Using cameras with prism removed

Does anyone have experience using cameras with the prism removed and something similar to a jeweler's magnifier or other (wearable) magnification device to aid in seeing the focusing screen? Were there any wearable magnification devices specifically made for photographic purposes?

I know that WLFs often have a magnifier built in, but I am specifically asking about wearable ones.

Thank you

A jewelers' loupe makes some sense with a view camera where you have a darkcloth.

In an SLR you need a hood or chimney (or, I suppose, a darkcloth) to see the screen well enough to focus. I have often used a camera with the prism removed when I don't have a WLF - I focus with the pentaprism and then compose with the WLF and a lot of cupping of hands to keep out stray light.

Keep in mind that magnifiers need to be held at a specific distance, where the coarse surface of the focus screen can be seen in order to achieve optimum focus. A waistlevel finder afixed on the camera holds that position while your head and eye can float at a somewhat variable distance above the aerial image projected by the magnifying lens. A head-worn magnifier used by jewelers has a degree of freedom permitted in the distance to the focusing surface...with a head-worn jeweler's magifier that I use only for close (not photographic) work, there is about 2" of varability in the distance to the object being magnified. Large format cameras have the luxury of allowing you to rest a magnifier on the back surface of the focus screen, so that variable magnifier-to-focus surface is not an issue.

Keeping the focusing screen dark is essential in achieving best focus...loss of contrast due to light striking from above hurts focus accuracy.

I never used the camera without prism with a loupe not in daylight. I have in my 20's used my F3 at night with the D screen without the prism and no magnifier. I eyesight was excellent back then.

Chan Tran said:

I never used the camera without prism with a loupe not in daylight. I have in my 20's used my F3 at night with the D screen without the prism and no magnifier. I eyesight was excellent back then.

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I was just about to mention the F3. It does not like to meter correctly without using an eyeshade (or eyeball) to cover the eyepiece so I'd assume it doesn't like to meter with the prism removed either. Not sure if that's inlcuded in the instructions for the Nikon F3 waist-level viewer or not, though. Other cameras may have the same metering assumptions. If not using hte in-camera metering or automatic mode, then that's not a consideration.

BrianShaw said:

I was just about to mention the F3. It does not like to meter correctly without using an eyeshade (or eyeball) to cover the eyepiece so I'd assume it doesn't like to meter with the prism removed either. Not sure if that's inlcuded in the instructions for the Nikon F3 waist-level viewer or not, though. Other cameras may have the same metering assumptions. If not using hte in-camera metering or automatic mode, then that's not a consideration.

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I did the shot at night and I metered the scene first then switched to manual so I don't know if even at night it would affect the meter or not.

wiltw said:

Keeping the focusing screen dark is essential in achieving best focus...loss of contrast due to light striking from above hurts focus accuracy.

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loccdor's magnifier question made me think of the Canon New F-1's Waist Level Finder FN-6X. Sure, not wearable, but it's wonderful to work with (as long as you don't wear glasses).

I suppose there might be similar finders available for F3, Pentax LX etc.

Michael

1957ExaktaVarexIIa said:

loccdor's magnifier question made me think of the Canon New F-1's Waist Level Finder FN-6X. Sure, not wearable, but it's wonderful to work with (as long as you don't wear glasses).

I suppose there might be similar finders available for F3, Pentax LX etc.

Michael

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Yes I have the DW-4 for the F3. But I think they are available for the F2, F3, F4 and F5 also..