Angle finders for R-D1?

[photorat]

I am using CV's externally mounted low angle finder with 21mm attachment with my 15mm Helliar. As this lens isn't rangefinder coupled, this is a great little tool. But I'd love to be able to attach something similar to the internal viewfinder for use with other lenses (something like Leica's angled finder M). Does anyone know of such a thing that would fit the R-D1? As I understand it the thread on the internval viewfinder is the same as many Nikon F series cameras. Perhaps there is something compatible there that I haven't found yet?

 

[SteveM(PA)]

I use this knock-off of the Nikon DR-5.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Angle-Finder-for-Nikon-D2X-D2H-F6-F5-DR-5-replacement_W0QQitemZ140123143309QQihZ004QQcategoryZ15215QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

It has diopter correction, and switchable 1x-2x viewing. The image is nice and bright. Controls are all crisp and smooth. It's a pleasure to use. Granted, it makes your svelte little rangefinder a bit bloated.

Just unscrew your eyepiece, and screw in the angle finder. (The finder will arrive with an adapter attached for a larger eyepiece. Just unscrew that one, and the R-D1 -sized one is beneath it. That freaked me out at first.)

It's cured a lot of my TLR lust.

 

[gyuribacsi]

Dear Steve! Many heartly thanks for your hint, I just ordered one of these anglefinders.

Regards

george

 

[SteveM(PA)]

Dear Steve! Many heartly thanks for your hint, I just ordered one of these anglefinders.

Regards

george

Yeah man! I meant to write a short review awhile back, but got sidetracked. I think you'll like it. By the way, it easily snaps from portrait (which is how I usually use it) to landscape mode. I'll attach a pic of it mounted tonight when I get home. It's another fun way to use your R-D1.

 

[SteveM(PA)]

TLR-like inconspicuosity...I didn't even know I took my picture! But, your camera is no longer un-large...

I've also used it as shown but holding the camera perpendicular, so it sort of looks like you're holding a mini DV...but you're actually shooting the girl beside you, Helen Levitt style.

 

[photorat]

Thanks!

Thanks!

Thanks a lot, Steve. Very helpful! Just wondering which framelines are still visible through the angle finder... Im imagine 28mm might be hard to capture?

 

[SteveM(PA)]

Thanks a lot, Steve. Very helpful! Just wondering which framelines are still visible through the angle finder... Im imagine 28mm might be hard to capture?

No problem! Using the 1x magnification, the 28mm is just outside the window. Using 2x magnification, the 35mm is just outside the window. Viewing your shutter speed is a little difficult with 2x, but still possible if you stretch your eye a little.

 

[photorat]

Look at this little beauty

Look at this little beauty

Just received this vintage little beauty from the 'Bay.



Designed for the F2 and other Nikon F series cameras, it also fits the Epson R-D1 viewfinder very snugly. Very compact and revolves 360 degrees. I can even see the top of the 28mm framelines (must be slightly off centre) even with glasses, something I couldn't do WITHOUT the angle finder. Also comes with a diopter focus ring.



Only drawback: the image is reversed (horizontally) which makes composition a bit of a pain, especially with a moving subject! I find myself doing all sorts of contortions to get my subject in frame, which can look rather undignified when grovelling on the ground for those ultra-low angle portraits. I'm sure that's something I'll get used to ("subject moves left, I move right").

Still, I'm really pleased with this one's compact size for just USD 49.