Electronic means of knowing when focus is achieved - Hasselblad 501CM

[ted_smith]

On some 35mm cameras like my F5 there's an LED light in the viewfinder that goes from amber to green or something when manual focus is achieved. On my Hasselblad 501CM with WLF and Acutte Matte D screen I am struggling with focusing and wondered if one of the prisms comes with such a feature? If so, which one? (I know there are different screens that help but I was hoping for an electronic means of achieving a flag that says "its in focus!")

 

[benjiboy]

Achieving correct focus in reflex cameras depends on the user having perfect eye sight Ted because the eye becomes a part of the cameras optical system and even though the subject may appear perfectly in focus on the micro-prism or split image focusing screen to the user because of defects in his/her vision, I don't know if you wear glasses Ted, or if you do when was the last time you had your eyes tested ?, although I'm much older than you I have no problem focusing my M/F Mamiya or 35 mm SLR s because I have regular eye tests and have the lenses in my glasses changed when required. Your problem also could be solved by buying a suitable Hasselblad eyesight correction lens for your camera .

 

[locutus]

I think only MF AF SLR's give you this feature, which in 6x6 leaves only the Rollei 600x and Hy6 series.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

You could probably find an old Hasselblad HC-3/70 eye-level prism viewfinder; they are inexpensive and that is what I use sometimes.

It provides 4x magnification over the entire 6x6 frame and has diopter corrections as well. It is very easy to focus with.

 

[Kirks518]

I have trouble focusing with matte screens, so I don't use them. All my screens have the split center spot, and I can see that just fine. You may want to switch to a split rangefinder screen.

EDIT: That's assuming you don't have the matte D with the split (# 42215)

 

[John Koehrer]

You could try a laser rangefinder. Most big box hardware or golf shop will have them.

 

[Sirius Glass]

With my Hasselblads, I have the split image surrounded by the focusing grid, but I changed it for the screen with the cross hairs to line up horizontals and verticals. To focus in difficult situations I quickly move the lens in and out of focus both near and far, that way I can get a sharp focus quickly.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

Electronic focus confirmation does not necessarily mean that critical focus has been achieved, especially at shallow depth of field. It's reassuring, certainly, but you still must do your bit. I have less than perfect vision (right eye — my viewing eye, especially), but have no trouble arriving at critical focus on Pentax 67 standard matte screen with a –1.5d correction lens. My EOS 1N will use focus confirmation with a manual-focus TS-E lens, but that must then be fine-focused, moreso if any tilt is applied (at which time focus confirmation is entirely irrelevant, with focus based on an arbitrary point or 'peg'). I don't experience any real focusing difficulties with my Hassie. But like most users of the P67, I have trouble achieving focus with f4 lenses in work using a polariser, but usually nothing either the central-spot magnifier or right-angle finder cannot help with, additional to minimising the POL effect or just taking the POL off for critical focusing. As we get older, the crusade to find more help in focusing cameras accurately becomes important. Never give in.

 

[Alan Gales]

That's what that little flip out magnifier is for, critical focus.

My eyes are not the greatest but I had no problem focussing a Hasselblad 500/cm with a Beattie Intenscreen even without my glasses. The acute matte is supposed to be just as bright as a Beattie. Perhaps it's time for an eye exam? I'm actually past due for one myself.

 

[Jager]

I'll nod my head with the others that a split-image viewfinder makes determining critical focus much easier. If your Acute Matte D isn't of that variety, that's the first thing I would look to change.

A prism finder is also faster than a WLF in achieving critical focus, though not innately any more precise.