Convertible Horseman Viewfinder

wjlapier · Mar 1, 2019

I just received a Convertible Horseman today and I am really looking forward to taking this out soon. I've read that the FOV is ~25mm for 6x9. Looking through the sportsfinder I don't see that. Or am I missing something. Maybe I could use a finder from Voigtlander or Leica, or Zeiss ( I have a Leica 36mm and Voigtlander 15mm ). If you owned one of these cameras at one time what did you use for a finder if you weren't using the included sports finder.

Dan Daniel · Mar 2, 2019

You are using the front wireframe part, yes? It isn't pulled up n your photo.
https://www.johanniels.com/en/mediu...convertible-a-medium-format-wide-angle-camera

wjlapier · Mar 2, 2019

I've looked through the finders and still don't see it--the ~25mm wide area. And the front wireframe looks more like 6x7 than 6x9 to me. I wonder if it was originally 6x7 and was "convertible" to 6x9. On the right side it says in black "Basic Frame 6x7." and in red "6x9cm".

Dan Fromm · Mar 2, 2019

wjlapier said:
I've read that the FOV is ~25mm for 6x9.

If you mean that a 62 mm lens on 2x3 (6x9 is a metric approximation) sees the same view as a 25 mm lens on 24x36, you were misinformed. A 62 on 2x3 will see what a 27 on 24x36 sees. To do the conversion, multiply the 2x3 focal length by 0.43.

ic-racer · Mar 2, 2019

If that has the 62mm lens, I believe Horseman shows the angle of view around 78 degrees on "6x9" format. If you measure your negatives, you will see the film gate is not actually 6cm or 9cm (56x82mm).

I don't have that camera to check but the Horseman optical finders underestimate the film edge. This allows enough room to overlap the image on the easel blades when printing and not lose anything.

Dan Fromm · Mar 2, 2019

Ic, I could be mistaken but I believe that although the Convertible has a removable lens panel Horseman offered only one lens for it, a 62/5.6.

ic-racer · Mar 2, 2019

Dan Fromm said:
Ic, I could be mistaken but I believe that although the Convertible has a removable lens panel Horseman offered only one lens for it, a 62/5.6.

I think you are right on the single lens. All the pictures of them I have show just the 62mm. Later they made the SW69. It seems pretty rare; I have never even seen for sale. That one had interchangeable lenses.

http://www.phootos.com/Library/sw69p info.pdf

wjlapier · Mar 7, 2019

I took the Horseman Convertible out a couple of days ago to run a roll through it. Using the wireframe finder doesn't do it for me so I have a 28mm finder on the way ( it'll do double duty with my CL ). Sharp lens.

Kodak Ektar:

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wjlapier · Mar 10, 2019

So, I'm back to figuring out a way to see 28mm and closely approximate that on the negative. The metal finder and wire frame are of no use to me, unless someone can explain exactly how to use those two ( assuming those two pieces work together ). I have a 28mm finder from Ricoh and it would be nice if I can somehow raise the cold shoe or extend it back a little ( up and back ).

Anyone know of an adapter that would raise the cold shoe? How about raised it and bring it back slightly so it's over the film back? This isn't as bad an issue as I might make it out to be. I'd just like to see the corners in the finder ( which ever one it is ) a little better.

Convertible Horseman Viewfinder

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