Zoom finder for scouting shots

[abruzzi]

As a beginner in the large format world, the one thing that has been difficult moving up from 35mm and medium format is that with the smaller formats I can walk around with my camera and lens, and use the cameras viewfinder to scout shots. With LF that’s a lot harder, so I’m thinking of finding a zoom finder like the Linhof one, attaching a lanyard, and using it to scout shots before digging out the whole camera setup. Obviously one designed for 4x5 has the benefit that the focal length markings will match the real focal length. However there are 35mm ones that seem smaller and cheaper than what I’ve seen of 4x5 finders. Of course with a 35mm one, the aspect ratio would be off, but that’s not too hard to deal with. My lenses range from 75mm to 250mm so it would be helpful if it would work with those ranges.

I’d love know what other people use (if anything) and what else I should be looking at. So far, I’ve seen the Linhof finders, and a Horseman zoom finder, but they are either expensive or in really worn condition. I have a Soviet RF finder, but that one only has fixed settings, so if it doesn’t match 28, 35, 50, 85 or 135 it can’t be set to an intermediate setting.

(I’ve also looked at directors finders, which are made for this purpose, but I don’t know the aspect ratio, and I don’t necessarily know if the focal lengths would be easily converted in my head.)

 

[Bob S]

The Linhof one also corrects for field size and parallax for lenses from 72 to 360mm and accepts masks for formats smaller then 45 when using roll film. And the frame rotates for horizontal and vertical shots.

 

[Michael Teresko]

I've been using a phone app called Viewfinder that's been helpful. You can set up different aspect ratios and focal lengths, and view in b&w if you want. Also functions as a light meter. It's pretty handy.

 

[Jesper]

I use a piece of cardboard with a 4x5" cut out and a piece of string. There is a series of markings on the cardboard that gives me the focal length. It's primitive and cheap but works surprisingly well.

 

[ic-racer]

Someday I'd like to have this Horseman finder to do some hand-held work with my 4x5 Horseman FA (which has a focus scale). They are always priced too high and I don't know the reason as they only fit certain Horseman cameras. Otherwise look for a "Directors Finder" from the cine world. Or a piece of cardboard (which works very well as mentioned.)

The thing with putting thumbs together and making a frame with fingers actually works and I do that often, but don't let anyone see you doing it...

 

[halfaman]

I use also an app called Cadrage Director's Viewfinder. It is nice when you start but don't worry too much about it, sooner than you think you will anticipate without the need of any help what kind of lens you want in each shot.

 

[Doremus Scudder]

For years I've used a Zone VI viewing filter (see one here: https://www.jbhphoto.com/blog/2010/11/09/the-bw-viewing-filter/ ). They are small and have a built-in Wratten #90 filter that is intended to approximate the tonalities of black-and-white film. I use it less for this latter and more for scouting/composing shots. With a little practice, one can judge the needed focal length by the filter-to-eye distance. I select the appropriate focal length the first try 95% of the time doing this.

Making something similar out of mat board (without the filter) should be relatively easy. Use whatever size opening is convenient for you to carry around; it just has to be in the correct aspect ratio (e.g., 1 x 1 1/4 inches, or 2 x 2 1/2 inches for 4x5). You could easily make a lanyard with knots corresponding to the focal lengths of the lenses you have too.

Best,

Doremus

 

[abruzzi]

I have something similar to that Zone VI filter that I got from Stearman ( https://shop.stearmanpress.com/collections/photography/products/zoneview-viewing-filter ) but I find it much too fiddly. Slightly closer, further away from my eye, or accidentally at an angle other than 90 degrees completely changes what I see. I could try the apps but they have two problems, first, I hate using the d*mn thing and am slowly working back to a dumb phone (my current smart phone is 8 years old, because I can't stand the current monster sized phones) and second, most phones could replicate the FOV of a 90mm at the widest.

There is a relatively inexpensive directors finder available new on eBay ( https://www.ebay.com/itm/Opteka-11x...ctors-Viewfinder-for-Film-Making/143236693054 ). I don't know the quality, but it would potentially work. Its limitations are that focal lengths are marked in Super16, 35mm, and "AN". The 35mm is 35mm cinema frame (22mmx16mm), not still frame. So I don't know what the translation is. With 35mm still camera focal lengths, its easy to just triple the number in my head--85mm = 3 x 85 = 255. That helps me not only find the spot to setup my shot, but allows me to ensure that I have a lens that will give me approximately the framing I'll get. That ebay finder has an adjustable aspect ratio and goes down to academy 4/3 or 1:33 to 1 which is pretty close to the 1.25 to 1 ratio of 4x5.

 

[reddesert]

If the 35mm cine markings on that finder are for a 16x22mm frame, multiply focal length markings by 6 to get the equivalent for a 96 x 132mm film. 4x5 film image is about 96x120mm, so that's pretty close. However, they say that the finder's range is 18-200mm in 35mm-cine units, which means it can only go as wide as 6*18 = 108mm lens on 4x5.

This is consistent with the observation that (IMO) movies only occasionally use 'wide' lenses that are as wide as a moderately wide angle on a stills camera.

There's no real free lunch here, except for the piece of mat board with a string, which actually can work fairly well. It's hard to build a zoom viewfinder that covers a wide range, has a decent eye relief, and doesn't have too much optical distortion, which is why nice viewfinders like the Linhof are expensive. For 90mm on 4x5, the 28mm setting on your 35mm-stills rf finder is pretty close.

 

[abruzzi]

Yeah, the KMZ finder I have hits a number of lenses I have—28=90, 35=105, 50=150, and 85=250 and if I ever decide to try the Fuinon 400T, the 135 would work for that. It doesn’t have anything that matches my 75 and my 210, though both of those are less used lenses.
Thanks for the input, I’m still watching out for stuff on eBay, but if I find a good condition, sub-$200 Linhof or Horseman finder, I’ll probably snag it.

 

[nosmok]

Another +1 for the Linhof. I snagged one for less than 100 bucks, so it can be done.