What is the "camera operators frame" called ?

[Joosep]

I need some info.

Back in the day, operators had these small frames dangling around their neck. If one would pull it up, he would have seen a certain "focal lenght". The size of the frame and the lenght of the string made sure of that.

What are these frames called ?
Cant find it........

 

[Film dino]

Do you mean a director's viewfinder, which allows him to view the scene as the camera would see it?

 

[Joosep]

No. Not a lens. Just a simple frame. A thin metal looking square (inside is empty) and its danglig on a string.

 

[KenD]

I have known it as a viewing frame. Some are adjustable for different formats. Some are combined with a viewing filter to approximate B&W film.

 

[Joosep]

Thats it !
Thanks.

 

[sevo]

Either goes by the name of "director's finder", the frame being the more primitive, silent movie age version.

I haven't ever seen a director, DP or other key staff member use such a viewing frame, by the way - if any, they use the zoom finders. And even these already were a retro gadget (used by oldtimers out of habit, or by young nerds as a fashion statement) twenty years ago, in the age of the video assist - by now they'll be firmly in the latter camp.

I've sometimes seen frames (DIY ones cut from black cardboard) used by grips and stagehands, to verify that the lighting and set are covering the aspect ratio - but that may have been a in-house tradition of the studio we mostly worked with.

 

[steveniphoto]

Mijonju (he has is own youtube channel for camera stuff) used to sell them. you can try msg'ing him if you're looking for one.

 

[pagpow]

Porter's used to carry them years ago. They're not obvious in a quick glance at their website but you can ask for a catalog which might make searching easier.
http://www.porters.com/

 

[dct]

Won't highjack this thread, but in context of the RF I sometimes use the frame preview level on my HRF to decide which of the 6 standard Leica RF focal lengths will better fit a subject. Are there any zoom finders as posted here, which would do the same job? Maybe also with wider frame representations?