Questions about optical finders.

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snegron

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I have been thinking about getting either a 28mm or 35mm and a 105mm lens for my S2, and I will be getting the optical viewfinders to go with them as well. How do the optical viewfinders work? Do I have to focus both the lens and the optical finder seperately? How will the lens' focal length affect the rangefinding mirror system in my S2? Is the optical viewfinder pre-set at infinity? I have absolutely no clue how to use an optical vewfinder or if I really need one with any of these lenses (I currently have the 5cm 1.4 on my S2, so the frames in my rangefinding mechanisim seem to work accurately).
 
You'll focus with the camera's RF mechanism, which will work with any focal length (unless the lens is an uncoupled wide), and do the framing separately through the accessory finder.
 
mabelsound said:
You'll focus with the camera's RF mechanism, which will work with any focal length (unless the lens is an uncoupled wide), and do the framing separately through the accessory finder.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Is there any optical adjustment needed on the viewfinder? In other words, these optical viewfinders seem to have glass elements, so when looking through them will I see a clear view of all objects? Is there any purpose for having glass elements in these optical finders instead of simply having a rectangle with an accessory shoe mount (like the sports finders of other cameras)?
 
Some view finders have a setting for distance but i have never noticed enough difference in the settings to worry about it. The glass gives you a reasonable approximation of what the film will see. For example a 135mm finder will be a magnifier so you can get a feel for the composition beyond just the sports finder approach.

With tele finders you have to be aware of the paralex issues as well.
 
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ray*j*gun said:
Some view finders have a setting for distance but i have never noticed enough difference in the settings to worry about it. The glass gives you a reasonable approximation of what the film will see. For example a 135mm finder will be a magnifier so you can get a feel for the composition beyond just the sports finder approach.

With tele finders you have to be aware of the paralex issues as well.
Click to expand...


Thanks! Is the varifocal optical viewfinder designed the same way? I have been considering getting a varifocal one instead because it seems more convenient (less items to lose) when changing lenses.
 
snegron said:
Thanks! Is there any optical adjustment needed on the viewfinder? In other words, these optical viewfinders seem to have glass elements, so when looking through them will I see a clear view of all objects? Is there any purpose for having glass elements in these optical finders instead of simply having a rectangle with an accessory shoe mount (like the sports finders of other cameras)?
Click to expand...

Well, you generally can't see a wide angle view through a little metal cylinder, so you need a lens in there. Similarly, you want some magnification with tele lengths. In addition, a brightline finder will solve the problem of your eye trying to focus simultaneously on something distant (your subject) and something close (the frame)--both of them are sharp in an optical viewfinder.
 
mabelsound said:
Well, you generally can't see a wide angle view through a little metal cylinder, so you need a lens in there. Similarly, you want some magnification with tele lengths. In addition, a brightline finder will solve the problem of your eye trying to focus simultaneously on something distant (your subject) and something close (the frame)--both of them are sharp in an optical viewfinder.
Click to expand...


Thanks again! My guess (in theory) then is that the glass in the optical viewfinder functions much the same way a peephole does on a door. I wonder then how the variframe (35-135) viewfinder works? Does it function like a zoom lens?
 
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nikon lenses rf

nikon lenses rf

the 2.8cm and 3.5cm nikkors are excellent lenses .
the 2.8 cm is my favorite , the nikon finder for the 28m is difficult to
see through with glasses . i use a leitz brightline finder--
the later plastic body one it is clear clean veiw with a reflected bright line that has small marks for the close up distance (also reflected ).
the nikkor 3.5 cm both 1.8 and 2.5 lenses are excellent -- i would buy the 2.5 aperature one unless you are always shooting in the near dark . the 2.5 lens is half the price of the 1.8 aperature . the nikon black brightline finder is great however pricey . the varifocal finder is excellent and will work for the 3.5cm and 10.5 cm lenses . the finder parralex (distance adjustment ) is only an issue with the 10.5cm not the 3.5cm ( the view is clear no matter what the distance set on the finder , the distance adjustment simply lifts the back of the finder up to ensure proper frameing for the distance set ) it adapts the veiw for the fact that the lens and finder are several inches apart . as you focus closer the finder must be tilted down in front to see the same as the film sees . hope this helps .
the 10.5cm is a great lens -- i have found lenses longer than 50mm a pain to use with the s2 . although many photographers love them .
 
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