First RF : Fed 2

[DrSquirley]

Alright well I am attempting to get into the world of Rangefinders. My friend up at university is a big rangefinder guy, and at the last PhotoExpo in new york I got to look through a leica and was hooked. I have been photographing for years, however use and learned on olympus and canon slrs.

Anyway, to my question. When attempting to frame in the viewfinder, i understand that i have to take into account both the length of the lens and the fact that its off center of the view finder. With a 50mm lens (industar26) how much of my veiwfinder does the lens see? I realize i will get used to not having framelines, but as i am still running my first roll through the camera any idea at this point would be helpful. Also, I seemed to remember reading that there was some way to test the shutter speeds for accuracy, perhaps involving a television? Any information about that would be nice, but everything thus far appears in very good working order. Ill put up some pictures once i process the film.

Thanks.

 

[Ash]

Great cameras, to be honest I'm using a Fed-2 and I find the difference is nothing to be worried about. You'll find the photo will be a little lower and to the right, but hardly any difference from something taken over 2meters away. Any closer and you can tilt the camera in your hand a little and it sorts out parallax.

I'd try photo'ing something in your garden from various distances and angles to see for yourself

 

[DrSquirley]

Great cameras, to be honest I'm using a Fed-2 and I find the difference is nothing to be worried about. You'll find the photo will be a little lower and to the right, but hardly any difference from something taken over 2meters away. Any closer and you can tilt the camera in your hand a little and it sorts out parallax.

I'd try photo'ing something in your garden from various distances and angles to see for yourself

Haha thats exactly what i did last night.

 

[Bryce]

I was just comparing the view through the viewfinder and on ground glass over the film rails on my Fed 3 paperweight. Looks as though the edges of the viewfinder correspond pretty well with the lens's field of view...

 

[captainslack]

The shutter speed test using the TV, as well as a ton of other useful stuff, can be found at Rick Olsen's site:

http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-27.html

 

[DrSquirley]

Thank you.