Rangefinders with 1:1?

[lament]

Hi all. I'm looking for a fairly specific type of camera. I have no idea if such a camera actually exists. I'm sure you guys have more information about this.

The crucial features i'm looking for are:
* 1:1 viewfinder
* some sort of an automatic metering mode

Now, I know the Bessa R3A fits the bill. I'm just wondering what other options are available. R3A is quite expensive and people constantly report alignment problems (the new R3A i have looked at in the local store was already out of alignment vertically!). Fixed lens cameras are fine.

It is rather surprising how unpopular 1:1 viewfinders seem to be. 🙁

 

[icebear]

0.85 x 1.25 = 1.06...

0.85 x 1.25 = 1.06...

Any M6/M7/MP with 0.85 viewfinder plus 1.25 magnifier loupe would give you approx. 1:1 ratio ( of course even more expensive than the Bessa).

 

[NIKON KIU]

Ahhh....who needs a meter?
Get a Nikon S2!

Kiu

BTW: welcome

 

[rover]

Yes, to get a meter option you can add an external meter to an S2 or Canon P.

 

[Rico]

I solved the 1:1 problem on my Leica M with an external VF (50 and 90mm).

 

[VinceC]

Unmetered options:
Nikon S2, SP, S3
Canon P

 

[drewbarb]

Welcome Lament! I'm a fan of 1:1 finders, too- and Kiu is right- get a Nikon. But if you have to have auto exp., the R3A is in fact the only way to go. Plus, the Leica M mount is the future (as well as the past and present!) of 35mm RF photo, if there is any such thing.

 

[lament]

I don't think "approximately" 1:1 magnification would give quite the same effect as real 1:1. There would still be a double image when looking with both eyes (correct me if I'm wrong). With the R3A viewfinder, there's no double image. It's awesome.

And i'm afraid I'm not cool enough to use an external meter for situations where i would use a rangefinder (ie. when timing is essential).

So is R3A the only option?

 

[ray_g]

So is R3A the only option?

R-D1
Konica IIIM with working meter (but not automatic or AE metering)

 

[Ronald M]

Leica brightline finders are 1:1. But a rangefinder is useless for hi magnification work unless you get a Leitz visoflex. You will not need a BL then.

I have no idea how they work with Besa.

Google- Visoflex Pages

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

The Voigtlander R3A would be the best choice.

 

[drewbarb]

Yeah, you want an R3A. I use M3's, and can almost get the floating frameline effect- though I do sometimes close my left eye (I shoot right eyed). The old Nikons are great cameras, to be sure, but the Leica mount is a better choice to get into, especially if you are fairly new RF's, and are a shooter more than a camera nut. Going forward, the Leica mount is going to continue to dominate as the RF mount of choice, as I said in my last post.

To my knowledge, the R3A is the only film RF camera out there that matches your criteria of 1:1 finder and AE. The RD-1 also has a 1:1 finder, which is frankly awesome. There's not much reason to hope for more 1:1 finders (which is a shame for 50mm users like myself) since it's tricky with the wider lenses which are so popular- and especailly with digital and it's attendant crop factor wider lenses (and thus finders) are only getting more prevailent. This entirely ignores the point that many RF users are older, and more likely to wear glasses, which further drives up the need for lower mag finders.

 

[wilt]

Welcome to the forum!

Indeed, strange that there aren't more 1:1 finders.

 

[xayraa33]

the Zorki 3, 3M, 3C 4, and 4K give a 1:1 view if FSU cameras are your thing.
a good hand held light meter is the way to go with these cameras.

 

[MikeL]

Viewfinder optics on Leicas shift the image horizontally, so that even if you do have near 1:1 magnification, you don't get the same effect as with a Nikon on Bessa. If you like to have both eyes open, the Nikon and Bessa finders are really nice. I saw a gentleman with a 1:1 Bessa the other night and he let me look through it. I was impressed.

 

[VinceC]

Using a 1:1 finder and 105mm lens, shooting sports and other fast-moving action is a real breeze. The RF patch takes up a lot of the frame of the telephoto so that, with practice, it's pretty easy to follow-focus.

 

[wilt]

Shooting with both eyes open can also be done with SLR:s; the OM 2 with a 50/1.8 in vertical / standing orientation is great to use with both eyes open.

 

[GeneW]

I really like my CV 50mm 1:1 external VF. I simply move it from camera to camera and they're all 1:1...

Gene

 

[lament]

Thanks all.

I suppose any SLR will have 1:1 at some specific focal length that matches its viewfinder's magnification. I'll have to try that.

R3A is certainly very cool but the price and the reported alignment problems are big turn-offs. Perhaps I'll get it eventually, anyway.

In the meantime I'll get something like the Olympus XA instead, and pretend I'm one-eyed 🙂

 

[shadowfox]

Thanks all.

I suppose any SLR will have 1:1 at some specific focal length that matches its viewfinder's magnification. I'll have to try that.

Slightly Off-Topic, but not much, have you tried Olympus OM-1? It's viewfinder magnification is 0.92x at infinity with 50mm lens. In experience, I've never picked up any other SLR (professional class or not) that can match its brightness.