newbie question about viewfinder accuracy on 6 x 6

[mholody]

When someone refers to the viewfinder accuracy being, say, 95%, are they saying the camera captures only 95% of what you see in the viewfinder, or what you see in the viewfinder comprises 95% of the actual image captured?:bang:

also, which 6 x 6 rangefinders do you feel are quite accurate?

 

[jaredangle]

I feel that when used with film (so basically, shooting full frame) the viewfinder accuracy with the Hasselblad 503cm bodies at my college studio is VERY accurate, I'm not sure of the exact number, but it would be between 95 and 100 percent.

With the alternate focusing screens meant for the Imacon CFV digital backs, however, there is a brightline-style bracket (like a rangefinder's brightline but in black) in the middle of the focusing screen to indicate the digital back's smaller capture area. I never felt that the bracket was completely exact, so when I used the Hasselblad in the studio for my product shots, I liked to back off a tiny bit on my composition, in order to leave some room to crop before printing. Thankfully, the high resolution of the newer backs makes this no sweat.

 

[rxmd]

When someone refers to the viewfinder accuracy being, say, 95%, are they saying the camera captures only 95% of what you see in the viewfinder, or what you see in the viewfinder comprises 95% of the actual image captured?:bang:

The latter. Usually the viewfinder image is smaller than what is captured on film.

However, the term and numbers are usually only used with SLR viewfinders. Rangefinders are more inaccurate due to parallax (and other changes that happen during focusing).

 

[Freakscene]

The % figures you see for SLRs are % coverage of the frame. be careful to check how they are measured; linear and areal % measurements differ.

Rangefinder framelines are approximate. You don't see figures published for them because the accuracy varies with distance even if they are parallax-adjusted. The only RF framelines I know of that are adjusted for parallax and change in size with distance were on old Konicas like the IIIa.

The framelines on all 6x6 rangefinders are approximate at best. If you want precise viewing, get an SLR, that's what they're for.

Marty

 

[sevo]

The only RF framelines I know of that are adjusted for parallax and change in size with distance were on old Konicas like the IIIa.

The Fuji 6x9 rangefinders do that too. Their framelines don't attempt 100% nonetheless - even the best rangefinder still leaves a fair margin for errors due to eyesight variations, a misplaced eyepoint etc.

 

[Freakscene]

The Fuji 6x9 rangefinders do that too. Their framelines don't attempt 100% nonetheless - even the best rangefinder still leaves a fair margin for errors due to eyesight variations, a misplaced eyepoint etc.

Yes, they do indeed; I even have one of them, but didn't remember that the framelines did this. As you comment, even when they do this, they are approximate at best.

Thanks,

Marty

 

[Roger Hicks]

Percentage coverage is really only meaningful with reflexes or ground glasss. With any viewfinder camera, the coverage is pretty much an aid to making an inspired guess.

Cheers,

R.