Bronica RF645 VF question

ssmc · 05-09-2011

Hi, I was hoping someone could straighten this out for me. The RF645 comes with a -1 diopter as standard and according to Tamron they are the only ones still available (I just got this news this morning). Despite being very slightly farsighted I have my DSLRs set at 0 and find that works best for me (the VF image and the displays are clearest at that setting). I can get away with some -ve (with eyestrain and slightly blurry displays) but +ve is just unusable.

So, for those who have normal eyesight, how does the -1 diopter work out? Is there something to do with the optical design of the RF645's VF optics that makes the -1 end up like a 0?

I would hate to buy an RF645 "sight unseen" with a standard diopter and find that it strains my eyes. I know from looking at one of these cameras with the diopter removed i.e. 0, the VF is perfect for me (this one had a +1 installed, and it was just painful) but leaving it out looks like the interior of the VF/RF would then be exposed to dust, etc. - you can see the edges of the VF lens with the diopter removed.

Thanks for any insight (no pun intended)

Scott

segedi · 05-09-2011

Scott - I've been using the Bronica RF645 and have near 20/20 vision in my right eye. I haven't noticed any difference in the viewfinder compared to my other rangefinders or SLRs. The viewfinder is nicely laid out as well. And has a really nice RF patch - the patch is square, but reasonably big and provides very easy focusing. I find focusing with it to be really nice!

As you proably know, the finder and the image are in portrait orientation with the aperture/shutter speed appearing to the left of the frame - something that I find very nice as a street shooter. It's not a traditional portrait camera really do to the minimum focusing distance, but I really love this package. Well designed camera and lenses and a perfect travel camera.

Kevin

Keith · 05-09-2011

It was established years ago that the majority of the population of the free world has less than 20/20 vision and suffers mild myopia. (look it up)

Manufacturers, right or wrong, have made their viewfinders around this statistic!

ssmc · 05-09-2011

Thanks guys - I looked it up and apparently all Bronicas have negative diopters as standard (-1 or -1.5) so I suppose it would be okay - it just bugs me that there's no way to check without buying one first, and if it did turn out that I needed a "0" I'm SOL as they are no longer available (even a standard one is USD 54.50 which I find amazing considering what the tiny piece of plastic it is...)

BTW I was very impressed with the handling and VF brightness of the one I looked at, and strangely I did not mind the vertical framing at all (but the RF was way out). So I will keep looking!

Thanks!
Scott

Gordon Moat · 05-10-2011

You can have an optician make a diopter too, and probably less than a Bronica original. I wear contact lenses, but I have no trouble at all with the RF645 viewfinder. Also, some of my very old Nikon SLRs have the same -1 diopter set-up, and it seems to work fine even with really fast lenses and close focus.