Diopters in medium format

[Sirius Glass]

Sirius,
In Hasselblad system, What's the the finder that gives the biggest magnification plus diopter around or just more than -3.5 dipoter?
Thanks.

I do not know the diopters of any camera systems. Since my vision is corrected by the contact lenses for distance, Nikon and Hasselblad viewfinders are in focus for me.

 

[wiltw]

Since I wear reading glasses, should I be using a diopter in my Hassy waist level finder, or is the flip up magnifier providing what I need? I use a 1.25 lens for reading, should I have the same in the finder?

Reason I ask is my handheld stuff has gotten WAY soft lately. I used to use a Bronica SQ with a split prism and never had any problems. Now I use a Hassy with the standard (non-split) viewfinder and dang I have wasted some film!

I have a Bronica ETRSi which I ordinarily use with a prism finder that has a dial-in diopter adjustment. I just mounted my virtually new waist level finder, to try to help out in this discussion and here is what I found...

1. My vision is adjusted for 'monovision' with contact lenses, with right eye adjusted for distance and with left eye adjusted for reading (12-14"). If I focus with magnifier, my right eye sees the focus screen with less sharpness than my left eye, even when the lens is perfectly focused on a high contrast target
   ...IOW, the magnifier increases the apparent SIZE of the focus screen for better perception of 'sharp' but it does NOT ADJUST VISION....its apparent distance of about 30-36" is seen better with my left eye which is adjusted better for reading.
2. It is used with the eye very close to the magnifier, or greater distances up to about 4" away...when viewed from farther, an insufficient view of the focus screen is not very useful
   
   
3. The waist level finder comes with a standard magnifier eyepiece (-1.5 diopters), and consultation of old Bronica accessories list discloses there are optional eyepieces (-4.5, -3.5, -2.5, -0.5, +0.5, and +1.5 diopters)

If you cannot find diopters to fit your waist level finder, I suggest that you simply use a cheap pair of readers of the appropriate strength, purchased from the over-the-counter reading glasses rack.

I just found these diopters on eBay
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hasselblad...891092?hash=item41e94b2854:g:8r0AAOSwb~Ja0h1u
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hasselblad...389079?hash=item467ee10dd7:g:s9kAAOSwJiJbKCVf
https://www.ebay.ie/itm/Hasselblad-...mint-in-box-/302776389079?hash=item467ee10dd7
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hasselblad...699493?hash=item25fe2618a5:g:btoAAOSwefRbUfy7
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hasselblad...755435?hash=item4423fffe2b:g:d88AAOSwzDBbDc3y

Per the original Hassy 500 series manual interchangeable optics for the waist level finder were available from +3 to -4

Instructions for changing the magnifier optics were provided on p.15 of the user manual.

 

[PittP]

This might be rather for the 50+ folks among us...
When looking at your focussing screen, your true viewing distance is the gap from eye to screen (projected image). If you are far-sighted and need reading glasses (+1 and more, some use +3), this will also be needed here - if not even more in case you want to get a bit closer to the small screen than you would normally get to the newspaper.
It's the same whether the lens is a contact lens on your eye, sitting on your nose, or is integrated with the finder (be it adjustable or fixed diopter correction).
As stated before, for a test, get a cheap over-the-counter reading aid - or use one of your broken specs.
Take out one glass (the cheap ones are rather plastic, best for the purpose), cut it to size and attach it to the finder - you'll be set.
Same for SLR and range finders: Just fix that piece of your "reading glass" to the finder (where normally the diopter adjustment lens would go) - and your finder is back to "as good as it gets".
(NB: Don't glue permanently. Your eyesight might further deteriorate or change, or someone with young eyes might want to use the camera.)
A good view and good light at all times!

 

[Pieter12]

This might be rather for the 50+ folks among us...
When looking at your focussing screen, your true viewing distance is the gap from eye to screen (projected image). If you are far-sighted and need reading glasses (+1 and more, some use +3), this will also be needed here - if not even more in case you want to get a bit closer to the small screen than you would normally get to the newspaper.
It's the same whether the lens is a contact lens on your eye, sitting on your nose, or is integrated with the finder (be it adjustable or fixed diopter correction).
As stated before, for a test, get a cheap over-the-counter reading aid - or use one of your broken specs.
Take out one glass (the cheap ones are rather plastic, best for the purpose), cut it to size and attach it to the finder - you'll be set.
Same for SLR and range finders: Just fix that piece of your "reading glass" to the finder (where normally the diopter adjustment lens would go) - and your finder is back to "as good as it gets".
(NB: Don't glue permanently. Your eyesight might further deteriorate or change, or someone with young eyes might want to use the camera.)
A good view and good light at all times!

I have mild astigmatism and found that using a Dioptrx from Televue http://www.televue.com/engine/TV3b_page.asp?id=54 does wonders attached to my Rolleiflex 6008 prism finder. Eric at Rolleiflex usa turned me on to this and made an adapter to fit.

 

[Neil Poulsen]

I have an RB outfit, and both the waist level finder and the Mamiya Prism (non-metered) were slightly, yet quite annoyingly, blurred. Not knowing the proper diopter correction, and not wanting to find out through trial and error, my optometrist was able to tell me what was needed.

I found reasonably priced, +1 corrections for both view finders. This nailed the problem.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I have an RB outfit, and both the waist level finder and the Mamiya Prism (non-metered) were slightly, yet quite annoyingly, blurred. Not knowing the proper diopter correction, and not wanting to find out through trial and error, my optometrist was able to tell me what was needed.

I found reasonably priced, +1 corrections for both view finders. This nailed the problem.

I am glad that you found a relatively painless solution.