Sometimes the RF is not helpful

[user237428934]

Today I stumbled over a specific feature of a Rangefinder: the viewfinder is not aligned with the lens. Of course I should know this, but I was surprised at home that the circle is not in the middle of the opening where I framed it with the viewfinder.

Anyone else had some similar rf experiences?

 

[Brian Legge]

Does your camera have moving framelines/a parallax corrected view? If not, this is pretty common. If so, well, they aren't perfect. 🙂

 

[MartinP]

Depends on the camera. If the framelines move then the middle 'should' indeed be the middle surely? If the specific camera has static, or jammed, framelines then there will be some distance related correction needed - but there will always be some parallax as there are a few centimetres between the v/f and the lens.

However, are there also cameras where the framelines move, but the r/f patch stays in one place? I can see how that could get confusing in the heat of the moment if such designs exist.

 

[mooge]

the parallax correction is for one distance only. the situation above has two elements to be lined up, at different distances. so you'd have to focus at both distances to check where the elements lie within the frame to make use of the parallax correction feature properly.

or you could just focus, frame, and move the camera over and shoot. this is really a by-product of the viewfinder being offset from the lens.


anyways, I do this too.



cheers.

 

[user237428934]

I used the M8 here and the camera has moving framelines. But I don't think this helps in such a situation. This "horizontal deviation" could only be avoided when the viewfinder was exactly on the line of the lens. But then you still had an error with similar vertical situations. So I think we have to live with it and it was really the first time in my RF-years where I noticed this.

 

[MartinP]

I guess we can remain aware of the problem and just move our head (and camera) four centimetres left before clicking. It's true that there isn't a more practical way - unless you count using a visoflex. 😉

 

[sevo]

Does your camera have moving framelines/a parallax corrected view? If not, this is pretty common. If so, well, they aren't perfect. 🙂

Tom's image seems to have nailed the centre and frame, as the camera has parallax correction. But perspective errors remain, as the eye is in a different position - and there is nothing to be done about that, short of using a tripod with some Paramender like device to move an auxiliary finder into the lens axis for composing.

 

[Vics]

If you like to do this kind of picture on a regular basis, you'd be better offr with an SLR. I'm beginning to see why photogs used to go on the road with Nikon F, Leica M and Rolleiflex TLR. The Rollei was for color (lots of pubs wouldn't accept 35mm slides), the Leica was for most of the B&W, SLR for long lenses and the very precise kind of framing you were going for here. At least that's the story I've been telling my wife when she complains about all the cameras, and I'm sticking to it!

 

[Vickko]

As one poster said, the frameline parallax deals with the edges only. Centering of elements is affected, because the viewing window is off to the side relative to the lens, so, something that looks centered in the VF isn't, on film.

An auxilliary VF in the hot shoe would improve the situation.

There was an article on it in the latest Leica magazine; I thought it was silly (and that all RF shooters should know this), until I read the article in detail.

Makes a very convincing argument for SLR's when critical composition is necessary.

....Vick

 

[zwarte_kat]

I like the picture more the way it is now, with the circle slightly on the right. Please apologize to your camera for doubting it. It had to step in and correct you
;p

 

[user237428934]

I like the picture more the way it is now, with the circle slightly on the right. Please apologize to your camera for doubting it. It had to step in and correct you
;p

You mean my M8 has a hidden creative mode? Now I know why my M8 photos are better than my DSLR photos 😉

 

[Paul Luscher]

Well it's something you have to be aware of with rangefinders.

Years ago , ducking behind an amplifier, I shot some great verticals of a blues musician--but when I got the film back, I realized that while I had been looking at the musician through the viewfinder, the lens had been looking at the side of the amp...