Bronica RF viewfinder

AlanC · Apr 12, 2016

I have had a Bronica RF645 for a couple of years now. It is a very nice camera and I have had some very pleasing results with it. But I have never got used to the viewfinder. I don't like the way the lens protrudes into the bottom corner of the frame, blocking out some of the picture. And I really don't get on with the fact that the white frame-line isn't continuous. The corners are missing. I can see how these things wouldn't bother some people. But for me they really get in the way of intuitively composing a picture, so much so that I have been tempted at times to sell the camera. I really don't want to do this as I get reaults with it that are technically very good.
Is there a viewfinder available that I can mount on the hot-shoe that will give me an accurate and clear view of the subject? I use a 65mm lens.

rowghani · Apr 12, 2016

Not that I know of. On a side note do you find theres a shutter lag? I know you have to press it half way to active it but even then do you find its instantaneous?

AlanC · Apr 12, 2016

Shutter lag? I'm not sure. When you press the shutter there is a slight delay then you hear a curious chirping sound. But this may occur after the shutter has actually fired. I have used the camera to photograph people, moving about, but have never done any fast-moving action photography with it, so can't really answer your question.

Alan

John Koehrer · Apr 12, 2016

You may be be able to find something that's "close enough" on Ebay.
There' one gent in Israel that make different fl's from old P&S cameras.
The squirrelly problem may be the portrait orientation.

brian steinberger · Apr 12, 2016

Im surprised you haven't gotten used to the viewfinder Alan. It took me a couple of weeks of using it and now I'm so used to it I forgot that the lens even protruded into the VF area. I actually had to go look for myself! I love this camera. It's my favorite. All I could recommend is to keep using the camera trying not to focus on the VF issue and maybe it will get easier for you.

As for the shutter lag, the Bronica has none. The "chirping" sound is the shutter re-cocking.

AlanC · Apr 13, 2016

Thanks John, I will follow up your suggestion.

Brian, I am suprised too. I thought I would get used to it, but unfortunately I never have! The problem is worse when I have the camera on a tripod and am taking time to consider composition etc. When I hang the camera round my neck and go for a walk with it, I don't find it so much of a problem. And this is what I bought the caamera for in the first place.
I agree, it is a lovely camera, and I find the 65mm lens perfect for what I do.

Alan

John Koehrer · Apr 13, 2016

You could also think about making a wire sports finder. They were used on Graphics and the like.

AlanC · Apr 14, 2016

John, that's a good idea. Thanks.

Alan

Dismayed · Apr 14, 2016

Framing with a rangefinder will always involve a margin of error, so the non-continuous frame line never bothered me. Loved the lenses, but I had problems with the transport - twice. So I sold it all, including my 100 mm lens.

AlanC · Apr 15, 2016

I had a problem with the film transport with the first film I put through the camera. Then I read about keeping the film tension tight when loading the film. After that i used my left thumb to tension the film whilst winding the leader on.. So far I've put about 40 films through the camera and not had transport problems. Yes, I know I'm tempting fate by saying that....
My problem with the viewfinder is not that there may be a margin of error. It's an aesthetic problem. I want to be able to see a clearly defined "picture" of what I am thinking of photographing, so I can make minor framing adjustments if necessary, or even decide whether or not the picture is worth taking. The non-continuous frame-line and the intrusive lens are a bit of a distraction and make this more difficult than it should be.

Alan

craigclu · Apr 15, 2016

You've now brought a new distraction for me! I find that I'm so intent on the subject, focus patch and moment capture that it has been a non-issue for me and my RF645. I would prefer that the info was more easily seen, though (I wear glasses). I tend to use this rig for candid duties and the vertical format is so ideal for this. What a lovely piece of gear these are, feeling like a high-end German instrument in the hand.

AlanC · Apr 15, 2016

Craig, I apologise for throwing a spanner in your works. But your mention of glasses may have solved my problem. I have had a pair of glasses for distance, for three weeks now, but as they are not essential I have been taking them off when looking through a camera viewfinder. But I have just removed the diopter from my Bronica RF645 and looked through the viewfinder with my glasses on. Because my eye is now further away I can no longer see anything outside the white frame-line. So the viewfinder itself effectively becomes the picture frame and suddenly what I am looking at becomes a clearly defined image. I really think this will do the trick for me. So, many thanks! I will take the camera out tomorrow and give it a try. Should be interesting, as they are forecasting snow...

Alan

Bronica RF viewfinder

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