Panoramic Brightlines Viewfinder

[ChrisP]

Been playing with stitching digital images into panoramas recently.

Its been fun but I've had a hard time visualizing what things are going to look like when I'm done. As a result I'm looking for something like a hot-shoe mounted panoramic bright-lines viewfinder.

I don't know who makes/made one so any suggests for where to start looking for a shoe mounted viewfinder (or anything that would help me visualize this for that matter) in either a 2:1 or 3:1 aspect ratio would be fantastic.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[agour]

you could get one of those lomo panoramic cameras, strip it, and steal the viewfinder out of it. Its a single block, so shouldnt be too hard to mount to a hot shoe.

 

[sevo]

I don't know of brightline ones, except for those in the fixed lens Fuji. Linhof built impressive zoom finders for their 6x17 interchangeable lens cameras - but these cost a arm and a leg, and used ones can rarely be found without camera.

Unless you want to spend a fortune, or build/convert your own, your only option will be the cheap Chinese "zoom" finders for their 6x17 knock-off cameras. The only thing that zooms in them is the mask, and at the wide end they are no better than the bottom of a coke bottle - but they are good enough for framing, and there aren't really any alternatives in that price range, even more so if you want a variable one. Be warned, these finders are neither small nor light - about the dimensions of a fast all-metal 50mm lens.

 

[a.noctilux]

Hello,
As panoramic viewfinder, you can begin with one extra-large for 24x36 then narrow down vertical view with black tape.

I use a Voigtlander 15mm viewfinder when I plan to stitch 2 view from 28mm lens.
I use black tape to hide 15mm view at top and bottom down to 28mm vertical view.

Find one viewfinder to suit your lens.

Arnaud