ssmc
Well-known
Hi, I was hoping someone could straighten this out for me. The RF645 comes with a -1 diopter as standard and according to Tamron they are the only ones still available (I just got this news this morning). Despite being very slightly farsighted I have my DSLRs set at 0 and find that works best for me (the VF image and the displays are clearest at that setting). I can get away with some -ve (with eyestrain and slightly blurry displays) but +ve is just unusable.
So, for those who have normal eyesight, how does the -1 diopter work out? Is there something to do with the optical design of the RF645's VF optics that makes the -1 end up like a 0?
I would hate to buy an RF645 "sight unseen" with a standard diopter and find that it strains my eyes. I know from looking at one of these cameras with the diopter removed i.e. 0, the VF is perfect for me (this one had a +1 installed, and it was just painful) but leaving it out looks like the interior of the VF/RF would then be exposed to dust, etc. - you can see the edges of the VF lens with the diopter removed.
Thanks for any insight (no pun intended)
Scott
So, for those who have normal eyesight, how does the -1 diopter work out? Is there something to do with the optical design of the RF645's VF optics that makes the -1 end up like a 0?
I would hate to buy an RF645 "sight unseen" with a standard diopter and find that it strains my eyes. I know from looking at one of these cameras with the diopter removed i.e. 0, the VF is perfect for me (this one had a +1 installed, and it was just painful) but leaving it out looks like the interior of the VF/RF would then be exposed to dust, etc. - you can see the edges of the VF lens with the diopter removed.
Thanks for any insight (no pun intended)
Scott
segedi
RFicianado
Scott - I've been using the Bronica RF645 and have near 20/20 vision in my right eye. I haven't noticed any difference in the viewfinder compared to my other rangefinders or SLRs. The viewfinder is nicely laid out as well. And has a really nice RF patch - the patch is square, but reasonably big and provides very easy focusing. I find focusing with it to be really nice!
As you proably know, the finder and the image are in portrait orientation with the aperture/shutter speed appearing to the left of the frame - something that I find very nice as a street shooter. It's not a traditional portrait camera really do to the minimum focusing distance, but I really love this package. Well designed camera and lenses and a perfect travel camera.
Kevin
As you proably know, the finder and the image are in portrait orientation with the aperture/shutter speed appearing to the left of the frame - something that I find very nice as a street shooter. It's not a traditional portrait camera really do to the minimum focusing distance, but I really love this package. Well designed camera and lenses and a perfect travel camera.
Kevin
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
It was established years ago that the majority of the population of the free world has less than 20/20 vision and suffers mild myopia. (look it up)
Manufacturers, right or wrong, have made their viewfinders around this statistic!
Manufacturers, right or wrong, have made their viewfinders around this statistic!
ssmc
Well-known
Thanks guys - I looked it up and apparently all Bronicas have negative diopters as standard (-1 or -1.5) so I suppose it would be okay - it just bugs me that there's no way to check without buying one first, and if it did turn out that I needed a "0" I'm SOL as they are no longer available (even a standard one is USD 54.50 which I find amazing considering what the tiny piece of plastic it is...)
BTW I was very impressed with the handling and VF brightness of the one I looked at, and strangely I did not mind the vertical framing at all (but the RF was way out). So I will keep looking!
Thanks!
Scott
BTW I was very impressed with the handling and VF brightness of the one I looked at, and strangely I did not mind the vertical framing at all (but the RF was way out). So I will keep looking!
Thanks!
Scott
Gordon Moat
Established
You can have an optician make a diopter too, and probably less than a Bronica original. I wear contact lenses, but I have no trouble at all with the RF645 viewfinder. Also, some of my very old Nikon SLRs have the same -1 diopter set-up, and it seems to work fine even with really fast lenses and close focus.