-2012, 09:48 AM	#10
Ecaterin Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 723 Original Poster	Originally posted by Fontan Just got myself a 15! Excellent! Let us know how yours turns out? So far I'm quite satisfied with mine, however since it's in the middle of the 10-17 zoom range, I can't accurately judge frame accuracy beyond a certain point, yk? .

11-30-2012, 05:30 PM	#11
wanderography Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Hayward, California, USA Posts: 567	I wouldn't call it affordable but has anyone ever tried the ikodot viewfinders, or any old timers have any knowledge of "sports finders"? I shoot manual focus only currently and I enjoy zone focusing for a lot of my candid street shots and moving subjects, this ikodot looks perfect, especially for those who shoot autofocus, the K-01 has an option to shut the screen off, I do this with my Q and save on the battery, but than again my little Q's screen gets terribly washed out and I haven't had that problem with my K-01 yet, it's why I haven't pulled the trigger on the ikodot.

11-30-2012, 05:41 PM	#12
Ecaterin Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 723 Original Poster	wanderography - very cool! I had seen a couple of the old sports view finders, frame-types like this one, but they were all pretty big and clunky. This is perfect! Now I want one As much as I like looking through an optical viewfinder...no viewfinder is an ideal I aspire to. One reason I like to shoot wide is that I can shoot hyperfocal without looking at the camera at all. This is a really cool interim option, thanks for sharing!!

11-30-2012, 05:56 PM	#13
wanderography Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Hayward, California, USA Posts: 567	Originally posted by Ecaterin One reason I like to shoot wide is that I can shoot hyperfocal without looking at the camera at all. This is a really cool interim option, thanks for sharing!! Thats the reason why I haven't purchased one yet, I've also taught myself to shoot without the need of a VF with all my lenses, even my sonnetar which is 135 on the Q (I even got a 13.5cm OVF for it). But some times its just fun to use a classic style OVF.

11-30-2012, 09:32 PM	#14
Fontan Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: 5th floor Posts: 1,610	Originally posted by Ecaterin Excellent! Let us know how yours turns out? So far I'm quite satisfied with mine, however since it's in the middle of the 10-17 zoom range, I can't accurately judge frame accuracy beyond a certain point, yk? . Will do. Have not gotten it however.

03-13-2013, 11:41 AM	#15
perpetual3 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 33	Originally posted by wanderography I wouldn't call it affordable but has anyone ever tried the ikodot viewfinders, or any old timers have any knowledge of "sports finders"? I shoot manual focus only currently and I enjoy zone focusing for a lot of my candid street shots and moving subjects, this ikodot looks perfect, especially for those who shoot autofocus, the K-01 has an option to shut the screen off, I do this with my Q and save on the battery, but than again my little Q's screen gets terribly washed out and I haven't had that problem with my K-01 yet, it's why I haven't pulled the trigger on the ikodot. the ikodot looks great. I wonder if the chrome ikodot matches the silver on the black k01...