TLR 'experience' with 35 SLR

[Kevin Brown]

Thought I'd share a recent 'revelation' I've had regarding 35mm SLRs - the only camera type I'd never shot with before. As a lifelong TLR shooter (and occasional user of 35 RFs), I'd just never paid them much attention. But nowadays, I shoot exclusively landscapes, and being stuck with the 75/80mm lenses on my TLRs I've found frustratingly restrictive. I've found that the 35mm focal length on a 35mm camera just always 'sees the world' the way I do. The aspects of TLR shooting I've always loved are the beautiful ground glass image, the laterally reversed image (that forces you to asses the image on it's own esthetic terms, rather than being a 'frame around what's in front of you') and the fact that one is looking down and away from the scene.

The revelation came in the form of the right angle finder on an SLR - the earlier type that don't use a roof prism to retain left-to-right orientation (most newer ones). With this type of finder on a 35mm SLR one has the exact same viewing/composing/ground glass image experience of the TLR, but with the following advantages:
- Can use wide/any focal length lens, even zoom.
- Faster lenses.
- No parallax.
- Depth of field preview (on most SLRs).
- Weight - my Pentax ME Super with 35mm prime and original Pentax Refconverter weighs less than any 'real' TLR, even my lovely little Ricohflex VI). Now in my mid-60s, I find TLRs increasingly less appealing to haul around (Mamiya 220/330 - forget about it!). I carry the Pentax rig in a belt holster that is way more comfortable on my back than any strap setup I've tried, let alone carrying a camera around on a tripod.
- Lower film costs and wider range of available emulsions.
- More readily-available, more affordable film scanners.

The two finders I'm using are the aforementioned Pentax Refconverter (only the older models are laterally reversed, in TLR fashion) and the Olympus Varimagni Finder. The Oly fits both my OM-2n and ME Super, the Pentax had to have it's bracket distorted a bit to fit - it was designed for the Spotmatic/K1000 cameras. The Oly has a larger, brighter image but is noticeably heavier.

Miss the seductive image quality of medium format, but otherwise, this setup is the best of both worlds for this long-time TLR lover, and the above-listed advantages far outweigh, for me, the slight compromise in IQ.

 

[Huss]

Why don't you try a MF SLR? That way you maintain the image quality.
Stuff like Mamiya 645 Pro cameras are cheap, as are the lenses. With waist level finders they are even cheaper, and the viewing is like using a TLR.

 

[bluesun267]

Though not much (if any) lighter than a Rolleiflex, I have the waist level finder for my F3. It's one of those accessories that I get out once in awhile, admire, then put back in favor of the pentaprism for shooting.

Like you, I'm finding the TLR experience not as exciting as it used to be. But I'm kind of looking for a Bronica or some med format that has the eye-level finder option. The 35mm image size is just too small for waist level viewing. (You didn't mention whether your right angle finder magnifies the image or not.)

 

[Vince Lupo]

If you want all the benefits of a TLR in a 35mm format, here's a nice (expensive!) solution:


cont2 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr

 

[Kevin Brown]

Re MF SLR: Size and weight - I don't know of any MF SLR, even with waist finder that's as small and light as a TLR or compact 35 SLR, like Pentax ME.

Re 35mm TLR (Bolsey had one too): Parallax, restricted to normal lens (in most cases) and very awkward when shooting verticals.. In the case of the Contaflex, limited, rare and expensive choice of lenses.

Re image size with RA finders: With the Oly and Pentax finders the image size and brightness is unchanged (though the Oly has the option of magnifying the center of the field for critical focusing). The PentaxME/MX and Oly OM cameras had very large, bright finder images.

 

[Luddite Frank]

A number of years ago, I was trying to photo-document a Shriners mosque that was being sold, and going into "mothball" storage.

At the time, I was using an Exakta VX, which I usually shot with a pentaprism.

Some of the interior shots (existing light), required a tripod, and with the camera tilting-up to capture ceiling detail, I really could not frame / focus the shot - the tripod column / legs were in the way.

Exakta waist-level finder to the rescue !

It was more of an expedient solution to a shooting challenge, rather than a method-shift / compositional aid, but it certainly helped me out of bind.

From time to time, I find myself considering early 35mm SLR's with WL finders, such as the Asahiflex and the Practika...

 

[oftheherd]

A number of years ago, I was trying to photo-document a Shriners mosque that was being sold, and going into "mothball" storage.

At the time, I was using an Exakta VX, which I usually shot with a pentaprism.

Some of the interior shots (existing light), required a tripod, and with the camera tilting-up to capture ceiling detail, I really could not frame / focus the shot - the tripod column / legs were in the way.

Exakta waist-level finder to the rescue !

It was more of an expedient solution to a shooting challenge, rather than a method-shift / compositional aid, but it certainly helped me out of bind.

From time to time, I find myself considering early 35mm SLR's with WL finders, such as the Asahiflex and the Practika...

Yeah, pretty much how I have looked at features/accessories. I have a couple of systems I like most, but will use any other feature/system if I can get it, and it will give me the photo I want.

 

[d_c]

Surely a Hasselblad with a 50mm lens would be about the same size as a TLR, albeit a bit heavier? If you want compact and light would an SWC be too wide?

 

[Kevin Brown]

Surely a Hasselblad with a 50mm lens would be about the same size as a TLR, albeit a bit heavier? If you want compact and light would an SWC be too wide?

Actually, a lot heavier - over three pounds with the 50mm Distagon (and this combo is a pretty huge rig). The Pentax ME Super w/ 35mm lens and Refconverter weighs less than the Distagon alone! This would necessitate strap-carry, which I mentioned in my OP is no longer an option with my back. The ME rig on a belt holster is barely noticeable at under two pounds.
And yes, for my purposes an SWC would be too wide the majority of the time, even if I could afford one.

I probably should have mentioned in my OP that one of the reasons leaving MF IQ behind hasn't been more painful is that my photos are now only used for screen display, never printing. I use them only as 'raw material' for heavy Photoshop-ing to prepare them as reference images for landscape paintings - they're never viewed on anything larger than the 27" display in my studio. I finally came to the realization that beautiful as they are, my 2 1/4 scans were barely distinguishable from those from 35mm once I'd finished 'mangling' them with PS. That's why I was so thrilled to find a way to get my long-loved TLR shooting experience with a setup that had none of the disadvantages thereof.

 

[jszokoli]

Or you could try a Canon F1 with a'speed finder', see bottom of page;
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/canonf1n/viewfinder/viewoptical.htm

Freedom to view from a bunch of angles, but no left right reversal.

Joe

 

[Kevin Brown]

Or you could try a Canon F1 with a'speed finder', see bottom of page;
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/canonf1n/viewfinder/viewoptical.htm

Freedom to view from a bunch of angles, but no left right reversal.

Joe

To what advantage? Larger, heavier - plus I prefer the left-right reversal.

 

[f16sunshine]

One of my flickr contacts posted This Agfa Flexilette image the other day.

 

[Vince Lupo]

Silly me -- how could I forget another wacky accessory that turned your Leica (in this case, a shiny chrome Standard that I used to have) into a TLR.

Of course, crazy-expensive. But super-cool!


Megoflex by Vince Lupo, on Flickr

 

[Kevin Brown]

One of my flickr contacts posted This Agfa Flexilette image the other day.

Same disadvantages as most 35 TLRs - no choice of lenses and even worse, shooting verticals is very awkward. With a right angle finder on an SLR, one simply rotates the finder. Also, one can shoot eye level and still have ground glass viewing/focusing by just slipping off the RA finder.

 

[Kevin Brown]

Silly me -- how could I forget another wacky accessory that turned your Leica (in this case, a shiny chrome Standard that I used to have) into a TLR.

Of course, crazy-expensive. But super-cool!


Megoflex by Vince Lupo, on Flickr

Can this be used with other focal lengths?

 

[lxmike]

you could always go for Pentax lx with a FF 1 waist level finder

 

[Kevin Brown]

Some shots of the rig, in both horizontal and vertical orientation - you can see how compact it is; with the 40mm pancake lens even more so, but I much prefer shooting with 35mm FL.

When carrying it around on the belt holster, I keep the RA finder rotated down in the 'vertical' position. The Oly Varimagni is a bit shorter, so doesn't stick up so far, but it's noticeably heavier and protrudes out the back more.

 

[Kevin Brown]

you could always go for Pentax lx with a FF 1 waist level finder

Love how the FF-1 folds flat, but it still has the 35 TLR problem of shooting verticals being very awkward - one has to stand sideways to the subject, and movement co-ordination goes all haywire. With a right-angle finder you just rotate the finder 90 degrees and shoot.

 

[shawn]

Couple of more options....

Yashica 635 with 35mm kit in it. 80mm and shoot in portrait layout.

Bolsey Model C 44mm and shoots in Landscape. It also has a rangefinder and viewfinder for when you don't want to use the TLR.

The Bolsey is a tiny little thing....

It is apparently easy to shoot 35mm in a Yashica 44 which is another tiny little TLR but not as small as the Bolsey. Will be trying that soon.

Shawn

 

[Vince Lupo]

Can this be used with other focal lengths?

No 50mm only. And I think this particular one was for the Elmar only.

There was a less expensive version along the same lines that came out in the 1940's -- the De Mornay Budd Reflex.