Re: Viewfinders and hackers

[simon nathan <simonwide@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

STAN- PLEASE CONSIDER THAT A WIRE FRAME FINDER, SPEED GRAPHIC
TYPE, MIGHT BE WORTH CONSIDERING. SIMONWIDE

Stan Patz wrote:

To the group,

As I wrote in a recent post, I am currently building a 6x16 camera. The
latest string on viewfinders was particularly interesting because that is
what I am working on now.

I had planned to use the usual, inexpensive wide angle solution, the
"peephole" or door viewer. But it produces an image that is small, dark and
wider angle than I need. I found that by removing the last dome shaped lens
and substituting an auxiliary WA lens for a point-and-shoot camera, I got a
bigger, brighter more suitable image. The angle of view was reduced from
about 150* to 80* or so, with less distortion.

I decided to continue experimenting and bought some glass from Edmund
Scientific. I happened to have some telescoping 1" tubing in my workshop
(from another project); the Edmund 25mm lenses fit right in. Since the
shortest negative focal length they sell is -25mm, I also bought a -50mm and
paired it to give me -12mm(?). At the other end of the viewfinder I got a
40mm positive lens to enlarge the scene.

I have not yet mounted everything, but it works. I get a big, bright image
of approximately 90* which I will mask to my format proportions. Cool, but
not as cheap as the "peephole". The coated lenses cost about $20 apiece, and
if you get their nicely machined black mounts the system will run over $100.
   -   -    -   -    -     -     -

On an unrelated matter, I would like to cast a vote against the
rehabilitation of the word "hack". When someone "hacks" it sounds like he is
doing something bad or crude; I think it should stay that way.

For my own efforts to make a viewfinder without benefit of design or
manufacturer's facility, I prefer to think I am improvising or adapting but
definitely NOT hacking.

Stan Patz   NYC

SKP113@xxxxxxxxxxx
www.PatzImaging.com

_________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at
http://profiles.msn.com.