With regard to viewfinders, my preference is the Leica plastic one. It is the lowest profile, fairly accurate, doesn't shatter when you drop it (ie, knock it off the camera) and is actually quite hard to dislodge. The current metal one is NOT the one to get. See below. It's also horrendously expensive.
The Zeiss has the best view through the finder, but has a higher viewpoint, sticks up a lot, isn't as secure in the shoe and has sharp corners that snag on things. Angle of view in mine is smaller than the Leica, so isn't quite as accurate.
If your budget is small, get the plastic Voigtlander one, as it doesn't catch on things as easily as the Zeiss and doesn't slip out of the shoe as easily. Angle of view similar to Zeiss'. If the framelines are askew (and it's happened on more than one) it's really easy to fix. The metal one isn't as nice in practice (it tends to slip out of the shoe more easily, and things catch on it more easily), and is more expensive as well as having two sets of framelines, which is distracting.
I've had a number of the old metal housing Leica finders; probably about 6 or so since the mid 60's and most of them died trying to embed themselves in concrete after I knocked them off the camera. I've spent more on finders than on my Super Angulons. About 25 years ago I got wise and attached them via a 'cap keeper' arrangement, but that was a bit clumsy if effective. There are some other finders out there, but they all tend to be poorer in one aspect or another.
The 21-24-28 Leica multifinder isn't particularly good. It's rather dim and unpleasant to look through. It's made by Cosina, but isn't one of their better efforts.
One finder that is fairly decent in use is the Frankenfinder, with framelines for 16 through 28, with a bubble level and parallax compensation. It may be ugly and large, and can definitely catch on things, but for 21 you see well outside the frame and the view is quite good.
The Cosina 15-35 multifinder is not as good. You can't see outside the frame and there is no bubble level, and it is, arguably, just as ugly and likely to catch on things.
Henning
The Zeiss has the best view through the finder, but has a higher viewpoint, sticks up a lot, isn't as secure in the shoe and has sharp corners that snag on things. Angle of view in mine is smaller than the Leica, so isn't quite as accurate.
If your budget is small, get the plastic Voigtlander one, as it doesn't catch on things as easily as the Zeiss and doesn't slip out of the shoe as easily. Angle of view similar to Zeiss'. If the framelines are askew (and it's happened on more than one) it's really easy to fix. The metal one isn't as nice in practice (it tends to slip out of the shoe more easily, and things catch on it more easily), and is more expensive as well as having two sets of framelines, which is distracting.
I've had a number of the old metal housing Leica finders; probably about 6 or so since the mid 60's and most of them died trying to embed themselves in concrete after I knocked them off the camera. I've spent more on finders than on my Super Angulons. About 25 years ago I got wise and attached them via a 'cap keeper' arrangement, but that was a bit clumsy if effective. There are some other finders out there, but they all tend to be poorer in one aspect or another.
The 21-24-28 Leica multifinder isn't particularly good. It's rather dim and unpleasant to look through. It's made by Cosina, but isn't one of their better efforts.
One finder that is fairly decent in use is the Frankenfinder, with framelines for 16 through 28, with a bubble level and parallax compensation. It may be ugly and large, and can definitely catch on things, but for 21 you see well outside the frame and the view is quite good.
The Cosina 15-35 multifinder is not as good. You can't see outside the frame and there is no bubble level, and it is, arguably, just as ugly and likely to catch on things.
Henning
