Viewfinder for Ondu Pinhole?

[Adam W]

Hi,

I just received my lovely new Ondu 6x6 pinhole camera. I really want to find or make a viewfinder to use with it. The focal length is 25mm with a field of view of 115°.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[TheToadMen]

Nice. I hope to get mine soon too.

 

[DWThomas]

Hi,

I just received my lovely new Ondu 6x6 pinhole camera. I really want to find or make a viewfinder to use with it. The focal length is 25mm with a field of view of 115°.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Well here's my two cents (and not likely worth that!)

Years back I built a 4x5 pinhole with about a 103º diagonal field of view. The following year I made a crude wire-frame finder out of black mat board. That was intended as a quick prototype of a viewfinder to ultimately be fabricated in some black matte aluminum stock I had on hand. It turned out to be such a pain in the neck to use, I never bothered. At such wide coverage it seemed easier to just point the box in the general direction.
It looked like:

(There is even a crosshair of black thread on the front.) It was anchored by double-sided tape for the grand experiment.

I think the problem is that with an SLR or a ground glass one can adjust eye relief to take in the whole image, but with an open "wire frame" finder the angle is too wide to take in. Anyway, you could wack something out of black mat board, or even thinner stuff for a trial, and see what you think.

When I more recently built an 8x10 camera, I placed small dowel pins on the top and one end, laid out so I could sight along them. You can see them in this view:

(The fat pins are for hefty rubber bands to hold the filmholder in place.)

I suppose you might fabricate a little flat something with bumps that could tape on an existing camera.

 

[Jim Jones]

Some of us draw lines on the camera top and side to sight along to determine the limits of coverage. On a camera as lovely as the Ondu you might want to put the lines on adhesive tape so you can return the camera to its original condition if desired. Perhaps you can find adhesive material used to cover shelves with a pattern that doesn't look too out of place.

 

[kier]

Don't the new Ondu's come with perspective lines ingrained? That will be as good a viewfinder as you'll get. Otherwise, you can do what Zero Image supplies: a card with the cutout for frame size that you hold at the film plane side and look through. Here it is and their description of how to use it: http://www.zeroimage.com/web2003/Technique/Viewfinder/viewfinder.htm

 

[Adam W]

Thanks for all the replies, folks. Yes, the Ondu has engraved lines. I was looking for something easier, I guess. I just ordered one of Zero Image's cards. (It was only $8 and free shipping.) Until it arrives, I'll try a mat board finder like Dave's. If I end up liking it, I can ask the Maker Club at the high school I work at to print me one in their new 3-D printer.