Waist Level Finders, do you get used to them?

[Alan Edward Klein]

One thing I noticed about the WLF after viewing Vivian Maier's photos, was the intimacy it seemed to provide that is not as present with eye-level viewed shots. It made a profound impression on me.

 

[mshchem]

Does the RZ67 actually mask the image to align with the back? I've never used one, but I kind of expected it just displayed a 7x7 square with crop lines. Is the RB67 the same?

I have an RZ67II I bought new in 1999. It has black masking blades of some sort under the focusing screen. On vertical the blades only cover the middle 2/3rds of the screen so you can see the LCD screen etc. Recently I've been using a Hasselblad with the amazing Acute-Mat screen and a 45 degree PM5 finder wow! I have the latest 90 degree metered prism, has a great meter, kinda heavy though. If you are on a tripod prism is the only way to go. For walking around with the RZII I always use WLF, prism is too darn heavy.

 

[guangong]

Never had a problem with WLF on Rollei or Hassy. If weight is no problem I might use prism finder on Rollei along with pistol grip, but mostly I like to travel light. As for the Hassy, not only do I use the folding finder but also the chimney finder, but if shooting with longer lenses such as 300mm Olympic Sonnar or Kilfitt I prefer a prism finder. Why? Who knows?
I never liked the WLF on 35mm cameras. I do use rt angle finders on Minox.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

No. What do you feel when the camera must be re-oriented into portrait position (if it is not a 6x6)?
I don't feel the love for a WLF at that moment, but a 'WTF!' when I bang my nose on the thing! Same thing with a chimney finder. Prism finders are all the go...

 

[paul ron]

i never really got to like it but i did tolerate it. you do get use to the orientation difference but there is nothing as nice as using a prism.

once you've tasted blood, you'll never go back!

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

One thing I noticed about the WLF after viewing Vivian Maier's photos, was the intimacy it seemed to provide that is not as present with eye-level viewed shots. It made a profound impression on me.

Very observant. My opinion is there is a very human connection lost between photographer and subject when a camera is held up to the photographer's face.

 

[MattKing]

One thing I noticed about the WLF after viewing Vivian Maier's photos, was the intimacy it seemed to provide that is not as present with eye-level viewed shots. It made a profound impression on me.

At least some of that "intimacy" might be due to the fact that we don't often look at others from the level of our respective stomachs unless we know each other really well!
Early on in my wedding photography career it was brought home to me that photos of people taken from that height (the "navel eyed view of the world") weren't generally appreciated by the paying customers.
One can make very effective use of a camera held at that height. It does, however, take a conscious approach.

 

[Alan Gales]

I prefer waist level finders on medium format. I just like the whole experience better. I also like the ground glass on a large format camera where the image is also upside down. It's slower and more contemplative.

That said, I do prefer a viewfinder for shooting sports. I also prefer a DSLR. Different tools for different jobs.

 

[Sirius Glass]

One thing I noticed about the WLF after viewing Vivian Maier's photos, was the intimacy it seemed to provide that is not as present with eye-level viewed shots. It made a profound impression on me.

Very observant. My opinion is there is a very human connection lost between photographer and subject when a camera is held up to the photographer's face.

I find quite the opposite. Besides sometimes I have to deal with glare from the side with the WLF and that is never a problem with the prism.

 

[tessar]

The first serious camera I bought for myself, long ago, was a Yashica TLR, so I've long been used to the reversed image. I've found it helps in composition -- instead of looking through the camera you look into the camera. You see a flat two-dimensional image, and so (for me) relations among the shapes and contrast on the screen become more apparent, like looking at a more or less abstract image. Strictly personal of course.

 

[Stephen Prunier]

No. What do you feel when the camera must be re-oriented into portrait position (if it is not a 6x6)?
I don't feel the love for a WLF at that moment, but a 'WTF!' when I bang my nose on the thing! Same thing with a chimney finder. Prism finders are all the go...

I use the RZ which has a rotating back. You don't have to lay the camera on it's side for vertical shots. You just switch the back.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I use the RZ which has a rotating back. You don't have to lay the camera on it's side for vertical shots. You just switch the back.

One does not need to lay a Hasselblad on its side to shoot 6x6 either.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

I use the RZ which has a rotating back. You don't have to lay the camera on it's side for vertical shots. You just switch the back.

I omitted to reference the Pentax 67 (my camera), which is rather quaint in its old world stoicism to march on and on without the undeniable luxury of a rotating back.

 

[bdial]

One does not need to lay a Hasselblad on its side to shoot 6x6 either.

Unless you're using a 645 back, then doing a vertical is "challenging", and trying to do it with a 45 degree prism is worse than the WLF.
DAMHIK

 

[johnha]

Unless you're using a 645 back, then doing a vertical is "challenging", and trying to do it with a 45 degree prism is worse than the WLF.
DAMHIK

Vertical 645 is almost impossible unless it's on a tripod! I like the WLF if shooting from waist height, better than stooping for a prism, anything else I prefer a prism (even on my SQ-B where I have a 45 degree prism). The prism also seals the camera better if the weather is likely to warrant it. I have a fold-out sport finder for my Mamiya 645 - trying to set it up is quite fiddly and using it is not straight forward.

I showed a friend the view through the WLF of by SQ-B - he couldn't believe it was simply optics.

Your eyes & brain get used to anything - my eye glasses have significant barrel distortion, it took a couple of weeks for my brain to 'correct' for it - now when I take them off I get significant pin cushion distortion.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Unless you're using a 645 back, then doing a vertical is "challenging", and trying to do it with a 45 degree prism is worse than the WLF.
DAMHIK

Vertical 645 is almost impossible unless it's on a tripod! I like the WLF if shooting from waist height, better than stooping for a prism, anything else I prefer a prism (even on my SQ-B where I have a 45 degree prism). The prism also seals the camera better if the weather is likely to warrant it. I have a fold-out sport finder for my Mamiya 645 - trying to set it up is quite fiddly and using it is not straight forward.

I showed a friend the view through the WLF of by SQ-B - he couldn't believe it was simply optics.

Your eyes & brain get used to anything - my eye glasses have significant barrel distortion, it took a couple of weeks for my brain to 'correct' for it - now when I take them off I get significant pin cushion distortion.

Which brings up the question why anyone would want to shoot 645? I guess it takes all sides. Note that for years Hasselblad advertised that square was the perfect format. It still is.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

Note that for years Hasselblad advertised that square was the perfect format. It still is.

Then we have the venerable house of Linhof asserting that 6x7 is the ideal format ...

 

[Pentode]

This thread got me thinking; been a while since I shot the Rollei. Even longer for the Yashica 44. So, this afternoon I loaded both, headed for Coney Island and immersed myself in the crowd.

Okay, I have to admit it took me a few minutes to reacquaint myself with the WLF. I’ll also admit I definitely missed a couple of cool shots because my brain went one way and I went the other.

All in all, though, it came back to me quicker than expected. I stopped down and scale-focused as much as possible so I only had to pay attention to framing and staying level. It went fine. Another few rolls and I’d be back to not really thinking about it.

So the verdict on the WLF for me is yes. You do get used to it. It’s remarkable what our brains can compensate for. It’s probably eight years or so since I was using TLRs with any regularity.

 

[sixby45]

There is some great advice in this thread - thanks everyone! I love my C220 TLR a little more now