What 15mm viewfinder?

I have been very fortunate to obtain a complete Nikonos V set with a 15mm lens.

The viewfinder that came with this set is a very big beautiful piece of glass that has to be "clamped" to the back of the camera.

As such is a very solid construction but it covers the viewfinder. So its impossible to read the exposure.

The set came with the Sekonic underwater light-meter, so I am able to measure the light manually.

My problem is that everything is very bulky. Since I want to use Nikonos V with 15mm to take ambient light B&W images of the reef while free-diving having a slime lined set-up is important.

I wander what other "Hot-Shoe" mounted viewfinders might be a good alternative. Please keep in mind that I don't have a lot of time to peek though a small viewfinder. Witch is also my concern regarding measuring the light. Using the internal TTL meter or good old fashioned manual light-metering?

I always used the hotshoe one. it is meant for the newer of the 2 15mm lenses, do you have the old design or the new? sounds like you have the old one.

The hotshoe mounted one has a nice wide opening, no problem lining it up for quick shots. Cant go wrong with it

You are describing the viewfinder for the "old" style. The older lens, I believe, protruded further into the camera body. Cutting off the light meter. Not sure how to tell the difference in the two model lenses. I seem to remember that you bought the viewfinder separate from the lens. So someone might have put an old style viewfinder with the newer lens.

I use to use a sekonic meter with my Nikonos. Even though I had the new style lens and viewfinder.

Thanks for the quick reply's

The lens is the newer style suitable for the Nikonos V.

But the viewfinder is what I think the "old style with the long bracket that slides onto the hot-shoe and clamps on the bottom of the camera with a long post that sits across the viewfinder...

Any opinion's about the Sea&Sea 15mm viewfinder?

There is currently one available on Ebay.

I have seen pictures of the Ikelite viewfinder witch has various masks for the different lenses. But I am questioning how well it will work...

As for the light metering.

Will the internal TTL do the job or is the hand held metering the better way to go?

Since my plan is to mainly shoot ambient light there is no worry about the flash with regards to its settings.

Here is a link to pictures of some of the gear I recently acquired:

http://gallery.me.com/pa1zz#100483

I have used the Sea & Sea Optical viewfinder, the Nikonos new style, and the Ikelite viewfinder with masks with the 15mm. Although the Ikelite is not optical glass, it has parallax correction which is useful for Wide Angle Closeup. I didn't like the Sea & Sea. You have to be careful as there are two different Sea & Sea Models: one is metal, one is plastic, and old plastic ones often have cracks around the screw threads, which result in flooding. I actually preferred the Ikelite the best, as it seemed more accurate in framing the scene. TTL wasn't much use with wide angle; I used a strobe however. Pick up Jim Church's book on Nikonos; it is very useful for hints on ambient exposures with he 15mm. Have fun; the optics on the 15mm are really fabulous.

Cheers,

Marli

Thanks Marli,

I have the book will read it :-)

Thanks Marli,

 

I have the book will read it :-)

Though I shoot digitally now, I haven't the heart to sell my new style Nikonos 15 mm lens. I bought it used and it came with old style of viewfinder. I also have the iklite viewfinder with masks. I sold the old v/f and purchased the new style Nikons v/f. I prefer it to the other two options. I have not tried the S&S viewfinder.

I lived and worked on Bonaire for 5 years. The last two years of witch I only worked part-time and dedicated every afternoon to UW photography with my Digital SLR.

Unfortunately the camera passed away and I wasn't to fond of the Ikelite housing either. Now I live in California and don't have time / money to go on extensive dive trips in order to justify a new investment in a decent UW housing for my new digital SLR.

I have always' wanted to shoot wide angle ambient light B&W to capture the scenery. And the Nikonos 15mm is a perfect lens for this task :-)

Just a camera, lens and viewfinder with a bag full of Tri-X sounds soo much more appealing than a suitcase full of camera gear that I have to guard with my dear life while traveling ;-)

Hey I might pick-up an spare Body just in case... its a nice standby with the 28mm ;-)

Here is a link to see some of my Bonaire work:

http://gallery.me.com/pa1zz#100099

I'd use the old style viewfinder. I used it extensively with my new style (retrofocus) 15mm for years before switching to digital. The old style viewfinder is much more sturdy. The new style tended to wobble after a while.

Obviously you cannot see the tiny numbers in the camera viewfinder but you'll probably shoot manual anyway and you also have the external Sekonic meter which is much faster to use than the built-in one.

My 0,02$

Michel

I lived and worked on Bonaire for 5 years. The last two years of witch I only worked part-time and dedicated every afternoon to UW photography with my Digital SLR.

Unfortunately the camera passed away and I wasn't to fond of the Ikelite housing either. Now I live in California and don't have time / money to go on extensive dive trips in order to justify a new investment in a decent UW housing for my new digital SLR.

 

I have always' wanted to shoot wide angle ambient light B&W to capture the scenery. And the Nikonos 15mm is a perfect lens for this task :-)

 

Just a camera, lens and viewfinder with a bag full of Tri-X sounds soo much more appealing than a suitcase full of camera gear that I have to guard with my dear life while traveling ;-)

 

Hey I might pick-up an spare Body just in case... its a nice standby with the 28mm ;-)

 

Here is a link to see some of my Bonaire work:

 

http://gallery.me.com/pa1zz#100099

I lived and worked on Bonaire for 5 years. The last two years of witch I only worked part-time and dedicated every afternoon to UW photography with my Digital SLR.

Unfortunately the camera passed away and I wasn't to fond of the Ikelite housing either. Now I live in California and don't have time / money to go on extensive dive trips in order to justify a new investment in a decent UW housing for my new digital SLR.

 

I have always' wanted to shoot wide angle ambient light B&W to capture the scenery. And the Nikonos 15mm is a perfect lens for this task :-)

 

Just a camera, lens and viewfinder with a bag full of Tri-X sounds soo much more appealing than a suitcase full of camera gear that I have to guard with my dear life while traveling ;-)

 

Hey I might pick-up an spare Body just in case... its a nice standby with the 28mm ;-)

 

Here is a link to see some of my Bonaire work:

 

http://gallery.me.com/pa1zz#100099

Nice pictures Rogier. "Simplify, Simplify, Simplify, …" I think Henry David Thoreau said that. One challenge of B/W underwater is definition is colors rendered to similar gray scale tone and the diffusion of water. You can get really close with the 15 mm, that lessen the later. In a workshop with Ernie Brooks III, he suggest under exposing and push processing B/W film. The increased contrast can be perceived and an increase in sharpness.

I have a Nikonos IVa that I used a backup for my V. I will sell it at a reasonable price.

Happy snaps!

Regards,

Bob

Thanks for the quick reply's

 

As for the light metering.

Will the internal TTL do the job or is the hand held metering the better way to go?

Since my plan is to mainly shoot ambient light there is no worry about the flash with regards to its settings.

I made some nice ambient light shots with the built in meter, and wouldn't want to take an additional meter along. But, admittedly, I never tried. Used automatic exposure most of the time anyway. As you also wrote yourself, without the flash it's a real neat compact thing (although quite heavy, considering how small it is) to lug around, anything additional, even if just a Sekonic, adds at least some bulk.

I made some nice ambient light shots with the built in meter, and wouldn't want to take an additional meter along. But, admittedly, I never tried. Used automatic exposure most of the time anyway. As you also wrote yourself, without the flash it's a real neat compact thing (although quite heavy, considering how small it is) to lug around, anything additional, even if just a Sekonic, adds at least some bulk.

I've been using a Nikonos III, with its old style 15mm lens and viewfinder, and Sekonic Marine Meter II for about 30 years. It takes amazingly beautiful photographs.. if you take the time to learn how to manually meter and focus. Yep, a little small, and negatively bouyant package, but simple, and works.