A tip for scale focusing: cheat!!

Kenj8246

Kenj8246

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I'm using my Kiev 4A as a 'portable rangefinder'. Just hang it on one shoulder and the scale focuser on the other and a meter in your front pocket.

There are always a few bikes are in the parking lot of my building at Texas A&M. Here are a couple. Shot on Fuji Neopan Acros 100 rated @ 80 and dev'd in Rodinal 1+50 for 13:30.

This is about as good as I can do, I think, and I'm not unhappy with them.


A cure for scale focusing: cheat. by kenj8246, on Flickr


A cure for scale focusing: cheat. by kenj8246, on Flickr


A cure for scale focusing: cheat. by kenj8246, on Flickr


A cure for scale focusing: cheat. by kenj8246, on Flickr

Kenny
 
Look for one of those aux rangefinders. There were quite a few that clipped into an accessory shoe. Handy for wide open and close up.
 
I quite agree, I have the accessory finder for my Bessa I, works just great, in fact, I almost prefer it to a built in range finder. I have the range finder in my pocket, measure the distance. Then I dial into the camera, and then you can just frame and shoot. It's very fast, and I don't like the attention these cameras get so I prefer to be fairly inconspicuous.
 
zuiko85 said:
Look for one of those aux rangefinders. There were quite a few that clipped into an accessory shoe. Handy for wide open and close up.
Click to expand...

I have a Voigtlander accessory rangefinder that fits a shoe. Unfortunately, the scale is maked in feet, necessitating a conversion to the meters my Novar lens is marked in. A straightforward enough thing at the even distances but how many shots work out that way? Even more unfortunately, I discovered that it's estimation is off by over a foot. Adjusting it myself is out of the question for one reason and the other; having it done is cost-prohibitive for the gain. The Kiev is accurate and needs no adjustment and has the added benefit of being able to make a decent 35mm image, as well. Weight considerations aside, not a bad solution for someone who doesn't seem to be able to accurately guesstimate the closer distances.

Kenny
 
Kenj8246 said:
I have a Voigtlander accessory rangefinder that fits a shoe. Unfortunately, the scale is maked in feet, necessitating a conversion to the meters my Novar lens is marked in. A straightforward enough thing at the even distances but how many shots work out that way? Even more unfortunately, I discovered that it's estimation is off by over a foot. Adjusting it myself is out of the question for one reason and the other; having it done is cost-prohibitive for the gain. The Kiev is accurate and needs no adjustment and has the added benefit of being able to make a decent 35mm image, as well. Weight considerations aside, not a bad solution for someone who doesn't seem to be able to accurately guesstimate the closer distances.

Kenny
Click to expand...

Sure, and load the Keiv with slide film. That kind of set up was quite common back in the 1950's.
 
zuiko85 said:
Look for one of those aux rangefinders. There were quite a few that clipped into an accessory shoe. Handy for wide open and close up.
Click to expand...

zuiko85 said:
Look for one of those aux rangefinders. There were quite a few that clipped into an accessory shoe. Handy for wide open and close up.
Click to expand...

Electronic rangefinders (building industry etc) have been used too by photographers. Prices went down to 25 Euro for the ultrasonic versions (actually based on the Polaroid ultrasonic camera autofocusing technology).

There are now Android and possibly iOS apps that use the phone camera for those measurements. Must be accurate enough for the purpose. Feet and metric output possible. Very cheap if you have the phone already. Anyone used one of them?
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kr.sira.measure&hl=nl

I was looking for a rangefinder solution too. Normally I had the Iskra with me and measured with its rangefinder when I used one of my scale focusing 6x9s but with the Kodak Anastigmat Special put on the Agfa Record body and its scale focusing in feet, a rangefinder that has feet output would make things easier. Maybe the app function can even be tweaked to correct the scale focusing flaws. A 101mm front cell focusing lens on a body that should have a 105 mm lens deviates from the original scale.

Ernst
 
I have one of those little Voigtlanders. Problem is, its' scale is in feet ( I hate doing maths) plus it is over a foot off. The little Kiev works and its' scale matches the Novar scale. Problem solved.

Ernst got me thinking about iPhone apps and I found one that looks promising if I can figure out how to get it to stop lying to me on the distance. Something about getting the correct height set.

Kenny
 
Kenj8246 said:
I have one of those little Voigtlanders. Problem is, its' scale is in feet ( I hate doing maths) plus it is over a foot off. The little Kiev works and its' scale matches the Novar scale. Problem solved.

Ernst got me thinking about iPhone apps and I found one that looks promising if I can figure out how to get it to stop lying to me on the distance. Something about getting the correct height set.

Kenny
Click to expand...

That´s a very seldom item! most of these little Voigtländer finders are in meter.
 
This one came from Great Britain, as I recall. Meters, feet...no good to me if it's not more or less accurate. I know they can be adjusted but it's such a tiny thing to be working on and I have no tools that are appropriate.

Kenny
 
Kenj8246 said:
Ernst got me thinking about iPhone apps and I found one that looks promising if I can figure out how to get it to stop lying to me on the distance. Something about getting the correct height set.

Kenny
Click to expand...

The Android Smart Tools app is quite good for the job. Default of the height you keep the phone on is 5 feet, 1.5 meter that can be changed with 1 cm steps. Not a bad rangefinder base 🙂 Calibration with 5% steps is possible , imperial or metric units settings for the output.
Not hard to imagine an app that would make the phone a viewfinder display for a folder. Kind of TLR when the phone is mounted on the shoe. Window size adjustable to the aspect ratio and lens angle of the camera. Exposure and focus data displayed underneath.

Ernst
 
Ernst Dinkla said:
The Android Smart Tools app is quite good for the job. Default of the height you keep the phone on is 5 feet, 1.5 meter that can be changed with 1 cm steps. Not a bad rangefinder base 🙂 Calibration with 5% steps is possible , imperial or metric units settings for the output.
Not hard to imagine an app that would make the phone a viewfinder display for a folder. Kind of TLR when the phone is mounted on the shoe. Window size adjustable to the aspect ratio and lens angle of the camera. Exposure and focus data displayed underneath.

Ernst
Click to expand...

Could you please post the correct name of this app?
Would be interessing to try!
 
I have a Telex external range finder

telex.JPG


It works well but it tends to be knocked easily out of alignment. It has a dedicated screw to align it again though.
 
Photo_Smith said:
Why not try the 'human rangefinder'
http://photo-utopia.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/human-rangefinder.html

They are about the same size as a credit card, I carry mine in my wallet....
Click to expand...

Nice, forgotten that one.

Pupillary distance and arm length are not correlated that well though.

To calibrate the method you could start with measuring your pupillary distance:
http://myeyeglasses.net/pupillary_distance.htm
and the length of your arm.

Or put some objects at known distances and see where the card needs adjustments.


Ernst
 
I tried that, and it's off. I must have mis-measured something. I guess I'll have to try again as time permits, as it's a great, simple idea, if you can get it to work. 🙂

I don't see any good rangefinder apps for the iPhone, but maybe the "human rangefinder" could be turned into a graphic; sounds tricky to get right.
 
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