68degrees
Well-known
Some TLRs are hard to focus especially in bright conditions there is a lot of glare on the viewfinder. Has anyone ever tried using a auxilliary rangefinder like a Telex hot shoe mount rangefinder on a TLR? If so did it help? If not do you suppose it would help in certain situations?
curmudgeon
Member
In very bright conditions I find that stopping down and using scale focussing works pretty well.
Dan Daniel
Well-known
Rollei made an item called the Rolleimeter. It fit the sports finder of Rolleiflexes, turned it into a rangefinder focusing camera. From the little I've heard, very nice for low light when the ground glass is hard to use. And unlike a separate rangefinder unit, it is coupled to the focusing system.
Do a search- Rolleimeter.
Do a search- Rolleimeter.
hanskerensky
Well-known
I use auxilliary rangefinders (Telex, Watameter) a lot with MF folders so guess they work as well for a TLR. Because not all TLR's have an accessory shoe ( and if they have it is mostly in an inconvenient place for a rangefinder ) you would use that rangefinder handheld.
One of the things to check first is if the auxilliary rangefinder still functions perfectly. Some were way off when i got them ! So decide in which range you would work the most with this rangefinder ( i.e. 2 or 3 meters ) and put up a clear target at that exact (measured with a tape) distance and see if the rangefinder works properly. Adjust it if necessary.
Next step is to sync the distance scale of the TLR with the rangefinder. So make a series of testshots of that target set up at the same distance from the TLR as used earlier to check the rangefinder. Make 1 photo with the right distance set at the focus scale, and some photos set further away and some more nearby on the focus scale. Write down these distances.
After developing the film determine which focus distance was the most accurate and now you have got at last a reference with respect to your rangefinder (at that particular distance).
Dan Daniel wrote about the Rolleimeter and this is ofcourse the most ideal rangefinder if you happen to have a Rollei TLR. But also that one would need adjusting to a particular camera.
One of the things to check first is if the auxilliary rangefinder still functions perfectly. Some were way off when i got them ! So decide in which range you would work the most with this rangefinder ( i.e. 2 or 3 meters ) and put up a clear target at that exact (measured with a tape) distance and see if the rangefinder works properly. Adjust it if necessary.
Next step is to sync the distance scale of the TLR with the rangefinder. So make a series of testshots of that target set up at the same distance from the TLR as used earlier to check the rangefinder. Make 1 photo with the right distance set at the focus scale, and some photos set further away and some more nearby on the focus scale. Write down these distances.
After developing the film determine which focus distance was the most accurate and now you have got at last a reference with respect to your rangefinder (at that particular distance).
Dan Daniel wrote about the Rolleimeter and this is ofcourse the most ideal rangefinder if you happen to have a Rollei TLR. But also that one would need adjusting to a particular camera.
68degrees
Well-known
Ok this is encouraging thanks for all your input. Ya it would be sweet if it was coupled. If I hand hold it it will always be off by 6" or so because it wont be exactly the same distance from the film plane to the subject. Ill have to rely on DOF to pick of the slack. The further away the subject the better it will work. I plan to use it only in dim or bright lighting when I cant see the viewfinder very well. Of course I can just use zone focusing for those situations but I wanted something a little sharper.
dabick42
Well-known
@ 68degrees...
I highly recommend the Rolleimeter, as recommended by Dan Daniel. It's very effective for focussing in low light and for rapid follow-focussing on action shots.
I wouldn't be without it on my 3.5E.
I highly recommend the Rolleimeter, as recommended by Dan Daniel. It's very effective for focussing in low light and for rapid follow-focussing on action shots.
I wouldn't be without it on my 3.5E.
RichL
Well-known
Have you considered an i.r. or sonic distance meter? Either can be had in the $30 and up range bracket. Personally I'm a bit non battery oriented so use a Leitz fofer for metric http://www.kevincameras.com/gallery/v/leica_misc/finder/fodis_fonor/fofer_3/DSC00108.jpg.html and a Brownie Mfg. Measure-rite for imperial http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...ficial&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&tbm=isch&um=1&itbs=1 Both work well in low light.
68degrees
Well-known
no I havent, i like mechanical things too. But if it was small I might try it. Currently I now have a Telex. I saw how to adjust it. It is way out of adjustment. Are those ones you showed coincidence rangefinders or some other? I saw a kodak one like that.
RichL
Well-known
They are both split image rangefinders. For me the coincidence style is difficult to see for alignment, particularly in dim light. I've never seen a small electronic distance meter, most have been about the size of a Pentax spot meter
68degrees
Well-known
So by split image is it like a nikon FM slr where you have the line down the middle and it lines up when in focus?
RichL
Well-known
Don't use slrs so not sure. If you look at a telephone wire with a split image rangefinder it will be offset when out of focus and inline when in focus. Here's a link to a good exmple. http://www.butkus.org/chinon/pentacon/pentacon_sixtl/body11.jpg
68degrees
Well-known
ya thats it. Nice