MLU and viewfinder blacking out

[msbarnes]

OK so I have a Rolleiflex that I use for portraits.

I want something longer and so I am looking into many different options but .....

Is there some sort of viewfinder attachment for 120 SLR's? I shoot available light so I need to use slow shutter speeds and hence MLU is a necessity for me. However, I really like to keep my sight on the subject at all times, especially upon release of the shutter so I'm wondering if such a device exists. There are plenty of niched accessories for Rolleiflex TLRs so maybe something exists for Hasselblad/Rolleiflex SL66/etc.

Else, there are mutars, tele-rollei's, and mamiya tlrs.

Maybe a little off topic but I have also considered LF (4x5 or 8x10) but the same issue arises but I believe it is common for some models to have viewfinder attachments right? As many are rangefinders. I would focus with the groundglass and then switch to the viewfinder upon releasing the shutter.

 

[sevo]

Is there some sort of viewfinder attachment for 120 SLR's?

The M645 1000s waist level finder had a flip-out sports (wire frame) finder - and it probably was not the only one with a similar feature. And you can put any shoe mount finder on a hot (or cold) shoe, and just about any MF SLR had either a prism with (hot/cold) shoe or a accessory grip with the same - that is, once you accept that only one pair of edges of the frame can be accurate (unless you shoot 6x9, which has the same 2:3 side ratio as 23x36), you can pick from the entire range of accessory finders sold for rangefinders and small format SLRs.

I shoot available light so I need to use slow shutter speeds and hence MLU is a necessity for me.

Well, try without MLU, and you'll be surprised. With most medium format SLRs, mirror slap is no practical issue - even if the mirror seems noisy, the cameras are too high mass and too slow action for it to affect the exposure.

 

[sepiareverb]

Crown Graphic (Speed? both? not remembering) will have either a VF or a big springy 'sports finder' thingy for the 135 lens.

A Pentax 67 with the grip adds a shoe for an AUX VF, or you could rig up something to get it over the prism via the grip, tripod mount or the lugs on the body.

Perhaps there is another MF SLR option with a shoe?

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

If you were referring to 35mm I would probably suggest you consider a Canon EOS RT or 1-NRS, both of which have pellicle mirrors with no mirror slap (as they do not move) and which also offer vision through the viewfinder during the exposure, like a TLR or RF. Unfortunately an equivalent medium format SLR does not exist, as far as I am aware. Sportsfinders were available for the Hasselblad accessory shoe, in which focal lengths I cannot recall, however I believe masks were available for the focal length in use? KEH have a couple listed quite cheaply without their masks, if these are available perhaps that is a solution?

http://www.keh.com/Camera/format-Me...finders?s=1&bcode=HH&ccode=13&cc=80970&r=WG&f

Otherwise I'm sure you would love a Tele Rolleiflex but you do pay for them and the 135mm Sonnar may or may not be long enough for what you need. The Sonnar is a fabulous lens though.
Cheers,
Brett

 

[oftheherd]

I'm curious. Once you set up your shot and have your composition, why does it matter if you are looking through a viewfinder or over the camera? Just tell your subject not to move on pain of death. 😀 You aren't likely to be taking time exposures anyway, just slow shutter speeds. Click and it's done.

But I suspect many aux finders would do if you take some time to check them against your view screen against your negatives. You really have to do that no matter, if you want to be most accurate.

 

[Spanik]

I seem to miss something. You use slow shutterspeeds so you need MLU but you want to follow your subject? The first requirement is a bit in contradiction to the second.

 

[msbarnes]

i want to make sure the expression is right. the subtle nuances make the difference to me.