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Features a central bright patch which displays a split image. As you turn the focus control, the image in the patch moves left and right (or up and down) relative to the main image. When the two images coincide, then the camera is focussed. This is the most accurate kind of manual focus adjustment. Only one digital camera so far uses this method: the Epson RD-1. Many famous film cameras use it however, most notably the Leica M series. There are many rangefinder cameras available on the used market, and these can be a very cheap yet high quality first camera. |
Features a central bright patch which displays a split image. As you turn the focus control, the image in the patch moves left and right (or up and down) relative to the main image. When the two images coincide, then the camera is focussed. This is the most accurate kind of manual focus adjustment. Only one digital camera so far uses this method: the Epson RD-1. Many famous film cameras use it however, most notably the Leica M series. There are many rangefinder cameras available on the used market, and these can be a very cheap yet high quality first camera. |
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| + | A subclass of the rangefinder is the ""Auto-Fousu Electronic Rangefinder."" So far only [[Contax G1-G2]] cameras use this method. In those cameras, the rangefinder windows are still there, but they are used by a small processor within the camea to align focus automatically. |
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=== SLR === |
=== SLR === |
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Revision as of 10:56, 22 November 2004
Focusing mechanisms
- Fixed
- Scale
- Range finders
- TLR
- Manual SLR
- Large format
- Auto focusing
How will you focus the image, and how will you get the camera pointed in the right direction, from the correct viewpoint? This is where your viewfinder exerts it's influence. There are mamy kinds of viewfinder, each with its merits.
Simple Optical: This is used on cameras with no zoom lens, and autofocus. It's basically a tiny telescope that you peer through at the scene. It only helps you to frame the image as you want. This is the type found on most low cost cameras.
Zoom optical; Similar to the above, but with a zoom feature, so that the view through the viewfinder changes as you zoom the lens. Used on low cost cameras with a zoom lens and autofocus.
Rangefinder
Features a central bright patch which displays a split image. As you turn the focus control, the image in the patch moves left and right (or up and down) relative to the main image. When the two images coincide, then the camera is focussed. This is the most accurate kind of manual focus adjustment. Only one digital camera so far uses this method: the Epson RD-1. Many famous film cameras use it however, most notably the Leica M series. There are many rangefinder cameras available on the used market, and these can be a very cheap yet high quality first camera.
A subclass of the rangefinder is the ""Auto-Fousu Electronic Rangefinder."" So far only Contax G1-G2 cameras use this method. In those cameras, the rangefinder windows are still there, but they are used by a small processor within the camea to align focus automatically.
SLR
The SLR means Single Lens Reflex. Inside the camera is a mirror that reflects the image onto a focussing screen. You view this focussing screen through the viewfinder. This means that you are seeing pretty much exactly what the camera will capture. Note that in most SLRs, there will be some cropping, meaning that the camera will capture slightly more than what shows in the viewfinder. This is usually expressed as a percentage, e.g. 95% meaning that the viewfinder shows 95% of what the camera will capture. Some professional cameras have 100% viewfinders such as the Nikon F-single number series (F, F2, F3, F3, F5 and F6) The closer it is to 100%, the better. Unless you don't care,of course.