Any 35mm Waist-Level-Finder users out there?

Rol_Lei Nut · Apr 1, 2010

holmburgers said:
I have a Praktina FX that's kinda junky, but maybe I'll try my hand at repairing it & then I'd have what I'm looking for.

If you're talking about a Praktina (not Practika), it really isn't a junky camera at all!

IIRC, the WLF on that one was above average: Not as good as the Exakta's, but far better than most Japanes interchageable viewfinder WLFs.

VaryaV · Apr 1, 2010

I love my Exakta VX..... I'm caressing it right now and messing with the extension tubes, it is a heavy beast though....... now about that Astro Berlin 400mm.......

ChrisN · Apr 1, 2010

With the Pentax LX, for ad hoc WLF application you can simply slip off the prism and see the focusing screen from above. The WLF viewfinder attachment is simply a folding shade. I imagine this is probably also true for other cameras with removable prism finders.

lxdude · Apr 1, 2010

holmburgers said:
I probably should just get an F-1. But as I just bought an EF (and it's awesome), I dunno. Kinda strapped for cash as well. BTW, I think that the metering is dependent on the various VF's, though I could be wrong.

Well, a couple of things: an F-1 is about the same price as an F3 and cheaper than an LX. If you get a brand other than Canon it's going to need a lens, too. Or lenses.
I just talked with a friend who has F-1's and he says the F-1, F-1n, or New F-1 will all meter with a WLF.

If you know how to incident mater you won't need to re-meter each shot anyway, and could use another body to meter if your camera with WLF finder doesn't.

Another machine with metering in the body is the Topcon Super D/RE Super.

Rol_Lei Nut · Apr 1, 2010

VaryaV said:
I love my Exakta VX..... I'm caressing it right now and messing with the extension tubes, it is a heavy beast though....... now about that Astro Berlin 400mm.......

Well, I have a Meyer Telemegor 400mm which looks pretty much like the rear window lens ("sadly" my Exakta is a IIA, not the VX - not that can be easily noticed).

Now if you can find out which binoculars were used...
;-)

BobD · Apr 1, 2010

I have or have had a number of WLF 35mm SLRs and they do have an
advantage for street use in that you can shoot people without putting a camera
to your eye. You do have to pre-focus which requires sticking your face into
the finder but once focused I find it fairly easy to compose by simply looking
down at the screen. I've also used TLRs this way which have an added
advantage of quieter shutters (usually).

agfarapid · Apr 1, 2010

holmburgers said:
Lately I've been thinking about how nice it would be to have a WLF finder on my Canons (EF & AE-1P). I feel like it would allow a much more discrete way to take pictures of people. Indeed, I don't think anyone would realize you're taking a picture, they'd think instead that you're just admiring your camera.

So does anyone on here find it an advantage? I think it could open up new realms of candid/street photography to SLR users who don't have the advantages inherent to a rangefinder.

I'd also like to get a list of 35mm bodies that support WLF. I know the Nikon F does, the Canon F-1 and randomly, the Praktica FX's. (I happen to own a Praktika, currently not working, might have to fix it up just for the WLF)

Also, has a *metering* waist level finder ever been manufactured? That would be awesome.

CHEERS!

You might want to try a Topcon Super D, RE Super or Super DM. All of these have meters on the mirror so changing the finder will not eliminate having a meter. They are not that common and were last manufactured in the early '70s. They have great optics, built like bricks and are long lived. I've had mine for over 30 years. They also have an Exakta mount and will take those lenses.

Good luck!

holmburgers · Apr 2, 2010

Wow, great thread

Thanks everyone. Well I think what I've decided is a) someday I should get an F-1, but b) in the meantime I'm gonna mess around with my Praktina FX.

I said it was junky, but I meant functionally, as in the slower shutter speeds stick. But it seems to do ok above 1/25th. The Zeiss Biotar (58mm f2) has some fungus, but it's really not bad either.

Some of you have brought some really cool cameras to my attention that I might otherwise never have heard about. Thanks!

and BTW, Erik Petersen's examples are just exactly what I had imagined. In fact, the idea to have a WLF dawned on me while riding the metro in D.C.

Erik Petersson · Apr 5, 2010

Hi, glad that you liked my photos. I would be nice to see your results from the metro. The slow shutter speeds will be very useful. I often used 1/30 and 1/15, and took the photos when the train had stopped on the stations, and I had to use the really fast b/w films.

Good luck
Erik

elekm · Apr 5, 2010

Probably already mentioned were the early Praktica FX, FX2 and FX3, as well as the Ihagee Exa, the Zeiss Ikon/Voigtlander Icarex and certain Agfa Ambiflex cameras. And also, the Zeiss Ikon Contaflex TLR.

holmburgers · Apr 5, 2010

Erik, yeah, you captured some great moments. Definitely some images à la sauvette!

Unfortunately, I took no pictures on the metro, kind of because I didn't have a WLF. No excuse I know, but it's just too disruptive to put a camera up to your eye sometimes... the moment vanishes.

narsuitus · Apr 5, 2010

I have used the waist-level viewfinder on my first 35mm SLR (a Miranda Sensorex), on my second 35mm SLR (Nikon F), and on my current 35mm SLRs (Nikon F2 and Nikon F4).

Yes, I find the waist-level finder on an SLR useful for shooting candid/street photography. However, I prefer using a 35mm rangefinder because its smaller size attracts less attention than the SLR and it is not as noisy as the SLR. I also prefer using a 6x6 TLR with waist-level finder because it is not as noisy as an SLR and I do not have to worry about portrait vs. landscape orientation on the square format.

Erik Petersson · Apr 5, 2010

holmburgers said:
Erik, yeah, you captured some great moments. Definitely some images à la sauvette!

Unfortunately, I took no pictures on the metro, kind of because I didn't have a WLF. No excuse I know, but it's just too disruptive to put a camera up to your eye sometimes... the moment vanishes.

Thanks, that is a nice compliment. Don't forget to show your pictures later on. I agree that an SLR will attract attention on the metro.

Ralph Javins · Apr 6, 2010

Good morning;

Yes, there is a Waist Level Finder I can put onto the Nikon F and F2, but I do not do that very often. There is a magnifying finder that is used much more often than the WLF for critical focusing.

While others have commented on the advantage of the WLF when working with "street shooting," the noise of a SLR camera mirror and shutter system has always been a problem for me. For that sort of work, I find that the Minolta Hi-Matic 9 rangefinder with its in-the-lens leaf shutter to be much more discrete and almost inobtrusive when fired. With fast film and zone focusing, and a little bit of careful handling (plus a dash of luck), the fairly wide lens on the Hi-Matic 9 has provided some nice photographs. The Yashica Lynx also works well.

With all of the comments about riding on the "Metro," I keep being reminded that I left Washington, D. C. back when they were beginning to talk about building that. The current location here has proven to be even more photogenic. Then, I also remember the view of the light pattern on the clouds above the Washington Monument at night. There are some nice things there still.

Any 35mm Waist-Level-Finder users out there?

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