Photo thanks to Timothy Francisco
Accessory Viewfinder on top, pop-up wire frame on camera front
Related Local Links:
35mm Viewfinder issues (size, %..)
Fisheye Adapter Pages (finder tips)
Vision Aids for Failing Eyes
When I was fortunate enough to be able to purchase the above Plaubel veriwide 100 camera, it came with both an
accessory viewfinder and an integral wire frame finder. I find I like to
put the optical finder in my shirt pocket and pull it out to assess the
ideal location to get a particular ultrawide angle lens shot. Since the
Veriwide 100 lens provides a 2:3 aspect ratio, we can use a 35mm
rangefinder finder with the same angle of coverage (here, circa 18mm on
35mm SLR) and aspect ratio (24mmx36mm or 2:3).
On the other hand, the finder has considerable distortion, as you might
expect with this coverage (18mm equivalent on a 35mm SLR). So I like to
use the wire frame finder to get an undistorted view of the subject, and
perhaps to get a better idea of the full coverage (since my finder is
closer to 21mm than 18mm). Other photographers don't like wire frame
finders at all, and prefer to rely on the optical finder. This practice
makes most sense where the distortion of the finder matches the optical
distortion of the lens, as might be the case with many fisheye optics.
Viewfinders may not be familiar to many 35mm SLR users. A viewfinder is a
simple optical device that shows the likely lens coverage for a given
focal length(s) and format of camera (e.g., 2x3 for 35mm SLRs or 6x9cm
folders). These devices typically fit on top of the camera either in a
custom mounting position or in the camera's flash shoe. Some finders have
small masks that can be used to more precisely show the coverage of a
given camera or lens, especially on interchangeable cameras. A few finders
can be adjusted to show a variety of popular lens coverage, ranging from
28mm through 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, and 135mm for some popular rangefinder
models.
Unfortunately, many of these older rangefinder finders have become
collectible items in their own right, or sought out by users and
collectors alike. Finders are also easily lost, dropped and broken, or
separated from lenses when sold. So it is rather common for users to have
to scrounge up a finder to match a lens purchase. I am hopeful the new
offerings of finders for the new Voigtlander rangefinder and similar
models will result in more high end viewfinders being available for users
too. But for those on a budget, we will have a number of homebrew finder
ideas and tips below!
A few finders such
as those on the Horizon 202 panoramic camera or the Hasselblad Superwide
models have built-in bubble levels that the user can see while using the
finder for image framing. This dual feature is very handy for handheld
shooting with very wide angle cameras. You can see what will be in the
photo, while ensuring that the camera is level and thereby avoid
converging vertical lines.
Somewhat related to finders are special eye relief prisms (e.g., Nikon
F3HP prism) and action finders. The action finder on my Nikon F provides a
large, postage stamp sized image of the scene. This setup is ideal for use
with an underwater housing where the viewer's eye will necessarily be
several inches from the camera (e.g., housing plus diver mask
distance). Unfortunately, many older style finders are small and
relatively dark, making it hard to use them if you have any vision problems.
Unfortunately, most modern cameras do not use accessory viewfinders, so
production of these devices is very limited. Most finders are from
existing stocks of used models, including many from older rangefinder
cameras. A few finders are being made for older design camera models in
the Ukraine (e.g., Kiev). Some of the newer rangefinder lenses for Leica
and related screw mount cameras are also featuring matching
viewfinders. Unfortunately, these newer and nicer viewfinders are often on
sale for prices that look more like lens prices, often several hundred
dollars or more.
Tom Fuller's Return of the Fisheye article in Shutterbug Ads
from p. 100 of December 1991 describes using a low cost ($10 US) fisheye
door security viewer from a hardware supply store as a low cost fisheye
lens. Others (see below) have suggested that this same low cost fisheye
lens makes a usable very wide or even ultrawide angle finder with minimal
effort. Simply epoxy to a hot shoe mounting foot (e.g., from broken flash)
and mask it off as needed to show the correct angle and aspect ratio of
coverage.
Masking off a viewfinder can be done is several ways. Suppose the camera
opens up to allow access to the film channel, and you can open up the lens
using a "bulb" or "time" setting. You simply have to put the camera on a
tripod, open up the back, and open the lens up with "bulb" or "time"
setting and trip the shutter. You should have a view through the lens
at the scene (upside down) through the camera back. Now put a piece of
ground glass up against the film opening. If you don't have ground
glass, you may be able to carefully use a layer of Scotch magic tape or
similar tape in place of the glass. You may want to cutout a piece of
cardboard to fit in the film channel and an opening matching the film
opening so you can cover it with tape (and avoid a sticky mess in the
camera with direct taping). Use a loupe or other magnifying aid if needed.
You should be able to easily see exactly what will appear on film looking
through the lens and camera back. A brick wall makes a good subject. Align
your camera and move it so you can use a line or block of bricks for
measurement of the viewfinder mask. Looking through the viewfinder, you
should see the same block of bricks. Simply cut out a viewfinder mask from
thin plastic sheet (e.g., colored plastic report cover). Trim it to
precisely fit and match the viewfinder. Now you can carefully mark a thin
line on the plastic with a marker or pencil. Remove the plastic mask and
deepen the line with a sharp point. Repeat until you have a box or barrel
shaped set of lines which show the exact same coverage as at the film
plane.
If you don't have a camera that can be setup, you can still make an
accurate mask. Setup your camera in front of a brick wall or similar test
subject. Fully extend your tripod. Mark the pavement (or drive small nails
into the ground by each tripod leg). Shot a few shots of the boring brick
wall, and have them developed. Return to the same site with your
viewfinder and camera. Setup as before, using the small nails or pavement
marks to exactly return your tripod to the identical position. Look
through your viewfinder. You should be able to create a mask which matches
what you see in the actual photos (and so what should be on film now) with
the viewfinder mask.
Yellow plastic sheeting from report covers seems to make a usable and low
cost source of plastic. The excess sheet materials can be used for
filtering your electronic strobe. Yellow is chosen as it is a high
contrast color for human eyes (e.g., in sunglasses), but you can use other
colors if you prefer them. Some people prefer to cutout the mask with a
penknife, so they are looking through the brightest possible clear
hole. At the same time, you can see subjects from the sides about to enter
the picture area within the yellow or colored viewing area around the
mask.
Sometimes, you will discover that you don't need a mask or a viewfinder.
The Koni Omega is a 6x7cm rangefinder which has a series of
interchangeable lenses, with matching yellow framing lines in the
rangefinder window for the 90mm and 180mm lenses. The Koni-Omega RO200
also has a wide angle 58mm lens which sometimes comes with an accessory
58/60mm Koni Omega viewfinder. Mine didn't; presumably somebody swiped it
for use as a viewfinder on another camera or lost it? But the rangefinder
window is wide enough that it provides a pretty close approximation to the
edges of what you would see with the accessory viewfinder mounted. Using
the one window is more convenient too, since you can focus and compose
faster. In this case, the viewfinder often sells for nearly what the wide
angle lens alone costs ($100 US). So check to see if similar alternatives
may have been subtly designed into your camera too.
From Panoramic Mailing List:
Date: Tue, 22 Aug 2000
From: "rof@mac.com" rof@mac.com
Subject: Re: Viewfinder info requested
the original finders were made by schneider. the first had no auto
narrowing zooom for closeups. the next zoomed, for example a 150mm lens
would show the field of a 240 at infinity or thereabouts. first model
black, zoomers tan. new finders black more tubular. 45 and 23 are
identically optically, just different markings, for example the 53 biogon
in the same place on the 23. as the 75 biogon on 45 model. masks for late
models not same as earlier. i have a late 23 with some masks for $400 if
you're interested. the markings are 53,65,80,100150,180,240. the 45's last
stoop was 360. it zooms in conjuncton with the footage inf to l meter,
also in feet. fl can be changed to whatever you want easily with stickon
printing . i had them both 45 and 23, kept 23 as more useful for 612,etc.
ralph
> From: GAPiccagli@aol.com > Reply-To: panorama-l@sci.monash.edu.au > Date: Tue, 22 Aug 2000 > To: cameramakers@topica.com, panorama-l@sci.monash.edu.au > Subject: Viewfinder info requested > > Hello list, > > I notice that Linhof Universal Viewfinders crop (no pun intended) up > repeatedly as favorite solutions to viewfinders for homemade and pano > cameras. I am confused about compatibility among various models and their > masks. Can anyone steer me to a place/site/source/book/publication that > details the different models and their compatibility with various masks? Or > is there a simple, short story somebody can forward? > > In particular, there seem to be older and newer versions, 2X3 vs. 4X5 > versions, etc. > > Thanks. > > Giorgio Pic
From Hasselblad Mailing List;
Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2000
From: Evan J Dong evanjoe685@juno.com
Subject: Re: hassy swc finder
Yes Ptrick it does work well with the older SWC and SWC/M. The only
problem is the prohibitive cost of a new finder = $850 or more??
Evan
Patrick San Agustin
pats@powersurfr.com writes:
> Does anybody know if the new 903 finders will work on an old swc (not > m). I > dont mind the old viewfinder, but I would like to get a new one so I > was > looking into them especially for the rubber eyeglass protection. Any > advice > would be welcome!
From Hasselblad Mailing List;
Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2000
From: InfinityDT@aol.com
Subject: Re: hassy swc finder
pats@powersurfr.com writes:
Does anybody know if the new 903 finders will work on an old swc (not
m). I don't mind the old viewfinder, but I would like to get a new one so
I was looking into them especially for the rubber eyeglass protection. Any
advice would be welcome!
Yes they'll work. You won't be able to see the aperture/shutter rings in
the finder the way you can with the CF lens (not a fault of the finder).
Also, I find the 6x4.5 framelines annoying as I never use that format.
Considering the cost of the finder I would be tempted to fabricate some
kind of rubber, felt, foam etc. for the eyepiece if that's all you need.
From Leica Topica Mailing List: Date: Mon, 18 Mar 2002 From: Mark Bohrer lurchl@ix.netcom.com Subject: Re: need 21 mm viewfinder Dave: You're smart to avoid the Leica plastic 21mm finder. After the shoe came off mine for the second time, I bought the Leica tri-finder instead. I like the plastic 21mm a little better, but don't want to lose it. The tri-finder also renders the Tri-Elmar useable at 28mm on my M6 TTL 0.85, not just my M6 0.72 classic. By the way, the Leica plastic 21mm finder's 'brightlines' aren't. You might also consider the Voigtlander 12mm or 15mm for interior shots. Here's a link to a shot I took with the 12 of a friend's spa in their B&B;: http://www.kokophoto.com/GCNP_&_AZ/AZ%20other/MokeGuestBath.htm. >Hi, > After using the Leica 21-24-28 clip on viewfinder for a few months, I >would like to find something better for my 21mm lens. I would like a >brightline finder and am wondering how the Voigtlander 21 mm clipon >viewfinder stacks up against the others. The price is less than a Leica >version, they're both plastic bodied but the Voigtlander is off set to >center over the lens. How much distortion will I have with it and will it >give a close enough in actual coverage accuracy to allow me to use it for >interiors of model homes for clients brochures? Thanks for any user >feedback. > >Dave Saalsaa Mark Bohrer www.kokophoto.com Pro mountain bike racing on the web
[Ed. note: the item is long sold, but price and option may be of interest...] Subject: FS:Voigtlander Low Angle Finder for the SWC, Swc/m From: Bob Keene/Keene Vision Photography kabob3@attbi.com Newsgroups: rec.photo.marketplace.medium-format,rec.photo.marketplace Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2002 I have a Like New Voigtlander Low Angle Finder for the SWC, Swc/m. As new. Bought for $500 with case and original box- will sell for $350. This is the sharpest finder I have ever used! (see details of it at: www.cameraquest.com/inventor.htm ... Regards, Bob Keene Keene Vision Photography
from leica topica mailing list Date: Tue, 19 Mar 2002 From: "Dave" SaalsD@cni-usa.com Subject: Re: need 21 mm viewfinder My main complaint with the Leica Tri-finder is that, although superbly made, it just doesn't seem optically very good compared to my Voigtlander 35 finder for example. When I select 28 mm position it seems a little fuzzy. Is it me or is that your experience too. I also have some trouble with full frame viewing with my eyeglasses. Dave
From camera makers mailing list: Date: Tue, 20 May 2003 From: Samuel Tang samueltang@austarmetro.com.au To: cameramakers@rosebud.opusis.com Subject: Re: [Cameramakers] Source for accessory shoe/cold shoe? Hi John, John Stafford wrote: > Jonathan King at jking_nh@charter.net wrote: > > > The subject says it all. > > > > I'm building a 6x12 pinhole/zoneplate camera and am looking for a metal > > accessory shoe/ cold shoe that I could put on the camera for a finder or > > level. Other that stripping an old camera that has one just attached, > > and not built into the body, is there a source for these things? > > If you can build an optical finder for a 6x12, then sign me up. But a frame > finder will almost certainly suffice. Frame finders aren't crude. They can > be quite accurate. Levels? You can buy flatbottomed levels from many > sources. That obviates the need for a shoe. Cement it to the camera body or > countersink it into the body. One of the cardboard "Film-In" cameras Konica used to produce had a 17mm panoramic lens, and its viewfinder is suitable for 6X18 with a 90mm lens. I think you can strip the finder assembly and use that with suitable modifications. I used to get shoes and other parts from the service department of a camera manufacturer, perhaps a camera repairer with lots of parts cameras would be able to sell you one for a very modest sum. Best, Sam.
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