The most popular Chinese models. The most beautiful girls in China
First optical rangefinders cameras were equipped Leica. In the very first models, it was just a convenient and effective additional device. As the camera improved, the role of this element also increased; ten years later, the optical rangefinder had already become an integral part of the camera. But still certain time Focusing was carried out in several stages.
In 1932, Leica photographic equipment manufacturers produced completely new model - Leica II. This camera already had a valuable advantage - a rangefinder was included in its design. The same device was installed in the camera Contax I, which was only the first model of the Contax company. The experience of Leica specialists in producing photographic equipment was richer, their products had significant advantages. But the Contax I camera also made it possible to take high-quality photographs, was used for professional photography, and was equipped with such elements as a mount for mounting optics and an effective rangefinder base. The subsequent model already demonstrated the integration of the rangefinder and viewfinder into a single whole. The design of this company's photographic equipment was also interesting - it was distinguished by stylishness and respectability. This rangefinder camera looks like real professional photographic equipment.
Both lines of cameras, Contax and Leica, were constantly improved. By the forties, rangefinder cameras accounted for most of such equipment. Despite the production of rangefinder cameras by American manufacturers, it is German photographic equipment with optical rangefinders long time was the most famous and in demand even in the 60s.
External signs and mechanism of operation of the rangefinder
The rangefinder design consists of a pair of lenses that are located on a certain distance, as well as the eyepiece and deflection system. The distance between the lenses is called the rangefinder base. One of the lenses, the main one, is in a straight line with the eyepiece. To direct the light flux, a translucent mirror is installed between the objective lens and the eyepiece lens. The light flux is directed from the additional lens to the viewfinder eyepiece. The design of the rangefinder also uses a movable deflecting mirror; it serves to transmit the light flux from the additional lens to the translucent mirror. The movable mirror is connected to the main lens, or rather, to its focusing frame. When the focusing frame rotates, the movable mirror shifts, and therefore the image on the translucent mirror of the optical rangefinder also shifts. Correct focusing of the lens occurs at the moment when the images from both lenses merge on the subject that is selected for shooting.
Binacular vision of a person, that is, two eyes, is the basis for the construction of a rangefinder. This simple device allows you to determine the distance to the photographed object. Most cameras equipped with a rangefinder automatically focus the lens. Also this device allows you to focus using the distance scale.
Differences from SLR cameras
Compared to DSLRs, rangefinder cameras allow you to take better pictures. Collision of lenses with a moving mirror is avoided. Both the lens of rangefinder cameras and they themselves have small size and weight. Due to the absence of a movable mirror, the camera does not vibrate in the photographer’s hands, so there is no need to use a tripod for shooting with such equipment. Cameras with optical rangefinders are much quieter.
There is a large selection of different lenses, including wide-angle and ultra-wide, which effectively affect the quality of photography. Unlike a SLR camera, photographic equipment with a rangefinder allows you to always see the shooting scene; the viewfinder does not periodically turn black.
But there are also some disadvantages of rangefinder cameras. For example, on a mirror you can immediately see the image that will appear in the photo. In other types of equipment, the viewfinder is separated from the lens. There are some restrictions in terms of the choice of lenses - for example, it is difficult to choose a model with special effects. DSLR cameras can be used when shooting at any distance, but those equipped with an optical rangefinder are not suitable for photographing closer than 60-100 cm.
The process of shooting with a rangefinder camera
When photographing with a rangefinder camera, you need to take into account that the subject will be a little further away in the photo than it seems. This technique very convenient to use for photo reporting on the street - small equipment will not attract attention. Such cameras are chosen by journalists for professional sessions, especially in pursuit of sensations. The equipment is quite simple to operate; some of the processes that the shooting technique includes, for example, setting the shutter speed, focusing, setting the aperture, are performed manually. For many professionals, this principle (control of the camera) is more convenient. Rangefinder cameras are suitable for those who do not rely on additional effects, but like to pay attention to the subject of shooting, creating an expressive image and composition in the frame. .
Show html code to embed in blog
Operating principle of rangefinder cameras
The first optical rangefinders were equipped with Leica cameras. In the very first models, the rangefinder was just a convenient and effective additional device. With the improvement of the camera, the role of this element increased; ten years later the optical
At the beginning of 2004, a prototype of a rangefinder digital camera was shown for the first time at the PMA exhibition. It was the R-D1 model from Epson. It supported Leica M and Leica L lenses. The first camera of this type produced an image of 3008 × 2000 pixels, similar to the sensory “DSLRs” of that time. The design of the camera is very similar to a classic film device. The only one visible difference became the display on the rear panel. The Epson R-D1 saves images in RAW and JPEG formats. The maximum sensitivity of the sensor is ISO 1600. The development of new digital devices was based on the technologies of non-digital analogues, including special attention applied to rangefinder cameras Nikon, Contax and some other models. So the characteristics of the first “rangefinder” are very good. Having asked high level, subsequent models couldn't be worse.
Excellent technical parameters allow cameras of this type to be classified as professional devices. These cameras may well compete with SLR cameras. Their first advantage is that all the disadvantages associated with the mirror raising system are absent. And this, in turn, improves the quality of shooting. Another advantage is the compactness of the devices and the ability to use a folding lens. Although difficulties also arise when working with these cameras. They are especially pronounced when using a long lens or during macro photography.
It is worth dwelling in more detail on the advantages and disadvantages of rangefinder devices. Adding to all of the above, the advantages include the following:
1) less noise when the shutter is released;
2) the time from pressing the shutter to opening the shutter is shorter than that of SLR devices, since it is not spent raising the mirror;
3) more opportunities to film fast-moving events;
4) at the moment of taking the picture, the viewfinder remains open, so it is possible to quickly detect defects and retake the frame;
5) in some rangefinder devices, the field of view of the viewfinder is wider than that of the lens, so framing is more accurate and convenient.
The disadvantages include the following:
1) since the rangefinder lacks accuracy, working with long focal length lenses is difficult;
2) due to the lack of a TTL exposure meter, shooting may be carried out by mistake when closed lid lens;
3) for interchangeable lenses it is usually necessary to select viewfinders;
4) difficulties arise when working with filters, since the photographer cannot see the image through the lens. Many inconveniences arise when using polarizing filters.
Many companies are involved in the production of rangefinder digital cameras. The most famous of them is Lecia. Well-known cameras from Sony and Canon are still not produced in the field of rangefinder technology.
In this article we will try to identify the strengths and weaknesses SLR and rangefinder cameras in comparison with each other. This article is my free translation of Ken Rockwell's manuscript.
Two 21mm lenses. On the left is Voigtländer’s 21mm f/4 for rangefinder cameras, on the right is a compact Canon lens 17-40mm f/4 L for SLR cameras. The difference in size is not noticeable to the naked eye. More to come :)
Introduction
DSLR cameras appeared in the 60s and are the most popular cameras today. However, rangefinder cameras appeared long before this and are still being produced today. They are smaller, lighter and produce higher quality images than DSLR cameras.
Considering all the listed advantages of rangefinder cameras, why are they not so popular? Good question! Let's list all the good and bad sides of each type of camera, and then everyone can decide for themselves what is best for them.
Rangefinders and SLRs are produced in film and digital versions, and also have many formats. In this article I will consider only their 35mm variations, because it is too lazy to consider everything. There are a lot of them.
Rangefinder cameras
What is a rangefinder camera?
Leica M3 (Produced from 1954 to 1967)
Nikon SP (Produced from 1956 to 1962)
Rangefinder cameras were at the height of popularity among small compact cameras in the 1950s.
However, only Leica rangefinder cameras are still popular. Leica has always been and remains. Leica are very expensive and very high quality cameras.
These cameras are called rangefinder cameras because of the focusing device called the rangefinder. You turn the ring until two separate images merge into one. Once this moment has arrived you are in perfect focus.
Leica M9 (Produced since 2009)
With rangefinder cameras, you never look through the lens. You focus and build a composition through a special window, which is located on the left side of the camera.
The central window and the right window are used to collect information about the illumination of the scene. 3 A window is a sign of a high-quality camera. Cheap rangefinders do not have a third window.
Today's Leica M9, Leica M7 and Mamiya 7 are exactly the same rangefinder cameras as in years past. And they work on exactly the same principle. Also, rangefinder cameras from Leica, Contax and Mamiya 7 have completely interchangeable lenses. And others, such as Nikon 35Ti, Yashica, Canonet, Ricoh, Petri and Olympus, have lenses that are suitable only for them or even only for a specific model. In other words, any lens ever released for Leica rangefinder cameras can be installed on any rangefinder camera released before today. For example, on the Leica M9 (2009) you can install a lens released in the 30s. Cool right?!
Advantages of rangefinder cameras over DSLR cameras
Rangefinder cameras have more high quality photos
Since rangefinder cameras do not have a drop-down mirror, lenses for these cameras can be designed to withstand collision with a moving mirror. Hence the significantly smaller size of lenses compared to DSLRs.
For wide-angle lenses, it is permissible to position the lenses much closer to the matrix. Hence, wide-angle lenses are very small, very sharp and have much less noise than the same lenses for DSLRs.
Because there is no moving mirror, cameras produce less vibration when shooting. This is especially true for handheld shooting. Also, the shooting speed is noticeably higher.
Rangefinder cameras are lighter and smaller in size
Rangefinder cameras do not have prisms, focusing screens, or moving mirrors. This is why they are much lighter.
Lenses for rangefinder cameras are lighter and smaller in size
As stated above, rangefinder camera lenses are not designed to avoid collision with the mirror nor to project the image onto the mirror. Therefore, the lenses in the lenses are located more compactly, and they are also smaller. From there, the lens design itself is simpler, better quality and lighter.
Amazing quality wide angle lenses
It is very easy to buy wide, ultra-wide and ultra-ultra wide lenses for rangefinder cameras.
Without much effort
Yes, you can find a lens, say 12mm, for a full frame without any noticeable distortion.
Even the cheapest lenses for rangefinder cameras, such as Voigtländers, usually have excellent image quality. However, super-expensive wide-angle lenses for DSLRs, let’s take one of the coolest ones today, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 L II and Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8 AF-S, barely reach average quality in comparison with rangefinder ones lenses.
Rangefinder cameras are quieter
When shooting with a rangefinder camera, the mirror does not jump, lowering or rising, and does not make noise. Therefore, the only sound from the rangefinder camera during shooting is the sound of the shutter being pressed.
Rangefinder cameras never stop showing the scene
When shooting a frame on DSLR cameras, the mirror is lowered and the data is recorded on the matrix. At this moment, the price disappears from the viewfinder and the viewfinder turns black. Rangefinder cameras do not have this effect. You always see the scene in real time and your eye will never lose sight of the subject.
Focus, compose and shoot with both eyes open
If you have a rangefinder camera in life size like the Nikon SP or Leica M3, you can focus, compose the scene and shoot with both eyes open. Since the device is so small that it does not cover the right side of your face.
For telephoto lenses, there are special magnifying rangefinder viewfinders, which again give your eye a life-size image.
Passive focusing in the dark
If there is enough light in the room for your eye to see the subject in focus, then you can easily and effortlessly focus the rangefinder camera simply by bringing the two images together.
Weaknesses of rangefinder cameras
You never know what you'll get
When shooting with a rangefinder camera, your viewfinder is separate from the lens and what you see will not necessarily be included in the frame, and something that you did not expect and did not plan to put in it may also end up in the frame.
This problem is especially acute for macro photography and telephoto photography. Although there are special devices that are installed directly on your camera to help the photographer in such conditions, you still cannot be 100% sure what will end up in the frame until you look at the captured image.
Viewfinder lock
If your lens is too large, you may be able to see the edges of the lens through the viewfinder. And this, in turn, will prevent you from concentrating on the subject. Professional photographers avoid large lenses and try to use lenses that cannot be seen through the viewfinder.
You can't buy "toy" lenses
Special effect lenses are not available for rangefinder cameras. For example fish-eye ( fish eye) or ultra-long telephoto lenses. Zoom lenses are also not available. Although I still know one zoom lens. But this is more of a bug than a high quality lens. With rangefinder cameras you have to zoom with your feet. A step forward and the object is larger, a step back and the object is smaller :)
Rangefinder cameras require constant maintenance
Rangefinder cameras are delicate mechanical instruments that require constant maintenance and settings. Even with LEICA cameras, you can't avoid making adjustments to get the best photos!
Poor focus with telephoto lenses
Rangefinder cameras use the same focusing mechanism regardless of the current lens. This is a big advantage in favor of wide-angle lenses and a big disadvantage in favor of telephoto lenses.
Even with the Leica 7 and Mamiya 6 and 7, only half the lenses and camera combinations produced excellent focus at large apertures.
Most amateur photographers blame themselves and not the focusing error. But most lens and camera combinations require additional alignment before use to achieve excellent results.
When I get a new lens, I pick it up and set it up for my current camera. And only after this does this combination give a wonderful focus and please me with excellent pictures for a long time.
No macro and b
close focus
Rangefinder cameras have big problems when focusing closer than 60-100cm. But even at this distance, the viewfinder is not far enough from the subject to comfortably adjust to it.
Yes, you can buy a bunch of expensive gadgets for macro photography with rangefinder cameras, but you still won't be able to look through the lens.
DSLR cameras
What are DSLR cameras?
Nikon FE (Produced from 1978 to 1983)
Single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras are the most popular cameras today.
SLR - single-lense reflex (single-lens reflection) or simply a SLR camera. Accordingly, a DSLR is a digital SLR camera.
Reflection - means that there is a mirror that reflects the light coming from the lens onto a special sensitive surface.
Looking through the eye of a SLR camera, you actually see an image reflected using a mirror onto a special prism through which the light is refracted and hits the viewfinder. And it turns out that you see the image as if you were looking through the lens.
Nikon D3X (Produced since 2008)
The battery in the Nikon D3X is larger and heavier than some rangefinder cameras along with the lens.
DSLR cameras have many advantages over rangefinder cameras. And that's why in just over 45 years (SLR cameras began to be produced in the 1960s) they replaced almost all rangefinder cameras from the consumer market.
Advantages of DSLR cameras over rangefinder cameras
Why did SLR cameras so quickly supplant their rangefinder counterparts?
Why does everyone want to carry huge, heavy and noisy DSLR cameras and not light, silent and compact rangefinder cameras?
Composing a shot with the view from the lens
Looking through the viewfinder of a DSLR camera, you see exactly the image that the lens sees and, accordingly, it is this image that will be imprinted on the photo as soon as you press the shutter.
It doesn't matter whether the lens is wide-angle or telephoto, what you see is exactly what you get.
Macro photography
DSLR cameras are great for macro photography. Even with the most ordinary lens you can shoot macro. You bring the camera very close to the subject, focus, evaluate the frame through the viewfinder and get the expected photo exactly as you saw it through the viewfinder.
Using ultra-telephoto lenses
Nikon D3 and regular Celestron 8
For DSLR cameras, the use of telephoto lenses is commonplace, even including a 2000mm Celestron telescope. You simply attach it to your camera and you are ready to shoot.
Focusing at any distance with a telephoto lens or telescope is equally easy and effortless. You always see the picture that will fall into the frame during any zoom.
Rangefinder cameras work well with lenses up to 135mm. Using longer distances with rangefinder cameras is only possible with stupid gadgets like Visoflex and reflective attachments, which turns the rangefinder camera into an SLR.
Fisheye Lenses
There are many fish lenses available for SLR cameras. You can easily use a 12mm lens without any visible noise.
Weaknesses of DSLR cameras compared to rangefinder cameras
Low quality optics
DSLR optics are designed for comfort and autofocus. Tele and Tele-zoom lenses can be of excellent quality, but wide
The bare optics must be designed in such a way as not to damage the camera mirror when focusing. Therefore, wide-angle lenses for SLR cameras have unpleasant properties - they blur the image (especially the corners) and produce a lot of noise.
Poor image quality
The mirror in SLR cameras can blur both pictures taken handheld and on a tripod. This is why expensive, high-quality DSLR cameras have mirror lockers for use when shooting from a tripod.
Shutter lag
For a DSLR camera to take a photo, the mirror needs to be raised. This process can be almost instantaneous. But if you wanted to shoot exactly this moment, which disappeared during the movements of the mirror. There will be another moment in the picture.
Low manual focus accuracy
When using fast lenses, a DSLR camera must painstakingly adjust its mirrors and focusing screens to ensure that what you see in the viewfinder is what you get in your photo. But since microprisms and split images are optimized for dark lenses, you won't get a sharper picture than with a darker lens.
Too big and too heavy
DSLR cameras dominated when they were not yet so huge and heavy (compared to rangefinders).
Today, DSLR cameras are growing in size and weight with little control, which is why Leica is eating up a larger and larger chunk of the DSLR/DSLR market so quickly. Today, the Leica M9 weighs the same as the Leica M3 weighed in 1954 - 587 grams. For comparison, Nikon D3 weighs one and a half kilograms, which is twice as much as the first Nikon - Nikon F released in 1959.
Too many unnecessary settings and menus
Today's DSLR cameras have a lot of unnecessary settings and features. And no one can understand why they are needed. All this garbage distracts from the main process - getting the high-quality photos you want to take, but you can’t figure out the necessary settings amid a lot of unnecessary ones.
Helpless autofocus at dusk
In low light, DSLR cameras cannot focus properly and need your help. But you can't help it, because in low light it's almost impossible to manually focus on a DSLR camera because you simply can't see anything through the viewfinder. However, when using a rangefinder camera, it's a piece of cake.
Too many batteries
Rangefinder cameras operate for years on a single battery, as it is rarely used. Modern DSLR cameras constantly use a battery, so if the battery dies, the DSLR camera becomes useless.
Original article by Ken Rockwell.
The translation is made in a free style, so if you notice any inaccuracies, please send them and I will make corrections.
As you might guess, rangefinder cameras focus using a rangefinder - a special built-in device.
The operating principle of the rangefinder in the camera is as follows:
By rotating the focusing ring of the lens, it is necessary to combine two superimposed images of the photographed object in the camera viewfinder so that one image is observed - clear without ghosting.
A double image is obtained due to the fact that the object is observed simultaneously through the viewfinder and through an additional rangefinder window - located slightly to the side from the viewfinder. Both images are combined using mirrors.
For objects located at different distances from the camera, image registration is achieved by different angles mirror orientation.
In the figure the numbers indicate:
1 - object being focused on;
2, 4 - optical elements of the camera viewfinder;
3 - fixed translucent mirror. It transmits light coming from the side of the object (1) and at the same time reflects light coming from the movable mirror (7);
5 - photographer's eye;
6 - camera lens. It participates in focusing only to the extent that when the helicoid rotates, the orientation of the movable mirror (7) mechanically changes;
7 - movable mirror. Light from the object being photographed also falls on it. And the image of this object is directed by the mirror (7) to the mirror (3)
As a result, if the focusing is correct, then the image transmitted through the translucent mirror (3) and reflected from it will coincide.
If the focusing is not correct, then the light transmitted through the mirror and reflected from it will form two different images of the object being photographed.
Of course, the design of the rangefinder may differ significantly in different cameras. Instead of a translucent mirror, there may be a mirror with a hole in the center, etc. But general principle- always like this.
Threaded lenses adapted for rangefinder cameras are equipped with a special ring - a pusher.
This ring protrudes beyond the lens thread and when the helicoid rotates, it enters the inside of the camera to a certain depth depending on the position of the helicoid.
The pusher ring presses on a special foot, which is part of the camera.
The foot, in turn, through a mechanical transmission changes the orientation angle of the movable mirror and this leads to the alignment or divergence of images in the camera viewfinder.
Some cameras had a pressure roller installed.
The rangefinder is adjusted in such a way that when the focus is set on the lens at a certain distance, the pusher ring protrudes from the lens enough to press the foot to rotate the mirror exactly enough to match the images of an object located exactly at the distance set on the lens.
Of course, everything is done so that the dependence described above is preserved for all focusing distances.
In addition to the thread, Soviet rangefinder cameras with interchangeable optics could also have a Contax-Kyiv mount.
The interaction between the lens and the rangefinder in such cameras is a little less visual, but the principle is exactly the same.
The rotation of the focusing ring is purely mechanically transmitted through the mount to the movable mirror and changes its orientation.
Potentially, the accuracy of the rangefinder is higher, the greater the distance between the front viewfinder window and the rangefinder window. This distance is called rangefinder base.
When properly configured, the rangefinder is quite effective.
But you need to understand that the user does not observe the focus itself.
Visual control has access only to the results of interaction mechanical parts lens and rangefinder. This means that if the alignment of the rangefinder was somehow disturbed, we will still observe the alignment of the images, but this will not at all mean that the correct distance is set on the lens.
The rangefinder is a rather delicate part of the camera. It must be handled with care and checked for abnormalities. If necessary, adjustment is required.
Also, when using a rangefinder camera, you must always remember that you are not looking at the subject through the lens.
And therefore, you will never know that you forgot to remove the lens cap. With a cap on the lens, you will be able to focus quite successfully. :O)
Remember the classic scene in the movie "The Diamond Arm"?
Of course, Semyon Semyonich only has Change of Models 6-8 in his hands. Those. scale
But proud owners of more advanced rangefinders are not immune to this situation!
Although rangefinder cameras mostly support interchangeable optics, but there are a few caveats.
Firstly, the effectiveness of the rangefinder decreases as the focusing distance increases. Therefore, in the USSR, lenses with a phase length longer than 135 mm were not produced for rangefinder cameras, and if they were produced, they were very uncommon. I don't know any of these.
It is very difficult to catch distant objects in the depth of field on long-focus lenses, relying on rangefinder readings.
With a wide-angle lens, the rangefinder's accuracy of measuring long distances, of course, does not improve in any way. But on the other hand, a wide-angle lens has a larger depth of field and is particularly accurate at long distance just not needed.
Secondly, very often it was necessary to individually adjust the lens and rangefinder to each other on a specific camera. On some cameras this warning was present in the instructions.
Good luck to you!
Dear readers!
IN social networks Business card pages have been created for the USSR Photographic Equipment website.
If you are interested in my resource, I invite you to support the project and become a member of any of the communities. Share your experience, express your thoughts, ask questions, participate in discussions!
I pay special attention to the new Instagram page.