Re: finders - hacking solutions anyone?

[simon nathan <simonwide@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

DEAR GIORGIO- NOW HEAR THIS. BUNK@xxxx'S TORPEDO
CAMERA MOD HAD WIRE FRAME FINDER. IT WAS BEST FINDER I EVER HAD. MY 1961
SIMON/WIDE HAD CLOTHES HANGER WIRE FORWARD FRAME VIEWFINDER. IT WAS FABRICATED
FROM A WIRE CLOTHES HANGER THE AFTERNOON I LEFT FOR PARIS TO DO COVER FOR
BOOK "LIFE'S GUIDE TO PARIS", IN 1961. ARA TAKOURIAN WHO DOESN'T TALK ABOUT 
HIS CAMERA BUILDING ACCESSORIES PERIOD, BUT HE MIGHT BE WILLING WHOMP ANOTHER
ONE. HE ADHESIVE  TAPED IT ON. PUT SNAIL ADDRESS IN BLOCK FORM AND
I'LL MAIL YA SAME CAMERA BODY PHOTO, BUT WITH GENERATION TWO FRONT FRAME.
THIS WAS CUSTOM MADE FOR ME AND I WILL SOON OFFER IT ON ABAY NOT TO BE
CONFUSED WITH EBAY. I CAN ALSO GIVE YOU XEROX OF ACTUAL FINDER. HAVING
SWITCHED TO LINHOF UNIVERSAL FINDER FOR 1964 CAMERA. ARA HAS BUILT NO KNOWN
OTHER  HAND MADE WIRE FRAME FINDERS AND HE NO LONGER BUILDS THIS MODEL.
ARA ALSO TRAVELED TO ENGLAND WITH ME ON THE QUEEN ELIZABETH IN1961, THEN
TO SPAIN WHERE I HAD ASSIGNMENT FOR TRUE MAGAZINE ON LIVE BIRD TRAPSHOOTING.
PANORAMICS WERE APPROPRIATE. PLEASE PUT YER ADDRESS IN BLOCK FORM, COMPLETE,
SO THAT I CAN COPY IT ONTO ENVELOPE. 1964 CAMERA PLUS 1982-1996 FUJI G617
USAGE REMINDS TO STATE ONE THING. PRETTY SOON YOU'VE TRAINED YOURSELF 
TO SEE 1:3 RATIO AND THE FINDER PUTS YOU IN THE BALLPARK, IS REFERENCE
POINT. THE WIRE HANGER MATCHES THE TRANNIE (TEE-HEE) IN RATIO. PUT TAPE
ON FRONT/TOP. NOW EYEBALL GOES AT REAR OF CAMERA. LINE A SIGHT, FOLDING,
NOT OPTICAL. TISSUE ON BACK OF CAMERA WILL PERMIT YOU TO MATCH FINDER AND
FILM. CAN'T GET BACK OFF? OKEH, TRIPOD. SHOOT FILM, LEAVE CAMERA ON TRIPOD.
PROCESSED FILM IS SHOWING WHAT VIEW FINDER SHOULD. OH YES, THE IMAGE WILL
BE INVERTED, WRITE FOR INSTRUCTIONS FOR CORRECTING THIS. SIMON/WIDE!

GAPiccagli@xxxxxxx wrote:

In a message dated 8/29/00 11:07:50 AM, rsage@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:

<< 1) Homemade wire-frame non-optical viewfinder with rear sight and front
frame that may even fold down out of the way. >>

An interesting idea. I'm wondering what the design parameters are:
1) front part of the finder should have the aspect ratio of the format
2) rear part should operate to center the eye,
but how is the distance between front and back related to
a) the focal length of the objective, and
b) the dimension of the front opening?

Anybody have a cache of formulas to keep us from having to think too hard?

Thanks.

Wide Giorgio
Expansively in San Francisco