Frame Line Method Needed for Voigtlander Bessa with 40mm

echard · Jan 21, 2015

Hi, I've started shooting with a Bessa Rm3 with a 40mm 1.4 lens. I have it set to the correct frame lines but it seems a little tight. There seems to be more on the negative when I process the film. Is there a strategy for using frame lines. It's a bit weird coming from shooting SLRs forever.

Thanks,
Echard

snapguy · Jan 21, 2015

think

You may think you get exact frame lines with an SLR but you don't. They vary. A lot depends on the length of that old flippin' mirror. And at what distance you are focusing, and on and on. You'll never get anything exact with a rangefinder unless you use a ground glass on the back to focus, and tripod and whatever.

echard · Jan 21, 2015

Yeah, I get that SLR's aren't exact either. It's just that the frame lines in the Bessa are way tighter than 40mm. I'll get used to it but I'm just looking for any anecdotal methods for visualizing in the frame.

Mustafa Umut Sarac · Jan 21, 2015

Relax and forget about lifes exact tolerances , they only make you get older earlier. And how do you memorize what you see at viewfinder until the printing time ? I have extremelly weak memory and it makes life easier. My sister have giant memory and I dont know how she copes with it. And it is always better that your camera always gives more than you want , may be designers designed it with the mind asgift to photographers. Enjoy !

E. von Hoegh · Jan 21, 2015

echard said:
Hi, I've started shooting with a Bessa Rm3 with a 40mm 1.4 lens. I have it set to the correct frame lines but it seems a little tight. There seems to be more on the negative when I process the film. Is there a strategy for using frame lines. It's a bit weird coming from shooting SLRs forever.

Thanks,
Echard

Look on it as a safety margin, most RF viewfinders do this. Some SLRs give exactly 100%, the Nikon F2 and F are two.

echard · Jan 21, 2015

Gotcha Mustafa. Coming from shooting with a Holga for many years I'm down with that attitude.

MattKing · Jan 21, 2015

The framelines may have been designed with slide film in mind.

elekm · Jan 21, 2015

I use the 35mm lines with a 40mm lens. Close enough. The photos are a bit looser, but it's not enough to worry about.

However, if you are really Type A about exact framing, then the rangefinder isn't the best tool for the job. Framelines are always approximate. Some are more accurate than others.

And there are plenty of early cameras that have no framelines at all.

macfred · Jan 22, 2015

echard said:
There seems to be more on the negative when I process the film ...

It's not a bug, it's a feature - even when using slide film ...

elekm · Jan 22, 2015

elekm said:
I use the 35mm lines with a 40mm lens. Close enough. The photos are a bit looser, but it's not enough to worry about.

Now that I think about, the actual photo is tighter than the frame so I frame looser when taking the photo.

John Koehrer · Jan 23, 2015

You could use a viewfinder. It's only money(yours)..............)..........and still an approximation.

Frame Line Method Needed for Voigtlander Bessa with 40mm

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