scratch your own framelines

[Robert Vote]

Did anyone of you come to the wicked idea of scratching framelines in your viewfinder. Well I am thinkin of trying it on a bad condition fed4.

Does anyone has experience with that? Or is it a really stupid idea?
I think it could be useful for telephoto lenses.

regards
robert

 

[zuikologist]

It mght be worth scratching or marking the lines onto a light coloured gel filter cut to size and secure it between the metal and glass of the rangefinder.

 

[Robert Vote]

yeah that sounds like a good idea. something like a transparency with framlines on it.
maybe a full developed transparent piece of dia film.

 

[zuikologist]

That should work quite well. If the film is thick enough it wll stay in place, held betwen the glass and metal.

 

[berci]

I would try to print the framelines with a good inkjet printer onto transparency material and then cut it into the correct piece.

 

[Robert Vote]

yeah i could use my laserprinter- this would make very fine lines. But how sharp will the lines be when i look through the rangefinder?

 

[Jacob]

This is getting interesting...
I like to use my Bessa T with a 28+75 lens combination but I am not comfortable with changing finders back and forth. I have had the idea of somehow applying 75mm framelines in the 28mm finder. The plastic CV finder seems easy to open (two screws underneath) and if I could stick in a film with the framlines in the appropriate place it would be great. Might take some work to find out the right size and position of the frames though. Nice week-end project! I'll report if and when I reach any kind of success...
Jacob

 

[Robert Vote]

that would be great jacob!
it will be some work adjusting framelines. i think they have to be as thin as possible otherwise u will have a fat unsharp line and framing is as difficult as before.

robert

 

[pvdhaar]

I wouldn't do this by scratching, given that it's very difficult to control without getting ragged edges and so forth. I'd rather use the transparancy method to first determine the actual framesize. Then create a template with stick-on foil (like that used by airbrush artists) stick it on the glass and use an etching agent to etch the lines into the glass. (Same procedure as etching licence plate numbers into the windscreen of your car as a deterent for car theft).

 

[laptoprob]

I drew approx. 25mm lines on my 15mm finder. That means about 3mm within the edges of the glass. I used a CD marker. This way it is hard to get 'straight' lines, the lines have to be a little curved.

Works great! A little better than just full frame 0,6 viewfinder of the CLE or the Hexar.

Rob.

 

[Will]

I drew approx. 25mm lines on my 15mm finder. That means about 3mm within the edges of the glass. I used a CD marker. This way it is hard to get 'straight' lines, the lines have to be a little curved.

Works great! A little better than just full frame 0,6 viewfinder of the CLE or the Hexar.

Rob.

This DIY would saves you $149 USD...

 

[wyk_penguin]

The question is would they be in focus?

 

[laptoprob]

No, they are out of focus, blurry and black. No brightline clarity.
But it is like a reminder to me to keep a certain distance from the 15mm viewfinder edge.
And that works fine for me.

BTW, The little 35mm finder I made out of a single use camera has a small circle scratched in the front lens and a small drop outwards on the rear lens. The first is like a brightline finder that disappears when aligned with the rear 'drop'. Very nifty way to make sure you align properly!

cheers, Rob.