Rogrund
Antti Sivén
Is there anybody out there using a prism finder on a TLR? What is your experience? Is it easier to focus? I have seen prism finders for Rolleiflex, can you put one of these on a Mat 124G?
Prism finders for TLR's
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grainhound
Well-known
Can't answer for the Mat; I've got a Mamiya 220 & a 330, & sometimes use a porrofinder. At the time of purchase, it was ⅓ the price & weight of the prism finder. For me the biggest advantage is a situation in which you need the unreversed image for speed of composing. In that case, however, you should also have a grip. The Mamiya porrofinder dims the screen enough that you want to be somewhere that's well lit. I think the prism finder is supposed to be brighter. Don't know if there's anything like that for the Yashica, but if there is it'll likely dim the screen. The Mamiya TLR is a system: interchangable lenses, accesories, GAS inducing devices...
I hear the Mat is great fun.
I hear the Mat is great fun.
Bryce
Well-known
I also have no experience with the Yashica, but do with Mamiya's C- system. I found and bought their penta prism (not the porrofinder, with its mirrors, lighter weight, and dim view) and have used it a little.
I decided after using it a little bit that life was better without it; the thing is huge and weighs a ton. Also, the TLR's advantage for slow handheld shots is gone if you're holding it in front of your head rather than against your chest.
It is useful for action shots or with the camera bolted to a tall tripod.
I decided after using it a little bit that life was better without it; the thing is huge and weighs a ton. Also, the TLR's advantage for slow handheld shots is gone if you're holding it in front of your head rather than against your chest.
It is useful for action shots or with the camera bolted to a tall tripod.
dnk512
Well-known
I've used them on my spare Autocord. You will need to do some kind of modification for the prism to fit. Mine had a bad flip-up magnifier, so I removed the moving parts. Kept the frame with the focusing screen in it. Then I removed the mounting frame of a Kiev/Hasselblad 500 series old and beat-up prism. The rest of the prism had a good fit on the rest of the camera. I used gaffers tape all around and it held great.
I, also, had a scratched Maxwell screen installed. Here are my thoughts on that combo:
Negatives: Heavy. Top Heavy. Big(ger)/tall. Some work is required. Most likely you will not be able to go back to the flip-up magnifier.
Positives: Focus is now a breeze. Composition, too. The fixed eye point over a screen like Maxwell gets the best out of such screen. The prisms can be had for very little ($25).
--d
I, also, had a scratched Maxwell screen installed. Here are my thoughts on that combo:
Negatives: Heavy. Top Heavy. Big(ger)/tall. Some work is required. Most likely you will not be able to go back to the flip-up magnifier.
Positives: Focus is now a breeze. Composition, too. The fixed eye point over a screen like Maxwell gets the best out of such screen. The prisms can be had for very little ($25).
--d
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GeneW
Veteran
I have a pentaprism for my Rolleiflex and rarely use it. It's awkward and heavy and throws out the balance of the camera. I'd rather prefocus then flip out the center of the cover and look through the 'sports frame'.
Gene
Gene
No, I don't think there is a prism for a 124G? I don't recall ever seeing one. There is a free manual online somewhere, and I have mine buried in a box somewhere I will try to dig up. But the finder/ground glass for the 124G is not a simple swap out so I think I am right in saying there isn't a prism for it.
T
tedwhite
Guest
Not worth it, even if one existed for the Yashicamat. I had one on both a Mamiya C330 and on a Kowa 6. As others have stated, it was heavy, threw the camera's balance off, dimmed the view a bit, and was aesthetically just plain ugly.
Sole advantage: Allowed you to follow action. But what the hell, just prefocus and pop up the sportsfinder.
Best way to go: a Maxwell or Beattie brighter screen.
Sole advantage: Allowed you to follow action. But what the hell, just prefocus and pop up the sportsfinder.
Best way to go: a Maxwell or Beattie brighter screen.
Rogrund
Antti Sivén
Thanks everyone! I guess I won't be looking for a prism finder for my Mat. Sounds like the cons definitely outweigh the pros. I think I will go for a brighter screen instead.
I had a Beattie put in mine when the shutter was being serviced. It is nice.
sfj
Member
I have a pentaprism finder for my Mamiyaflex C2. It's marginally easier to focus with than the pop-up magnifier in the waist-level finder, allows a brighter view of the image in bright surroundings, but does increase the weight. As a long-time SLR user, I find it convenient to use outdoors particularly if trying to line up linear features.
mhv
Registered User
I use the prism finder on my C330, either in combination with the pistol grip (for handheld shots) or on a tripod. I find the pistol grip really essential for handheld work because it balances the weight of the prism, and allows for a more ergonomical setup.
Some people might like to work with an L-grip as well, but I find it hard on the wrists; it's only useful when I want to use both the prism and a portable flash.
One heavy kit is the C330 with prism, finder and the 180mm. You'll look like a movie camera operator. But works great for handheld spontaneous portraits.
Some people might like to work with an L-grip as well, but I find it hard on the wrists; it's only useful when I want to use both the prism and a portable flash.
One heavy kit is the C330 with prism, finder and the 180mm. You'll look like a movie camera operator. But works great for handheld spontaneous portraits.
bawang
Established
I just received my flexes, one with prism and the other WLF. As this is my first time with them, I can't really comment with any experience backing it up. But it is definitely easier to focus with the prism, way easier. But all the other drawback mentioned above are perhaps also valid. The focusing screens on both my units are probably OEMs and quite 'dark' and well 'used' (dirty). If you have access to the other screens, Maxwell or Beattie, they are probably worth a try as most everyone who have installed them praised it.
furcafe
Veteran
I routinely use prism finders on my Rolleiflexes mainly because the laterally reversed view through the waist-level is too weird & slow for me. The bulk of my photography is candid shots of people, so I generally need to shoot quickly. I've found that even a 45 degree finder (I use 1 from a Kiev via an adapter), though laterally correct, slows me down too much. I'm sure I could adapt if TLRs were my primary or only cameras, but they aren't & I'm mainly an RF & occasional SLR shooter.
Yes, TLRs are obviously designed to be used w/the waist-level VF & the prisms are relatively heavy, but for me the slight ergonomic disadvantages are far outweighed by being able to shoot faster & more intuitively. In my experience, using the sportfinder isn't a very good substitute as I'm not a pre-focuser & accurate framing becomes difficult @ close range. Also, since I'm already short, using the waist-level VF often forces me to shoot from way too low of an angle.
Yes, TLRs are obviously designed to be used w/the waist-level VF & the prisms are relatively heavy, but for me the slight ergonomic disadvantages are far outweighed by being able to shoot faster & more intuitively. In my experience, using the sportfinder isn't a very good substitute as I'm not a pre-focuser & accurate framing becomes difficult @ close range. Also, since I'm already short, using the waist-level VF often forces me to shoot from way too low of an angle.
