Split Prism and Olympus OM = A Rangefinder?

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dugrant153

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OK so this is going to be super super subjective. I've been thinking about going rangefinder for a while as I found myself unable to focus sometimes in low light manually. I used Pentax and Olympus OM cameras and at times got frustrated trying to focus with microprism screens.

Then I found this article:
http://books.google.ca/books?id=KXO...page&q=microprisms low light focusing&f=false

And... I think I've been focusing wrong this whole time. I've been trying to use microprisms in super low light...
I kind of disregarded the split prism and never thought about turning it in order to try to find a diagonal line to focus. I've been kind of trying it out recently and have to say that finding this technique has opened up a whole new level of usage for my manual focus SLRs.

Using my Olympus OM1 + the Split Prism almost feels like a rangefinder in that I'm trying to "line up" something to match with something in order to determine focus (not to mention small size and relative quietness of the OM cameras). Which has me wondering on a personal level whether I truly need a rangefinder... or whether I just need to practice focusing on a split prism + ground glass (and microprisms for when it's bright). For wide angles, perhaps the split prism and "turning the camera" technique may not be as effective...?

I feel like this kind of technique and discussion on manual focusing is lost in this AF and digital age and would be curious on your experiences with SLRs and the split prism. And if you want to, how it compares to rangefinders. :smile:
 

Xmas

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The split prism is easier to use in poor light but needs a wide aperture lens or it will go black ( as do micro prisms).

The split prism or micro prism are or can be optimised for focal length to stop them going black but finding such OM screens is no longer easy.

The micro prisms need more contrast than the split prism.

Ground glass spot needs more training and contrast.

A 1:1 rangefinder camera eg M3, CanonP or VI in good condition will nail focus faster in available darkness for a /1.2 5cm lens - almost down to star light. No good for visualizing though.
 

thuggins

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I generally use a 1-13 in my OM's and never found the microprisms the least bit useable. There is almost always some linear object to focus on, and as long as you have good eyesight or have the viewfinder corrected, focusing on the ground glass can be very accurate.

Going from an OM to a rangefinder because of focusing seems odd. I have a complete collection of Oly "35's" and never found them easier to focus than my OM's, especially in low light. And has often been noted, and SLR can do everything a rangefinder can, but not vice versa.
 

ciniframe

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Even with my 65 year old eyes I still use 1-10 screens, all matte with grid lines, in my OM bodies. You just need to make sure you are seeing the screen clearly. I think the eyepiece is set to -1 (1 meter). This means that if you can hold an object at 40 inches and see it clearly then you need no added correction to the eyepiece. If not you need to determine which direction you need correction for, closer than 1 meter (minus diopter) or past 1 meter (plus diopter).
 
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