- What is Street Photography? [contributed by gommy]
"Documenting the Human Condition" -
http://vimeo.com/6497905
- What is the difference among the different viewfinder magnifications?
There are typically 3 viewfinder magnifications, [x0.52 - x0.6], [x0.7 - x0.74] and [x0.85 - x1.0]. They serve to provide the photographer different alternatives to suit their shooting preference; the x0.52 caters to those who prefer the wider angles and would have as wide as 21mm framelines (view of approx 21mm - 50mm); on the other extreme, the x1.0 caters for those who prefer the tele side, providing a higher magnification and 90mm framelines (view of approx 50mm - 135mm); and the x0.72 would be considered the "normal" magnification which adequately covers the more common 35, 50, and 75 focal lengths (view of approx 28mm - 90mm).
Simulated 50-75 framelines through viewfinder magnification 0.72x
Here are the frameline pairs of common rangefinders (arranged by brand)
Leica M3 (x0.91): 50 - 90 - 135
Leica M6/7 (x0.58): 28/90 - 35 - 50/75
Leica M6/7 (x0.72): 28/90 - 35/135 - 50/75
Leica M6/7 (x0.85): 35/135 - 50/75 - 90
Leica M8 (x0.68): 24/35 - 28/90 - 50/75
[updated 02/12/09]
Konica Hexar RF (x0.6): 28/90 - 35/135 - 50/75
Minolta CLE (x0.58): 28 - 40 - 90
Voigtländer R4M/A (x0.52): 21/35 - 28 - 25/50
Voigtländer R2M/A (x0.7): 35/90 - 50 - 75
Voigtländer R3M/A (x1.0): 40/90 - 50 - 75
Zeiss Ikon (x0.74): 28/85 - 35 - 50
There are magnifiers available in the market, x0.85, x1.25, and x1.4, which attaches to the viewfinder (rear of camera). They can help help widen or narrow your field of view through to the view finder so that you can either have a wider perspective to your view (x0.85) or assist with your focusing accuracy (x1.25 or x1.4).
- Why is the rangefinder base length important?
The rangefinder base length is the distance between the rangefinder window and the viewfinder window (think back to your 'O' level trigonometry). This determines the focusing accuracy of the camera, the long the base, the higher the accuracy. However the effective base length is base length adjusted for the viewfinder magnification - the higher the magnification the higher the accuracy.
Effecive RF Base Length (ERB) = RF Base Length (RB) * Magnification Rate (MR)
Here are the approx RF Base Lengths (RB) and Effective RF Base Lengths (ERB) common rangefinders (arranged by brand)
Leica M3: RB-69mm MR-0.91 ERB-62mm
Leica M6/7: RB-69mm MR-0.72 ERB-49mm (MR-0.58 ERB-40mm, MR-0.85 ERB-58.5mm)
Leica M8: RB-69mm MR-0.68 ERB-47mm
Konica Hexar: RB-69mm MR-0.6 ERB-41mm
Minolta CLE: RB-50mm MR-0.58 ERB-29mm
Voigtländer Bessa: RB-37mm MR-0.72 ERB-26mm (MR-0.52 ERB-19mm, MR-1.0 ERB-37mm)
Zeiss Ikon:RB-75mm MR-0.74 ERB-56mm
If you add on magnifiers (e.g. x1.25 or x1.4), you multiply the ERB according to increase your accuracy. Of course, these are just technical calculations, in practice, the brightness of the viewfinder and focusing patch, handling, etc contribute to your focusing accuracy.
- What are "goggles"?
"Goggles" is the nickname given to the finder attachments on certain leica lenses. There are essentially three applications for this, to widen the view of the finder; to narrow the view of the finder; and to adjust the view for close focus / macro.
Leica Summicron-M 50mm f/2.0 Dual Range with goggles [courtesy of LowLights]
Close focus photography use goggles help correct for parallax error down to 0.5m, specifically for the Summicron-M 50mm Dual Range (DR) and the Macro-Elmar-M 90mm. When the 50DR is engaged in close focus, the goggles can be mounted on the top of the lens, while the goggles for the Macro-Elmar90 are mounted via the macro adaptor. However, pls note that there are issues with mounting the 50DR on the M8 and M9, read here for more details -
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/rangefinders/1037967-m8-dr-summicron.html [contributed by gommy, added: 15/02/12]
The
widening of the view is specific to the M3. The x0.91 magnification of the M3 was such that it could not effectively use the wider-angle 35mm which many people were use to. The goggled 35mm lenses (e.g. summicron and summaron) brought up the 50mm framelines on the M3 and the the goggles were effectively a x0.7 magnifier in-front of the finder to wider the 50mm view to a 35mm view.
The
narrowing of the view is specific to the Elmarit-M 135mm with goggles. It essentially runs opposite to the example given in above on the 35mm lens with goggles, the Elmarit-M 135mm with goggles brings up the 90mm framelines, and the goggles magnifies it by x1.4.
- What are DOF & Hyperfocal Distance? [contributed by raytoei, added: 01/11/11]
Understanding the how to use the Depth Of Field (DOF) and Hyperfocal distance can help your RF photography. Pls read the thread for more insights...
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/rangefinders/960446-dof-hyperfocal-distance.html
- What is seperation? [contributed by gommy, added: 01/11/11]
Lenses are make-up glass elements and not all exist as individual element. Some are "grouped" together depending on lens design and are cemented together. Separation usually means the cement between the elements in a group has degraded. Pls read the thread for more insights...
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/rangefinders/887879-does-lens-separation-mean.html
