Nikon S3 Viewfinder

scorpius73

scorpius73

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Is it me or are the 35mm framelines really hard to see if you wear glasses? Any old tricks other than smashing your nose looking for the 35mm framelines? :bang:
 
The 35 finder on the S3 is a bit "out there" if you wear glasses. I use the S3's and the 35's as a "I can see it in the finder - and shoot". If you want exact framing you are better of with a SLR. What's important is that what you want on the image is there - it is easy to crop in the darkroom or on the screen.
The SP's 35 finder means that you have to shift your eye to the side a fraction - it is a toss-up which is more inconvinient. External finders are fine too - but add bulk.
 
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Tom A said:
The 35 finder on the S3 is a bit "out there" if you wear glasses. I use the S3's and the 35's as a "I can see it in the finder - and shoot". If you want exact framing you are better of with a SLR. What's important is that what you want on the image is there - it is easy to crop in the darkroom or on the screen.
The SP's 35 finder mens that you have to shift your eye to the side a fraction - it is a toss-up which is more inconvinient. External finders are fine too - but add bulk.
Click to expand...

Stop the presses! :D
I took my camera out of the leather case that I had it in. Seems insignificant, but that allowed me to get my glasses just a bit closer to the VF and see the entire frame (well for the most part). Now, I'm a happy camper.
I can't wait to finish the roll I have in the camera to see how the 35mm f2.5 performs.
This morning I put my SP light meter on the camera. I got it back from repair last week. If only this was 1958..............
 
Never thought of that! Mainly because I have never used a case with a rangefinder (or SLR for that matter!). Correction - I do use a case on my Robot Royal as it does not have strap-lugs and is way too heavy to carry with a wrist-strap!).
You will probably be amazed at the quality from the 35f2.5 - it is one of the best, compact, 35's around. Rivals 1960's Summicron any day.
 
I really like the expanse of the S3 finder. If you roll your eye around, you can easily frame 28mm lens at lifesize (just shoot the 35 framelines very "loose"). Be warned, however, that the metal rim of the viewfinder is really tough on eyeglasses. If you use the camera much with wides, you'll get scratched lenses.
 
eyeglasses

eyeglasses

with the reflected brightline finders on the s2 s3 &s4 , the glasses keep your eye socket just enough from the finder to see flare - you get used to it and it does not matter after a short while -- the s3 is a little worse as even with no glasses the 35 frame is a stretch to see . the quality of the nikkor lenses makes up for it in the end . well that my 2 cents.
 
Remember, too, that problems like flare and not seeing the whole frameline can be overcome by keeping both eyes open. Very easy to to with the life-size finder.
 
I recently travelled with the S3 and not wanting to take my external CV viewfinder for the 35 I decided to go for beginning composing & focusing using the 50mm frame with my glasses on, then quickly swapping my glasses onto my forehead and achieving to compose w/o my glasses, using the camera 35mm frame. Worked quite well even for street photos and it was enjoyable to use the huge 1:1 35mm frame of the S3 at last. Of course it depends on which optical correction you need - w/o my glasses what I see in the camera viewfinder is a bit blurry but still acceptable (yet I couldn't focus properly w/o my glasses on).

For your S3 a good grab would be the CV 28-35 minifinder, offering something very close to what is seen in the SP's 28-35 auxiliary finder, and small enough to be left on the camera all the time.
 
Congrats. That's 1 reason why I usually don't use "never-ready" cases. I'm an eyeglass wearer &, like you, I've found that just a few millimeters can make a significant difference re: eye relief & being able to see framelines.

scorpius73 said:
Stop the presses! :D
I took my camera out of the leather case that I had it in. Seems insignificant, but that allowed me to get my glasses just a bit closer to the VF and see the entire frame (well for the most part). Now, I'm a happy camper.
I can't wait to finish the roll I have in the camera to see how the 35mm f2.5 performs.
This morning I put my SP light meter on the camera. I got it back from repair last week. If only this was 1958..............
Click to expand...
 
The CV 28/35 is actually a much better finder than the SP's wide finder. The SP finder is about 25 percent lifesize. The CV minifinder is about 50 percent lifesize.
 
Yes but when you wear glasses the 28 frame is much easier to see in the SP viewfinder than what it is in the CV 28/35, and the black surrounding and frames edges of the SP viewfinder is very nice too. ;)
 
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