What were the first cameras to have an adjustable eyepiece?

AgX · Aug 19, 2015

I mean SLRs and compacts.

With 8mm cine cameras there is a long tradition. Not so with still cameras.

Les Sarile · Aug 20, 2015

Do you mean adjustable diopter?

Xmas · Aug 20, 2015

Leica II had adjustment on rangefinder window 1930 from memory about.

AgX · Aug 20, 2015

Les Sarile said:
Do you mean adjustable diopter?

Both:

Eeypiece means the lens assembly for viewing the groundglass-/aerial-image.

Diopter means the refracting power of that assembly.

There also is a military eypiece at guns that is called diopter. I guess that is causing confusion.
But keep in mind I'm only a technical minded non-native speaker...

AgX · Aug 20, 2015

Xmas said:
Leica II had adjustment on rangefinder window 1930 from memory about.

I totally overlooked that at the Leica.
(At least from 1949 on such adjustment existed (lever under the rewind knob).)

Xmas · Aug 20, 2015

Sorry the Leica II had the same adjustment for the rangefinder but it was around the outer of the eye piece for the rangefinder.
Think the Leica II was about 1930-31, try Google for photo I've only got a nicca which is a III clone, with same optics.

ic-racer · Aug 20, 2015

At least in terms of the Bolex reflex models, the image is quite dim, so a tight fit for the eye is needed. Making eyeglass wearing not practical. Many, many still cameras work fine with eyeglasses. Therefore not as much need for a corrected eyepiece.

Some exceptions in my work:
Rollei 3003/2000F cameras work better with the eye close to the finder; like a movie camera. Therefore have an adjustable eyepiece.
Bessa R4 (21mm finder) only useful for 21mm if the eye is close to the finder. It is not adjustable, but takes common Nikkor diopters.

I'm sure there are many other still cameras that function poorly with eyeglasses.

AgX · Aug 20, 2015

Typically in my experience with many models, the eyefinder lacks viewing angle when used with glasses. On the other hand, if one is presbyope one still needs the glasses to read/manipulate controls at the outer of the camera.

Les Sarile · Aug 20, 2015

The Pentax LX not only has the most comprehensive list of viewfinders, but most have diopter adjustments.

The high magnification type finders have been available on earlier SLRs like the 1959 Nikon F (http://mir.com.my/rb/photography/ha...ameras/nikonf/ffinders/fviewfinders.htm#6xmag) and even earlier 1953 Praktina FX (http://www.praktina.com/pqcam03.htm).

I've only seen this built-in adjustment on my Olympus OM4 and OM3 also. Not very common.

ph · Aug 21, 2015

In addition to the optical adjustments, mechanical adjustment to compensate for parallax in RFs would be needed.

One early example is the viewfinder of the Voigtländer Vitessa where the ocular could be slid some mm. diagonally from the infinity- to the 3,3ft. setting. In the Leica M the movement of the frame was coupled to the rangefinder cam.

p.

Xmas · Aug 21, 2015

ph said:
In addition to the optical adjustments, mechanical adjustment to compensate for parallax in RFs would be needed.

One early example is the viewfinder of the Voigtländer Vitessa where the ocular could be slid some mm. diagonally from the infinity- to the 3,3ft. setting. In the Leica M the movement of the frame was coupled to the rangefinder cam.

p.

A lot of cameras did not address the need for any parallel 'compensation' or even indication.

benjiboy · Aug 21, 2015

Cameras with "adjustable eyepieces, and diopteric adjustment " are as much use as a chocolate teapot if you have astigmatism.

What were the first cameras to have an adjustable eyepiece?

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency