SLR's with waist level viewing?

msbarnes · Oct 3, 2011

I'm wondering, are there any 35mm SLR's with waist level finders? Kind of like the Pentax 67. I like eye-level viewing but I like waist-level too.

brucemuir · Oct 3, 2011

Nikon F can take them.
I think the F4 does also but dont quote me, the F4 is too new for me so I'm not 100% on that one.

I have a wlf for my F but it is dinky compared to a 'blad or RZ.

MattKing · Oct 3, 2011

Rollieflex 3003
Nikon F
Miranda Sensorex

bdial · Oct 3, 2011

Nikon F2, F3
Various Exactas, and many of the early 35mm SLRs

Bob-D659 · Oct 3, 2011

Pretty much any slr with a removable prism, add the Nikon F4 and F5 to the above.

So, you have the F, F2, F3, F4, F5 everything from fully mechanical to super duper whiz bang electronic.

paul ewins · Oct 3, 2011

Pentax LX (FF-1 finder), Minolta XK/XM/X1

msbarnes · Oct 3, 2011

cool! Thanks. It looks like I have more than a few options. I don't ever recall seeing one so I thought it was extremely rare or didn't exist, but it looks like I have a few choices.

hpulley · Oct 3, 2011

Canon F-1. As mentioned above, any one with a removable prism. Often you can also put another prism on the eyepiece to get a waist level view but it isn't quite as good and none of these will be as big as a nice MF WLF.

X. Phot. · Oct 4, 2011

Praktica FX, FX 2 and FX 3. I had the FX 3. A little noisy on the shutter/mirror side, but a fun camera nonetheless.

http://www.praktica-collector.de/125_Praktica_FX.htm
http://www.praktica-collector.de/133_Praktica_FX2.htm
http://www.praktica-collector.de/138_Praktica_F.X3.htm

guitstik · Oct 4, 2011

Ihagee Exa, ExaII. Minolta XK.

Erik Petersson · Oct 4, 2011

Sometimes I just remove the prism from my Nikon F3. But I must be careful so that I not drop the viewing screen from the camera.

Jerevan · Oct 4, 2011

The best one yet that I have seen is the Speed Finder for the Canon F1. It is is possible to shift between a sports finder view or WLF view. Good eye relief and I found it suited me better than the F2 and F3 wlf finders, although all of them is a bit on the dinky side compared to a Rolleiflex TLR.

Newt_on_Swings · Oct 4, 2011

F3 has swappable viewfinders, one for regular waist viewing, another as a 6x waist finder. Also work with taking the prism off and looking right at focusing screen. It may mess with metering and stray light may enter.

AgX · Oct 4, 2011

Actually the first 35mm SLR's were waist-level-finder cameras.

lacavol · Oct 4, 2011

I'll second the Exa. You can buy a nice one with waist level finder and a good lens rather cheaply. Plus, they have all the speeds you need, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, and 1/150. They are a bit awkward at first with the shutter button on the left. Be sure to get an auto lens, like the Carl Zeiss, Jenna. The Exakta is just to big for me.

Pumalite · Oct 4, 2011

Exa I, Exa Ia

narsuitus · Oct 4, 2011

Since I needed to attach my camera to microscopes and telescopes, a waist level finder has been an important feature for me for a long time. My very first SLR (Miranda Sensorex) had a waist level finder. I also had a waist level finder for my Nikon F, F2, F3, and F4.

Nikon really disappointed me when it failed to equip the F6 and its digital SLRs with this useful feature.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11336821@N00/5216261276/

Mackinaw · Oct 4, 2011

For street photography, I frequently slide the prism off my Canon F-1 (original) and compose and shoot just glancing down at the view screen. Scale focus, use the sunny 16 rule, and just take pics.

Jim B.

BrianL · Oct 4, 2011

Of course there are the early Alpas.

Chan Tran · Oct 4, 2011

narsuitus said:
Since I needed to attach my camera to microscopes and telescopes, a waist level finder has been an important feature for me for a long time. My very first SLR (Miranda Sensorex) had a waist level finder. I also had a waist level finder for my Nikon F, F2, F3, and F4.

Nikon really disappointed me when it failed to equip the F6 and its digital SLRs with this useful feature.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11336821@N00/5216261276/

Of course I can't know for sure but I think Nikon made the F6 so that they have a camera that is less expensive to make than the F5 and yet is considered as new/improved and can be sold for more. The interchangable viewfinder feature is simply too expensive and there are few people like you and me that would miss that feature.

Mainecoonmaniac · Oct 4, 2011

Canon F1(n) with waist level finder. The the finder is are to get though.

BobD · Oct 4, 2011

Most SLRs from Miranda and the Edixa Reflex SLRs. Also the Agfaflex cameras (as in my avatar). Plus Topcon RE Super.

Rol_Lei Nut · Oct 4, 2011

Having used several (Exakta, Exa, Nikon F, F2, Rolleiflex 3003, Praktina, various Practikas... - just as far as 35mm is concerned), I'd say that the best quality is the Exa/Exakta (at least with the older magnifyinging/condenser WLFs), while the most convenient is the Rolleiflex SL 2000 / 3003 (switchable between WLF and eye level finder in a fraction of a second).

Wade D · Oct 5, 2011

As mentioned, most of the Exakta's will take a waist level finder. I have both the WLF & pentaprism for mine. Exakta V & VX in my case. They have the flip up magnifier so focusing is easy. It's kind of a backward camera because the wind is on the left side.

Nicholas Lindan · Oct 5, 2011

To Sumarize -

Agfa : Agfaflex
Agfa : Colorflex
Alpa : Reflex
Canon : Canonflex
Canon : F1
Edixa : Edixa-MAT
Edixa : Reflex
Edixa : Rex
Exakta : Exa
Exakta : Exakta V series
Exakta : RTL1000
Exakta Real : Real
Gomz : Sport
KMZ : Start
Leica : Visoflex
Minolta : XK/X1/XM
Miranda : Early: D, G etc.
Miranda : Sensomat
Miranda : Sensorex
Nikon : F
Nikon : F2
Nikon : F3
Nikon : F4
Nikon : F5
Pentax/Asahi : Asahiflex
Pentax/Asahi : LX
Rollieflex : 2000
Rollieflex : 3003
Topcon : D
Topcon : Super
VEB Pentacon : Praktiflex
VEB Pentacon : Praktika FX series
VEB Pentacon : Praktika VLC series
VEB Pentacon : Praktina
Zeiss : Contarex Special
Zeiss : Icarex 35
Zenit : 4, 5, 6

SLR's with waist level viewing?

msbarnes

brucemuir

MattKing

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bdial

Bob-D659

paul ewins

msbarnes

hpulley

X. Phot.

guitstik

Erik Petersson

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Newt_on_Swings

AgX

lacavol

Pumalite

narsuitus

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Mackinaw

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Mainecoonmaniac

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Nicholas Lindan

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SLR's with waist level viewing?

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