DIY Viewfinder

[Marc Leest]

Is it possible to construct a viewfinder from an old 35mm lens ? I have an old Minolta Rokkor 28/3.5 that might fit.

thx, Marc

 

[John Koehrer]

For what?

 

[Marc Leest]

For what?

To have it on top on a LF camera:

See example

http://www.photografica.com/index.p...> | </a>&md5=83996a3c78805063c4dacbe5e67073cc

 

[John Koehrer]

At one time there were adapters made to convert an SLR lens to a telephoto(with a 135). I haven't seen one of those gadgets advertised for years & never saw one in the flesh.
Leica had some unique adapters, There is one called "OORES" that rotated the camera/lens or finder into position depending on whether you wanted to focus or shoot. The guide I've got says it would focus at any distance.
You could cobble something together with a focusing magnifier, piece of ground glass & your lens to see how practical it might be. You might be able to do this with items you have on hand.
If you had access to a junk body you might be able to set something up with a prism, focusing screen, mirror box and lens mount, that would give you a right side up image and not need a ground glass