Hot Shoe Rangefinders

[dazedgonebye]

I'm looking for an inexpensive accessory shoe rangefinder for use with a 4x5 point and shoot camera.
The nicest option is the one made by fotoman. There's one on ebay now for $125...much more than I'm willing to pay.

Any recommendations for a reasonably accurate and inexpensive alternative?


Thanks,

 

[ZeissFan]

I wonder if a rangefinder made for a smaller format will be accurate enough for 4x5.

You can find these on eBay, and that's a good place to start looking.

One marked as "RHI," and looks to be a rebadge of the Voigtlander model:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250406901852

 

[bmattock]

I have a small assortment of cheap accessory range finders (usually spelled with two words, for some reason). I like the Kodak, and the Ideal, but both are generally found in pretty awful condition. I am told that the Fotoman (which I would love to have) was pattered after what was arguably the best of them, the Voigtlander. Certo6 sometimes has one on eBay, others do as well. I can't state from experience, this is just what I've heard.

 

[dazedgonebye]

Thanks for the info and links.

I'm not too worried about accuracy, considering this is for a 75mm lens. I probably should just set it to hyperfocal distances and leave it at that.

 

[Al Kaplan]

You can probably pick up a fixed lens 35mm camera with an accurate enough rangefinder to measure distance for your 4x5 for about fifty bucks,

 

[dazedgonebye]

Richard,
I bought an old Gran View point and shoot. I'm still shoping for a lens, but it will be 75mm as that is what the camera is made for.
I like your link for the human rangefinder. I think I'll give that a go before anything else. The price is right.

Al,
That' certainly a posibility. I often carry a small camera when shooting large. I could always carry my R3A with me.

 

[Al Kaplan]

Line the lens cone with black velvet. That stuff sucks up light! The R3A would give you a back up meter as well.

 

[dazedgonebye]

Geez, that looks pretty!

Bet it would work well with a pinhole too!

I'd love to use it for pinholes...but, it looks like changing out the lens will require setting infinity every time. Too much of a pain to do too often, much less in the field when I want to go from lens to pinhole.
Maybe I can figure out a solution though.

 

[dazedgonebye]

Steve,
I really liked the look of this camera, so I googled it. I found your thread on the LF forum, very interesting though it seems there are some whackos worth ignoring there too!

I followed the links there but couldn't get a view of the camera from the top.
Does that front part contain the focussing helical? Does it rotate?
Have you got a shot of it looking down?

Nay is the easiest thing to say... The large format world attracts a lot of very "precise" people.
I'm sure it'll have its limitations. I'm also pretty sure I'll find mine before I find the camera's.

Here's another view.

You set infinity by unscrewing the entire helical then locking it in place with a silver retaining ring. Seems to have a tendency to drift as you focus it though, so I man use some blue thread locker solution on it.

 

[dazedgonebye]

I've seen that one. It's so ugly is gorgeous.

 

[dazedgonebye]

Make your own Steve.

It's quick, easy and CHEAP. See HERE.

Just to close the loop on this...

I made one of these for myself last night and it works very well. I think I'll do without a rangefinder for awhile and keep a viewfinder and bubble level in the accessory shoes instead.