1:1 finder or framelines?

jameshays · 12-10-2004

I received my R3 yesterday, very cool. To my dismay(others as well), the 40 framelines are not visible with my glasses. I really like the 1:1 finder however, it seems like it will provide more accurate focussing. As I will be shooting with a 40 or a 35 lens this may or may not be a problem. I don't have a lens yet so I can't test this. Anyone in the same boat? Is the 1:1 finder more valuable to you than framelines?
I will be mostly shooting people/candids indoors if that makes a difference. Also, if I get a 35 Summicron, I am assuming the rf patch will still work for focussing, I just won't have framelines. Is this correct?
Looking through the VF with both eyes open is pretty cool. I am used to that from my 10d and it allows me to see the scene before I shoot.

Brian Sweeney · 12-10-2004

I use a Nikon S3 and it is the same story: 35mm framelines are not visible with glasses. Just use as much of the frame as you can see to line up the picture, figure that you are seeing 85% of the image. Tou will not frame and have part of the picture cut-off at printing time. The RF spot of course is fully accurate, and the "floating RF spot" is really cool.

jpmccormac · 12-11-2004

FYI.
A member of the CVUG mailing list has posted his initial impressions of the R3A here:
Initial Impressions of the R3A

aizan · 12-11-2004

Just switch on the 50mm framelines?

Doug · 12-11-2004

James, yes, the RF will focus wider lenses fine, just not show the framelines of course. You could just "wing it", or you could get a Voigtlander external viewfinder to match the wide lens you use. These accessory viewfinders are big and bright, a joy to look through.

I'm facing a similar situation with my Bronica RF where the are no framelines for the 45mm wide angle. The full area of the viewfinder is an approximation of the field of this lens, but I give up parallax correction and it still doesn't show all that I get on the neg. There IS that external 45mm finder, if I want to use it...

It seems the R3a is "happier" with 50mm and longer lenses! Just as my Bronica is with the wide-normal 65mm and 100mm.