doubs43 said:
Why not? Photographers did sports with RF cameras for many years and did it well. Don't underestimate the rangefinder camera. In fact, for fast moving events it actually has some advantages over an SLR. There's no lag-time when you trip the shutter because there's no mirror to get out of the way. It's easier to follow action in the viewfinder and continue your "swing" because the image doesn't disappear.
The "trick" to good sports photography is anticipation. You anticipate the action point and pre-focus. Trying to focus while the action goes on is difficult at best so you focus for a zone using your depth of field. Within that "zone" all you have to do is frame and shoot. If you've ever wondered how the old pros using 4x5 Speed Graphics and the like managed to take such wonderful pictures, that's how they did it.
Don't sell your RF short. 🙂
Walker
I've shot sports with my Kiev, and it's not impossible...it's just a PITA. Good sports shots need long glass (especially when access is restricted or it's a large field like soccer), and no 35mm rangefinder camera ever made will be up to contemporary professional standards in that reguard. Try shooting nighttime soccer professionally with a 90mm lens. Is it possible? Yes, but you'll miss way too many shots that way. That's why they make 400mm lenses.
As for focusing, it's easier to confirm focus with an SLR in a hurry...all you do is look throught the finder, and if the screen is blurry, you're off. Modern AF is also a wonder for such work, especially with a high-level camera and "pro" lenses.
Viewfinder blackout isn't a huge problem if you remember a little bit about physics, like things keep moving until they hit something else usually.
When I shoot sports, I don't shoot off 10 frames at a time like some people. I was raised on film, and I never had that kind of money, so I learned to anticipate. I do however like to not have to take the camera away from my face so I can crank the advance every shot, so motor drives are good for that. Except for the late Leicas, there really aren't any available for rangefinders. "Trigger winders" are nice right up until you have to refocus, then you're worse off than you were to begin with because you have to let go of the camera, move your hand, and then move it back.
I'd take an SLR any day for that work.
Now rangefinders do have their place, but there's a reason why the Nikon F sold almost 900,000 copies, even though it did cost more than most people made in a month at the time. Rangefinders were used for sports photography because they were the best tools available for the job at the time. When the Nikon F came out, it was the best tool for the job.
I'm not trying to start an anti-RF war on RFF, just stating some facts.
Have a nice night,
Bob Clark
