Fuji GW690ii Question - Viewfinder

[Pirate]

In the instruction book for my GW690ii, it says this about the filter threads:

"Double-image, coupled range-viewfinder; 0.75X magnification; 95% field of view at 1m, 92% at infinity; 59mm base line length (44.3mm effective base line length)"

My question is, if the Viewfinder only has a 92-95% field of view.... why does it have a Frame Line in it?

 

[sevo]

That is the FOV for the frame line.

 

[Pirate]

I don't understand that.

The viewfinder itself is not a 1:1, so any image you see through it is smaller than the image on the film. Why put a Frame Line in there? I don't understand what you mean by "Field of View for the Frame Line".

 

[Landshark]

Framing on a RF isn't all that precise, so if you compose within the framelines you're certain to have the frame you want, with a little extra for the printing.

 

[sevo]

You mix up several factors which are not proportional or not even mutually dependent. Finder magnification for example is a fairly separate matter - a bigger FOV needs a smaller magnification to cope with the limitations of the human eye (and even more so the limitations of glasses wearers), but that is the only relation between these two.

Finder FOV is fairly irrelevant in a frameline finder - as long as it is bigger than the biggest frameline, it is good enough, and it does not even matter if it should extend past the image circle of the eye. What is relevant is that the frameline is well within both, and that the magnification (or more often minification) is chosen for a pleasant compromise between frameline size and eye relief...

 

[Pirate]

Now I get it, and it makes sense. Thanks guys!

 

[Roberto V.]

The framelines cover 92-95% of the image that you'll get in the negative.

 

[sevo]

The framelines cover 92-95% of the image that you'll get in the negative.

Which also happens to be the usual mask coverage on slide frames and enlarger film holders - so for many practical purposes it is close to 100%. That 95% frameline is is a testament to the accuracy of the unique combined parallax and enlargement factor correction on the Fujis, and indeed honking big by frameline standards, as big as the matte screen area on most SLRs. Leica framelines seem to range from 80% on older ones to 93% for the best matched focal lengths on the latest models - and more affordable fixed lens rangefinders often have framelines at a mere 75%.

 

[Pirate]

Ok, wait.... So, the Frame Line I'm seeing in the Viewfinder is the 92-95% coverage area? And the entire Viewfinder area is almost the 100% of the negative??

 

[sevo]

Ok, wait.... So, the Frame Line I'm seeing in the Viewfinder is the 92-95% coverage area? And the entire Viewfinder area is almost the 100% of the negative??

Right on the first. However the entire viewfinder area is not parallax coupled, so that it does not really have a relation to the negative coverage. And it will be quite a bit bigger. A ideal unobstructed finder has the reciprocal of its magnification in coverage (at least for the average eye). In this case a calculated 133% given the 75% finder - and for the Fuji the real world finder FOV won't be much smaller than that, as it does not trade in much for eye relief, nor does it have any meter readout or the like in the finder which might obstruct it.

 

[Pirate]

I understand the whole finder area is not parallax coupled, but the visible Frame Lines are?

 

[Sjixxxy]

I understand the whole finder area is not parallax coupled, but the visible Frame Lines are?

Yeah. The top and left frame lines move as the camera focuses.

 

[Pirate]

Oh wow, now I gotta check that out!! Thanks!

 

[Pirate]

Holy Crap!!! How could I have missed that!!??? That's a lot of movement in there. I need to go get my eyes checked now!

 

[Pirate]

Dude!! My Leica M3 does it too!!!

 

[Sjixxxy]

Holy Crap!!! How could I have missed that!!??? That's a lot of movement in there. I need to go get my eyes checked now!

The recoil from tripping the shutter also makes mine bounce. 😀

 

[Pirate]

I gotta check out the bounce tomorrow!

Can you give me some advice on picking a flash for this thing? Mine is a model II but it's got the hot shoe.

 

[Sjixxxy]

Look for a low profile head. Camera is big enough as is. I've been using a Metz 32CT3. Doesn't add too much weight, and the center of balance stays low enough that it doesn't get top heavy while being worn with a strap.

 

[Pirate]

Sweet, thanks! Ya know, the Metz factory is about 25 minutes away from me? I've been there to get a part for my CT60.

 

[divewizard]

My question is, if the Viewfinder only has a 92-95% field of view.... why does it have a Frame Line in it?

The reason you don't have 100% view is that the lens blocks a small portion of the bottom right corner inside the frame line.