Directors Viewfinder

Grif · Jul 11, 2011

So, I'm a bit lazy, having a hand held viewfinder with lines for composition without beating the tripod and camera silly just seems like a good ides. So, I just picked up an app for my android phone, the Artemis Director's Viewfinder.

Anyone have any other apps like it that you use, and any comments would really be appreciated. (or even setups for various large format lenses). I know it's not likely a real need here in the digital world, but walking back and forth with a 4x5 looking for that one "sweet spot" is a royal PITA.

This is sort of a cross post with the folks over at apug, where I usually hang out.

pschwart · Jul 11, 2011

how about the ultimate viewfinder -- a pocket-sized digital camera. Even APUG folks own these

Grif · Jul 11, 2011

Yes,,, the android phone has a 5mp camera built in, the app (Artemis Director's Viewfinder) overlays the image with wireframe lines showing the coverage of varous lenses allowing you to compose the image without dragging all the bigger hardware along. What I was fishing for was any other similar apps folks might use, or even various largeformat lens data to plug into the app without doing the whole target/wall/measure thing.

So while having a separate digital camera is cool, (and I carry one), it still, without an app, doesn't really let you compose the photo.

holmburgers · Jul 11, 2011

I gotta say... there are a handful of apps that don't sound completely worthless, this being one of them.

Grif · Jul 11, 2011

Well,,, it looks like it'll do what I think would be handy. Just need to get the 4x5 lenses figured out. The other app I grabbed is a bullet level to keep things all squared up.

David A. Goldfarb · Jul 11, 2011

For the iPhone, I like Viewfinder Pro, but it is limited at the wide end by the iPhone's not so wide lens.

pCam is another handy app for many useful photographic calculations, but kind of pricy for an app--around $30.

I also like Light Meter and the Massive Dev apps, The Photographer's Ephemeris, and TideGraph.

2F/2F · Jul 12, 2011

I prefer a Linhof zoom finder. They are pretty handy things, even if you don't have a Linhof.

Ben Altman · Jul 12, 2011

First finger and thumb of each hand in an L shape, one upright, one inverted, and touching. On 4x5, arms-length for 300 mm, half-extended for 180, six inches from nose for 110. Free and no additional weight. Has the additional advantage that people give me strange looks and move away... If I can't visualize an interesting print this way, the camera stays in the case. When I do set up, the final composition is often a bit different from my first idea anyway; I guess I'd want an app that gave me the image upside down and reversed

Ben

Grif · Jul 12, 2011

Ben Altman said:
I guess I'd want an app that gave me the image upside down and reversed

Ben

Hey,,, I thought this was dpug, not apug ;-)

I just got a message back from the developer of Artimus, he's expecting to have some 4x5 lens data in the next week or so.

Grif · Jul 12, 2011

David A. Goldfarb said:
For the iPhone, I like Viewfinder Pro, but it is limited at the wide end by the iPhone's not so wide lens.

pCam is another handy app for many useful photographic calculations, but kind of pricy for an app--around $30.

I also like Light Meter and the Massive Dev apps, The Photographer's Ephemeris, and TideGraph.

Well,,, I'll go download even more apps to try out. Thanks for the hints. Artimus was almost $30, I'll hold off on any more expensive apps for a while,,, SWMBO does the books ;-)

michaelbsc · Jul 12, 2011

Tear apart the finder for a few cardboard disposable cameras. Some are 28mm and some are 35mm.

Use them.for their respective equivalent on whatever format you're shooting.

Won't give you any lighting info but it is a good composition tool.

If you really want low tech but customized for yourself use the cardboard rolls from toilet paper. Cut it short for wide angles.

Cover the end with a mask for the film image, like 4x5 or 2x3.

If you're really into it coat them with epoxy and paint so they're durable.

MB

Grif · Jul 13, 2011

I'd actually thought about building a sliding wire frame finder, and I do have the adjustable Linholf viewfinder, but I never quite end up with it with me,,, my phone is always in my pocket.

timparkin · Jul 23, 2011

I've got a 5Dmk2 with a 24-105 lens to which I've added a 5x4 mask viewfinder which makes a fantastic viewfinder... It also almost takes decent pictures - quite amazing!!

Tim

2F/2F · Jul 23, 2011

It's kind of ironic to be using about $3,000 worth of DSLR kit as a viewfinder for cameras that usually cost well below a thousand dollars these days. Not a criticism, just a comment.

That last comment comment has me thinking, though. I use a busted Pentax Auto 110 as a rangefinder for my Nikonos and other scale focus cameras. The aspect ratio of the 110 frame is very similar (maybe identical?) to 4:5. Maybe a Pentax Auto 110 with the zoom lens would be a decent and convenient viewfinder for this purpose. You just need to find your FL equivalents first. They are really inexpensive on the used market, and you don't even need to purchase a working one.

Directors Viewfinder

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