Waist-level viewfinder that fits in a hotshoe?

Camerarabbit

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I'm working on a project where Im essentially shooting from the hip with a 35mm camera and am trying to find a waist-level viewfinder that will slip into a hotshoe so I can have an approximate idea of how the camera is seeing. Were these ever made? I know the Nikon F series has the option to replace the viewfinder housing with such a contraption but Im trying to do this with the camera I use (Contax 139) Thanks!!!
 

xkaes

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I would not be surprised if these have been manufactured, but I don't recall ever seeing one.

On easy way to make one would be to find an old 120 folder -- preferable one that's beat up, AKA free. These 90° finders were commonly used on them. They came in various sizes, but all you need to do is glue a flash shoe to the bottom.
 
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Camerarabbit

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Oooh thats a good idea! If you have any idea of which cameras had the best viewfinder I'm all ears!
 

xkaes

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You've got to be kidding. There were thousands of these cameras from Kodak, Ansco, Agafa, etc. Names you never heard of from the 1800's.

Do a search for 120 folding cameras and you'll find a endless stream.

But they won't show you what an SLR waist-level finder shows -- that's whatever the lens sees. These finders show you approximately what the fixed lens of the camera sees -- and for a 120 camera that's probably around 75-125mm. Other formats will be shorter.
 

Chan Tran

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If you don't expect to use the viewfinder for focusing then it's best not to use the viewfinder at all. You can estimate the frame not too difficult.
 

Dirb9

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Zeiss Ikon 436/3 or 436/5, if you can find one. Probably cheaper to make your own out of some broken folder though.
 

grahamp

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'Best' is a bit hard to define with these things. They were just intended to get things lined up. They are not optically perfect by any means. Please don't break a functional camera just to get one - they are still doing good service! I'm not sure they will really work as a waist level finder at normal (head up) distances. The only one I have is on my father's old Kershaw Penguin. And anything outside the camera means scale focusing.

For 35mm you really need one for a 6x9 camera, possibly one with a rotating mount so you can look down and do verticals.

A small surveillance camera (lipstick cam) on the camera and a link to a small screen might be better. There's a large format camera over on largeformatphotography.info in the home built thread that does this.
 

Pieter12

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FYI, the Nikon Fs with a removable prism all had the potential to be used waist-level. Nikon did make a viewing hood to block out stray light, but all you were doing was looking at the finder screen with its reversed image. A piece of cardboard could be used in a pinch.
 

Chuck1

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I've been looking for something similar for low angle pinholes (just for some type of idea on composition) if you search: waist level finder shoe, a few will come up, in not sure if something intended for a camera from the 40's or 50's (or cold shoe) would fit into a more modern hot shoe
 

r_a_feldman

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For 35mm, you could get a camera with a removable pentaprism and a waist-level finder, such as an Exakta VXIIa. My Honeywell Repronar slide copier had a Pentax body with a waist-level finder. There are many more brands and models out there.

For your Contax, just glue a mirror to a flash shoe at a 45 degree angle. Or start with something like this https://www.google.com/shopping/pro...5424867_0,prmr:1,pid:2663897220575424867,cs:1 and add a mirror and flash shoe.
 

Nicholas Lindan

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Try cutting an old 'TLR' box camera in half. The finder would have to be masked (AKA electrical tape) for the right aspect ratio. The viewfinders on these cameras are brilliant as there is no ground glass - just a field lens. As a plus, you are only sacrificing a $10 camera.

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You might even try using one of these as-is. Someone must have made one that takes 120 or 620 film, 127 film being hard to come by and expensive.

Another alternative is to just buy a TLR and use a camera already made for waist-level shooting.

I have never seen a WLF that slides into an accessory shoe (famous last words, I know).
 
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Camerarabbit

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Thank you, all! I should have been more specific when I said I was shooting from the hip: the whole reason I'm in need of such a finder is because i'm mounting my camera to a noga tripod arm, which is mounted to a super clamp, which is mounted to my bike's handlebars. The setup is pretty stable (the noga is awesome!), but gets knocked out of line every 2-3 minutes, so instead of stopping and looking through my viewfinder to make sure the setup is still good I'd liketo just look down. This is the best solution I've found so far: https://www.ebay.com/itm/3645527327...V9Hy2/vhIF/OzwBZCROj4g+Q==|tkp:Bk9SR7iQq4byYg but expensive.
 

Mr Flibble

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The Kuhn Flexameter is a waistlevel finder with focusing ground glass that sits in the accessory shoe. I've come across them for relatively cheap prices before.
But I've not found it to be very practical to be honest.

 
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Camerarabbit

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Wow, looks amazing! i bet it would fall off after going over some bumps.
On second thought, it would probably be best to just get an old Nikon F and use its viewfinder. There's the F, F Photomatic, FG etc etc. I'm looking for something fully manual and as light as possible. Which model should I look for, and can anyone rec a 28mm lens for it?
I really didnt want to buy a whole new system but think this will be best solution
 

Nicholas Lindan

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CameronRabbit said:
I'm looking for something fully manual and as light as possible.
Click to expand...
Well 'light' certainly doesn't describe a Nikon F or any other professional system camera with interchangeable finders.

As to light WLF cameras the ones that come to mind are models of the Exa, the Miranda Sensomat and the Exakta VX500; all ~50 year old cameras and not noted for high reliability even when new.

WLFs tend to be pretty dim. Nikon made the clear Fresnel type H & G screens that are brighter than normal but are focal-length specific. The early Exa could be used with just a field lens and was very bright.
 

guangong

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A simpler alternative to a waist level finder would be a very good 28mm or 21mm lens. I have found this solution very effective when discretion is necessary. I used rf cameras, but SLR should work as well.
On the other hand, a TLR would be another simple solution. Certainly not as noisy as an SLR if trying to be unnoticed.
Another solution would be to practice a “fast draw”, bringing camera to the eye, shoot, and return camera to original position. My late friend, Bernie Boston, dean of White House photographers, was a master of this technique.
 

xkaes

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If you think that will do the trick, there are smaller, less expensive bubble levels with just one bubble -- it's level (in ALL directions) when the bubble is inside the red circle. These are under $10.
 

ant!

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There are quite many SLR's with waist level finders available, some exchangeable (Nikon F, Exakta, Praktina,Pentax LX, Minolta XK...) or fixed (e.g. Praktica FX), possibly many more from the 50s (standard models) to later pro-models.
 

BobUK

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Have a look for the Zeiss waist level finder 437 / 16. Plenty on ebay uk.

I am not sure of the fitting but it looks as though it could be adapted to a hot shoe adapter.
 
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