Voigtländer Kontur Viewer

[photax]

Hi !

This is an interesting Voigtländer accessory from the 1960s: A additional Voigtländer Kontur (contour) finder for 35mm films. The glass panel is completely black with an integrated illuminated framework for a 24x36mm section. I assume, this is a device which allows you to take pictures with a VF with both eyes open. But I don`t know exactly. Is there anyone who has experience with this finder ?

PS.: The German word for “finder” is “Sucher”, which will mean “searcher”. So, we are searching for pictures, you just find them …

MIK

[nikonbob]

Mik

No direct experience with these finders but on another forum it was mentioned that these finders could be used with both eyes open. The frame line would seem to float in the air is what I remember reading also.

Bob

[PeterW]

Hi Mik,

I've never had one of these finders but friend had one many years ago. He didn't mention about keeping both eyes open when using it but he used it on top of his Contax because he liked both the larger eyepiece and the brightline feature of the Kontur. He used the Contax finder for focusing and the Kontur for composing.

I like brightline finders when I'm using a a fixed focal length lens because they help you to look at the picture in the finder instead of looking at the main subject through the finder.

I think most people, me included unles I make a conscious effort, tend to look at a subject through the finder and then, when they look at the print, find that the composition isn't quite what they intended or that unwanted objects, or people, have intruded into the edges of the picture.

How many of us, I wonder, regularly print the whole frame? With me the proportion of whole-frame prints isn't very high. I usually crop the picture on the computer screen or, in the old days, used the masking frame under the enlarger.

PeterW

[Rachel]

I have one and have used it but not very much or for a long time. More of a novelty really.

Were there not two versions of this finder .. one for 35mm and one for roll film?

[seele]

Rachel,

There were indeed different versions.

I like them, and I found the black inside the front glass is a film of black paint or something like that, I have seen units where it's flaking off, which makes the frame image positively funky.

The Kontur was not the only one of its type. Many years ago I had a Kirn, made in Scotland, and its front glass was interchangeable to suit different focal lengths, and the advanced model had parallax compensation mechanism too. Apparently they are very scarce nowadays.

[Rachel]

I must admit that they do work well. I'll have to look through my boxes and find mine. It will be interesting to try it out again.

The Kim sounds interesting; a neat variation on the idea.

[seele]

Rachel,

A quick look through my BJA's, I found a review of the Kirn (not Kim, and definitely not Kern as often misspelt) SF finder with parallax correction foot, on page 232, 1953 edition.

[Rachel]

Thanks Seele. I have a few BJA's. I'll have a look. Kirn,Kim,Kern ... I'll have to get some new glasses

[Rachel]

I found this example of a roll film Kontur finder on eBay but I don't think I'll be bidding for it at that price

fwd4.me/E5O

[photax]

Hi Rachel !
This is shockingly expensive, these finders will sell here for ca. 30.- USD.

MIK